See all 12 routes on Crow Wing River
Minnesota | Wadena Area
Crow Wing RiverLittle White Dog County Park to Cottingham County Park
Official MN DNR Crow Wing Map 2 day trip from Little White Dog through the lower county-park corridor to Cottingham, with public Wadena County accesses, mapped campsites, and the interpreted Nimrod gauge just upstream.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch at Little White Dog and finish at Cottingham for the official DNR Map 2 lower Crow Wing day trip through forested bends, islands, and busier summer recreation near the lower parks.
Access map
Put-in
Little White Dog County Park #9 carry-in accessThe Nimrod DNR gauge is upstream of the route; use it as an official corridor check and make a same-day visual call at Little White Dog.
Take-out
Cottingham County Park #11 carry-in accessKnob Hill is the cleanest midpoint public access and campground option if the group needs an exit or planned overnight split.
Road shuttle
Stage Cottingham County Park first, then drive back to Little White Dog. This is the DNR-highlighted Map 2 day trip, but both landings are county-park facilities with posted-use and camping rules.
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Access planner
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Little White Dog County Park #9 carry-in access to Cottingham County Park #11 carry-in access is about 9.8 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.
Additional access notes
- Cottingham can be busy with tubing, swimming, and county-park use during summer weekends.
More route and safety guidance
- Knob Hill is the cleanest intermediate public access. Do not assume private banks or undeveloped shoreline are legal bailout or camping options.
- Summer tubing traffic near Knob Hill and Cottingham can make the take-out busier than the upstream forested setting suggests.
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Conditions
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Photos and recent reports
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Recent notes from paddlers
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Official recommended routeLittle White Dog to Cottingham, 9.8 river miles
MN DNR Map 2 names Little White Dog to Cottingham County Park as the recommended day trip for this map section.
- Official DNR bands300 / 400-800 / 1,100 cfs
MN DNR interprets the Nimrod gauge 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.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-16232 cfs at 2026-07-16 20:00
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.
- Public access recordsWAS01527 to WAS01325
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves Little White Dog, Knob Hill, and Cottingham as Wadena County Crow Wing River accesses with river-mile support.
- Camping supportLittle White Dog, Knob Hill, and Cottingham campgrounds
DNR Map 2 marks primitive campsites, water, rest areas, and camping fees at the county parks on this route; treat overnight use as posted county-campground use only.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Other routes nearby
More on Crow Wing River
All 12Nearby routes within 75 miles
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