Campers can choose from canoeing, fishing, and hiking near rivers and lakes by Park Rapids.
With the Fishhook River running right through town, Park Rapids is a prime spot for campers craving water views. Tents and RVs can head to Long Lake, about 10 minutes away, to find a quiet campground with full hookups and access to boat ramps and restrooms with flush toilets. Twenty minutes west sits Smoky Hills State Forest and over over 25 miles of trails that wind through old-growth red pine woods. Large camping groups can rent private cabins with AC, heating, kitchenettes, and bed linens, while tent and RV campers can settle into campsites with amenities like full hookups, dump stations, and access to laundry facilities. Huntersville State Forest provides more camping and activity, just 30 minutes south of Park Rapids. Tents and RVs are welcome on primitive campsites that provide vault toilets, drinking water, and garbage cans. Wake up and canoe on Shell River or trek the Crow Wing River State Water Trail while keeping an eye out for bobcats and black bears.