Best Things to Do in Crosby, Minnesota - Adventure Town!
Crosby is often referred to as an “adventure town,” and I would highly recommend this area to anyone looking for outdoor biking, hiking, paddle boarding, etc. But don’t let all the mountain bikers you pass in town make you think you can’t enjoy this cute town if you don’t partake in these activities - Crosby has some cute shops and delicious restaurants as well. And at just a two-hour drive from the Twin Cities, it’s the perfect spot for a quick getaway.
Where to Rent Mountain Bikes, Kayaks, Paddleboards, and Scuba Diving Gear:
Red Raven - Bikes, apparel, helmets, accessories, bike rentals, and more! You can rent half-day and full-day rentals, and the staff is really helpful.
Cykel - Bike Rentals, including E-Bikes!
Cuyuna Outfitters - Kayaks, Crystal Kayaks (see-through to see in the lake!), Paddleboards, and even inflatable docks.
Minnesota School of Diving - rent diving and snorkeling gear, take classes or go on a guided tour
What to do at the Cuyuna County State Recreation Area
The area was left behind by mining companies over 30 years ago, and now the area is one of Minnesota’s newest state recreation areas. The crystal clear lakes are great for fishing, scuba diving, paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, or simply enjoying the sunset reflecting off the water after a great day of exploring. The visibility in the lakes are can range from 30-60 feet, making them especially attractive for divers. There are over 50 miles of world-class mountain bike trails, and they are great whether you are biking for your first time or are a pro. The trails are kept up by a group of dedicated volunteers, and their website is a great resource for up-to-date information here. There is also a really nice map of the trails and a guide for more detailed info here. In the winter the trails are groomed for fat tire bikes, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing. You can hike (or drive to the top in the warmer months) to Miner’s Mountain overlook for a beautiful view of Huntington Mine Lake. You can also hike the paved Cuyuna Lakes State Trail.
Where to Eat, Drink, and Shop in Crosby
Red Raven - Next to the Red Raven Bike Shop you’ll find a great cafe area with coffee beverages, beer on tap, smoothies, and sandwiches. Their breakfast burrito is a favorite, and I love their frozen chai. On nice days it’s fun to sit outside on their patio, especially after a fun bike ride.
Shop Victual - The ice cream here is incredible, and I adore their outdoor sitting area with a fun mural. Their cheese selections are divine! There are so many cute things to get for gifts, especially for cooking lovers. Plus the staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. You’ll find countless hot sauces, gourmet noodles, and other food. They even have a side door for a little wine and liquor shop.
Rafferty’s - Their wood-fired pizzas are delicious, and we especially love their 3 Shrooms pizza. (We add pepperoni’s to it) There are plenty of booths and a bar inside to eat at, but during the warmer months, I recommend their cute rooftop patio as a great spot to enjoy the afternoon!
Spalding House - Go to this dive bar for cheap drinks and Bingo on Sunday nights! There is a liquor store connected to the bar should you need to grab anything during your stay in Crosby. Tons of TVs if you’re looking for a spot to watch a game. You can get pull tabs here too. Like many small towns in Minnesota, they have meat raffles on certain nights too, which basically means you buy a raffle ticket and can win a few racks of ribs, or steaks, or whatever they are raffling off that night. The proceeds typically go towards a local organization, fire department, or charity.
Iron Range Eatery - great lunch or dinner spot with a cute outdoor patio area. For an appetizer, I recommend their garlic breaded cheese curds. Upgrade to the sauce trio for an extra dollar: spicy sun-dried tomato jam, smoked tomato, and basil pesto. For lunch, their sandwiches are so good, especially their Reuben and their grilled cheese with beer cheese dipping sauce. The pretzel-crusted walleye is a fav from the dinner menu. They also have thin-crust pizzas with fabulous specialty pizzas. If you are going on a weekend, get a reservation!
Cuyuna Brewing - cute little brewery in town that also has really good kombucha and root beer on tap. You can sit inside or outside, or grab a growler and take the beer to go. They are also opening up a restaurant connected to the brewery that will offer burritos, tacos, and quesadillas.
Trailside Tavern & Patio - go here for a friendly neighborhood vibe. They have an outdoor patio, a bar area, and another room with more seating and games. You can check their Facebook page for their specials which have ranged from broiled chicken, to chimichurri steak, to ribs, to chicken chow mein, and so much more.
Other restaurants and bars to check out:
Main Street Nutrition - high protein shakes and metabolism-boosting teas
Mixed Company - A Kava House - coffee, food, (get a fresh-made cinnamon roll)
North Country Cafe - a good spot for breakfast, but serve lunch and dinner as well. Lots of historic photos of Crosby on the walls which were fun to look at.
Antique Shops:
Hallet Antique Emporium, Pine Cone Antiques, Karen’s Antiques & Things, and 202 Antiques
Crosby Memorial Park & Serpent Lake
If you are looking for a great place to go for a walk, take a swim, have a relaxed picnic, head to Crosby Memorial Park a few blocks from downtown Crosby. If you have kids, there is a HUGE playground to explore. You can also camp here, as they have 20 RV sites, 6 tent sites, showers for campers, and a ‘cook shack’ you can rent to cook in with your group.
Where to Stay in Crosby
We’ve stayed in Crosby many times and our favorite spot to stay is Cuyuna Cove. They have five tiny home cabins year-round, and five glamping tents in the summer. A sauna is included with your stay, as well as paddleboards in the summer, and snowshoes in the winter. We’ve stayed in both the cabins and the tents, and they are both fabulous experiences. You can read more about them below!
