Location Guide
Fifty Lakes Backroads Lake Country Near the Chain
Fifty Lakes is a water-rich community in northern Crow Wing County, with roughly four square miles of its land in lakes and Rush Lake, a deep, clear 858-acre lake, at its heart. It offers a quiet base near Crosslake and the Whitefish Chain.
Fifty Lakes at a Glance
County
Crow Wing County
Community
443 (2020 census)
From Brainerd
About 30 to 33 miles, roughly 40 minutes
From the Twin Cities
About 160 miles, roughly 2.5 to 3 hours
Schools
Pine River-Backus Schools (ISD 2174)
About Fifty Lakes
Fifty Lakes is a loosely gathered string of lakes and cabins in northern Crow Wing County, incorporated as a city but feeling like the rural lake country it is. With roughly four of its 33 square miles under water, the community delivers more shoreline variety per square mile than almost anywhere in the region.
Rush Lake, the anchor, is an 858-acre lake reaching depths around 105 feet, one of the deeper and clearer lakes in the area, and its connection to Ossawinnamakee Lake and the surrounding chains links it into the larger lake network. For buyers, Fifty Lakes means quiet water, generous lots, and prices that make sense.
Key Facts
The essentials that shape daily life, the housing market, and the resale picture in this community.
More than four square miles of the city is water
Rush Lake anchors the community
Minutes from Crosslake and the Whitefish Chain
Quiet, low-traffic backroads
Strong fishing on deep, clear lakes
The Water
Fifty Lakes is what its name suggests: a slice of the northern Minnesota lake country where water is everywhere and traffic is not. It sits on the backroads between Crosslake and Emily, with Rush Lake's deep, clear water as the centerpiece and the chain a short drive away.
Lakes and Waterways
Life Here Year-Round
Fifty Lakes is a seasonal community with a loyal year-round core. Summer is the busy season, with fishing, tubing, and waterfront living on Rush and the surrounding lakes, plus the Fifty Lakes Campground on County Highway 1. Winter is quiet lake country: ice fishing, groomed trails, and cross-country skis, with Crosslake and Pequot Lakes a short drive for everything else.
Buying in Fifty Lakes
What buyers should understand before buying or selling in this community, and how it fits the bigger lake-market picture.
Compare Other CommunitiesRush Lake is the flagship here, with deep, clear water and strong walleye and panfish fisheries.
Prices on Rush and the surrounding lakes generally run below the Whitefish Chain, minutes away in Crosslake.
Large lots and wooded shoreline are the norm, which suits buyers who want space and privacy.
Services are a drive: Crosslake about 15 minutes, Pequot Lakes about 20, Brainerd about 40.
Questions Buyers Ask About Fifty Lakes
Is Fifty Lakes a good place for lake property?
Yes, especially if you want a quieter, more affordable version of the chain experience. Rush Lake's depth and clarity rival bigger lakes, and the community's density of water is hard to beat.
What schools serve Fifty Lakes?
Pine River-Backus Schools (ISD 2174) serve the community, with the district's campuses in nearby Pine River.
How close is Fifty Lakes to Crosslake?
About 15 minutes from Crosslake, putting the Whitefish Chain's marinas and dining within easy reach while keeping the quieter lake living.
Is Fifty Lakes seasonal or year-round?
Both. The summer population swells with seasonal owners, but a solid year-round core keeps the community functional through the winter.
Life Around Fifty Lakes
Rush Lake
Deep, clear water, strong fishing, and an 858-acre playground.
Fifty Lakes Campground
A 40-acre campground on the water.
Ossawinnamakee Lake
A quieter connected lake for paddling and fishing.
Crosslake and the Whitefish Chain
Marinas, dining, and the chain a short drive away.
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Interested in Fifty Lakes?
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