See all 12 routes on Crow Wing River
Minnesota | Wadena Area
Crow Wing RiverAnderson's Crossing to Cottingham County Park
Longest Anderson's-start Crow Wing continuation through Nimrod and the full lower county-park chain to Cottingham. It keeps one official Nimrod gauge model while linking the rapids-bearing upper half to the busier downstream recreation zone.
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch at Anderson's Crossing and finish at Cottingham for the longest Anderson's-start Crow Wing continuation. The upper half carries the Nimrod-area rapids and the lower half ends in a busier tubing and swimming corridor.
Access map
Put-in
Anderson's Crossing #6 carry-in accessAnderson's Crossing is a county campground and simple carry-in launch rather than a polished city-park ramp.
Take-out
Cottingham County Park #11 carry-in accessStigman's Mound, Little White Dog, and Knob Hill are the clearest midpoint bailout or overnight options if the group does not want to commit to the full Cottingham finish.
Road shuttle
Long Wadena County shuttle from Anderson's Crossing to Cottingham. Stage the Cottingham take-out first because it is the busiest landing in this chain and the full route takes enough time that finish logistics matter.
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Anderson's Crossing #6 carry-in access to Cottingham County Park #11 carry-in access is about 21.3 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.
Additional access notes
- Cottingham is a county park with heavier summer use for swimming and tubing, so expect a busier and less secluded take-out than the upstream landings.
More route and safety guidance
- Stigman's Mound, Little White Dog, and Knob Hill are the clearest checkpoint, bailout, or overnight options before the Cottingham finish.
- Fresh wood after storms, low-water dragging, and crowded warm-weather take-outs can all turn this easy-looking sandy corridor into a much longer day.
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Crow Wing River at Nimrod, MN |
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| Preferred range | 400 cfs to 800 cfs |
| Low threshold | 300 cfs |
| High threshold | 1,100 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | MN DNR river-level interpretation bands for Crow Wing River at Nimrod |
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NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-06-26Nimrod gauge 217 cfs
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
- DNR bands300 / 400-800 / 1,100 cfs
MN DNR interprets Nimrod as Scrapable below 300 cfs, Low from 300 to 400, Medium from 400 to 800, High from 800 to 1,100, and Very High above 1,100.
- Map supportAnderson's 70.8 to Cottingham 49.5
Crow Wing Maps 1 and 2 place Anderson's Crossing at river mile 70.8 and Cottingham County Park at 49.5, making this a 21.3-mile continuous route.
- Public access recordsAnderson's WAS01526 and Cottingham WAS01325
Minnesota public-water-access records resolve Anderson's Crossing and Cottingham as official Crow Wing accesses, with Stigman's Mound, Little White Dog, and Knob Hill between them in the same corridor.
- On-route camping supportLittle White Dog, Knob Hill, and Cottingham
Wadena County confirms campground support at Little White Dog and Knob Hill before the Cottingham finish, giving the long route documented midpoint and endpoint overnight options.
- Rapids and recreation supportWalkin's, Burrows, Westra, and downstream tubing traffic
Crow Wing Map 1 marks the named rapids on the upper half of this route, while Wadena County describes Knob Hill and Cottingham as active summer recreation landings farther downstream.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
- MN DNR river levels
- MN DNR Crow Wing River overview
- MN DNR Crow Wing River segments and maps
- MN DNR Crow Wing River Map 1 PDF
- MN DNR Crow Wing River Map 2 PDF
- Wadena County Anderson's Crossing Campground
- Wadena County Little White Dog Campground
- Wadena County Knob Hill Campground
- Wadena County Cottingham Park Campground
- Minnesota public water access feature service
Other routes nearby
More on Crow Wing River
All 12Nearby routes within 75 miles
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