Cross Lake

The Ronald Louis Cloutier Recreation Area, better known as the Cross Lake Recreation Area, is located at the Pine River Dam in Crosslake, Minn. Cross Lake is situated about 22 miles north of Brainerd, Minn., on Crow Wing County Road 3. The Recreation Area offers camping, boating, swimming, picnicking, fishing and playground areas.

Located on the very popular Whitefish chain of lakes, the recreation area offers wooded camping setting with a variety of tree species being present and an abundance of water related recreational opportunities. These two features and many amenities located within walking distance make the Cross lake Recreation Area a major destination location.

The 13,660-acre body of water of the Whitefish Chain of Lakes and its 119 miles of shoreline provides dozens of opportunities for boating and fishing. A beach is available for swimming. Waterskiing is available but not in the swimming area.

Cross Lake Brochure

Cross Lake History

The Pine River Dam is located on the Pine River at the outlet of Cross Lake, 18 river miles above the junction of the Pine and Mississippi rivers.

Pine River was the fourth Headwaters reservoir to be constructed. The original timber dam dates from 1884 and was put into operation in 1886. Corps engineers reused machinery and supplies from the construction of the Winnibigoshish and Leech Lake dams at this site.

The dam was constructed to its present appearance between 1905 and 1907. The control structure is 233 feet in length and consists of reinforced concreted supported on timber piles. There are 13 sluiceways. In 2002, leaf gates were installed in each sluiceway and the dam was raised. A series of perimeter dikes built around the dam between 1899 and 1914 allowed it to be filled to capacity.

In 1934, representatives of the Portland Cement Association reported the Pine River Dam was the “finest concrete structure from the point of view of durability that they were aware of.” The arched openings of the Pine River Dam give it a distinctive appearance. There are no structures remaining from the 17-building complex constructed by the Corps of Engineers in 1884. Included were a dam tender’s dwelling, laborer’s quarters, engineer’s quarters, dining hall, office building, officer’s house, woodshed chicken coop, barn, warehouse, sawmill, and carpenter and blacksmith shops. The Corps removed a number of these buildings immediately after the dam construction was finished. A new dam tender’s dwelling built in 1911 was later destroyed by fire. The replacement dwelling was destroyed by fire in 1959 and was not rebuilt.

Mississippi River Headwaters History brochure

Campground reservations

Click here to make a reservation for Cross Lake campground

 


 

Click here to make a reservation for Cross Lake campground

Cross Lake Dam
Pine River Dam

Contact

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Cross Lake Recreation Area
35507 County Rd 66, Box 36
Crosslake, MN 56442-0036
Phone: 218-692-2025
Fax: 218-692-4911
Cross.Lake@usace.army.mil  

Map & Directions

Cross Lake Map

Around Cross Lake

Make Reservations

You can reserve camp sites and day use facilities at many U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recreation areas nationwide, as well as many other agencies, online by visiting RECREATION.GOV. Reservations may also be made by calling RECREATION.GOV toll free at 1-877-444-6777.
Recreation.gov