Camping at Cuyuna Country: Portsmouth Campground and the Mine Lakes

Most people arrive at the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area for the mountain biking, and a lot of them end up staying the night. The recreation area, established in 1993 on reclaimed iron-mining land east of Crosby and Ironton, holds roughly sixteen former mine lakes with about 25 miles of natural shoreline, and its campgrounds put you right at the edge of that clear, turquoise water. For residents and visitors alike, Cuyuna is more than a trail system: it is a place to spend real time.

Portsmouth Campground: The Main Spot

The primary campground, Portsmouth Campground, sits on the northwest shore of Portsmouth Mine Lake with roughly 33 sites, including about 18 electric sites. It offers restrooms and showers, a group camp for up to 25 people, and a swimming beach on the mine lake, which is the part that surprises most first-timers. The water in the old mine pits is famously clear and intensely blue-green, and a morning swim before a day on the trails is one of the best rituals the recreation area offers. Three yurts on the Yawkey Unit and a set of walk-in sites give visitors options beyond the main loop. Camping runs seasonally, roughly late April through the end of October, requires a state park vehicle permit, and reservations go through the Minnesota DNR reservation system.

More Than a Trailhead

The recreation area's trail network, more than 70 miles of single track spread across four units, is the headline for most visitors. But the mine lakes themselves are the backdrop: paddling, fishing, and even scuba diving happen in the old pits, whose water is among the clearest in the state. The Cuyuna Lakes State Trail also runs through the area, so paved riding, singletrack, swimming, and camping combine in one place.

What It Means for Crosby Living

**Year-round depth.** Camping anchors the summer, while fat biking, skiing, and snowshoeing carry the recreation area through winter.

**Guests have a place to stay.** A camp site beats a spare bedroom for out-of-town relatives, and the recreation area absorbs them gracefully.

**It raises the area's profile.** The Cuyuna recreation scene is a big reason buyers look at Crosby at all, and the campgrounds make it a destination rather than a day trip.

The Bottom Line

Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area gives Crosby a public backyard most towns would envy: campgrounds on clear mine lakes, a swimming beach, and 70-plus miles of trail minutes from Main Street. For buyers weighing Crosby's recreation-first lifestyle, a weekend in the recreation area is the fastest way to understand the appeal.

See the trails from a different angle with our guide to the Cuyuna trails, explore living in Crosby, and book a time to talk when you are ready to plan a visit. Cheers!