Bayside Resort
Park Rapids
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Park Rapids sits among dozens of lakes in Hubbard County, twenty miles south of Itasca State Park and the headwaters of the Mississippi. Fish Hook Lake runs north from town, Big Sand and Long Lake reach 135 feet deep, and Belle Taine and the Crow Wing chain lie east toward Nevis and Akeley.
Most lodging is family cabin resorts rented by the week in summer. Walleye, pike, bass and panfish are the main fish, with muskie on Big Mantrap and a few of the Crow Wing lakes.
I. The lodges
Where to stay
Stay near Park Rapids for town and the Heartland Trail, north toward Itasca for the park and the deep lakes, or east on Belle Taine and the Crow Wing chain.
15 places to stay
Park Rapids, Fish Hook & Potato
Resorts on Fish Hook, Potato, Long Lake and the smaller lakes around town, a few minutes from Park Rapids.
Big Pines RV Park
Park Rapids
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Bolton Bay Resort
Park Rapids
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Cedar Shores Lodge & Resort
Park Rapids
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Decision Hills Campground
Park Rapids
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Eagle Bay Lodge
Park Rapids
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Edgewood Resort
Park Rapids
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Half Moon Trail Resort
Park Rapids
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Isle O' Dreams Lodge
Park Rapids
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Loon's Nest Resort
Park Rapids
From $145–$560 / night · 2027
New Frontier Resort
Park Rapids
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North Beach Resort
Park Rapids
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Riverside Point Resort
Park Rapids
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Timberlane Resort
Park Rapids
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Vagabond Village Campground
Park Rapids
From $62–$71 / night · year not stated
17 places to stay
Big Sand, Two Inlets & Itasca
Resorts on Big Sand, Two Inlets, Big Mantrap and the lakes north toward Itasca State Park, and the park's own campground.
Bear Paw Resort
Park Rapids
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Brookside Resort & Golf Course
Park Rapids
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Evergreen Lodge
Park Rapids
From $843–$3,108 / week · 2026
Fischbecks Weigelwood Resort
Park Rapids
From $1,200–$1,800 / week · year not stated
Fremont's Point Resort
Nevis
From $255–$280 / night · year not stated
Historic Douglas Lodge
Itasca State Park
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Itasca State Park Campgrounds
Itasca State Park
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Little Norway Resort
Park Rapids
From $266–$309 / night · year not stated
Mantrap Lodge
Park Rapids
From $165–$904 / night · year not stated
Norway Hills Resort
Park Rapids
From $1,390–$2,475 / week · 2026
Pine Cone Lodge
Park Rapids
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Sleeping Fawn Resort & Campground
Park Rapids
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Two Inlets Resort
Park Rapids
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Walters Resort
Park Rapids
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Wambolts Cabins
Park Rapids
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Whippoorwill Resort
Park Rapids
From $160–$325 / night · 2026
Wilderness Bay Resort
Park Rapids
From $114–$640 / night · 2026
13 places to stay
Belle Taine, Nevis & Akeley
Resorts on Belle Taine and the Crow Wing chain of lakes east of Park Rapids, around Nevis and Akeley.
Belle Shores Resort
Nevis
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Big Timber Lodge
Nevis
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Camp Liberty Resort
Nevis
From $220–$495 / night · 2027
Crow Crest Lodge Resort
Nevis
From $175–$585 / night · 2026
Crow Wing Crest Lodge
Akeley
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Green Valley Resort
Nevis
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In-We-Go Resort
Nevis
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Knotty Pines Resort
Nevis
From $139–$779 / night · 2026
Moore Springs Resort
Akeley
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Pleasant Ridge Resort
Nevis
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Royal Starr Resort
Nevis
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Starlight Bay Resort
Nevis
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Woodson Cabins
Nevis
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II. On the water
What a guided day costs
| Boat | Full day | Typical | Half day | Typical | Operators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guide boat, 1–2 anglers | $800 | $800 | $400 | $400 | 1 |
| Guide boat, up to 3–4 anglers | $850 | $850 | $425 | $425 | 1 |
"Typical" is the median of published rates. Most operators don't put a year on their rates.
Independent guides
Lodges that run their own guides are listed with the lodges above.
| Guide | Full day | Half day | Boat | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baldy's Mostly Musky Guide ServicePark Rapids | Call | $375 | muskie | |
| Go Fish! Guide ServicePark Rapids | $800 | $400 | Guide boat, 1–2 anglers | walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskie, panfish |
| Minnesota Guide ServicePark Rapids | $850 | $425 | Guide boat, up to 3–4 | walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, muskie, crappie, panfish |
| Musky Savage Guide ServicePark Rapids | Call | – | muskie | |
| You Bet! Fishing Guide ServicePark Rapids | Call | – | muskie, panfish, burbot |
III. Hard water
Ice fishing: day houses and sleepers
Only a few operators here run winter fishing; check each listing.
| Outfitter | Day house | Sleeper | How you get out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Itasca AdventuresLaporte | Yes | – | |
| Minnesota Guide ServicePark Rapids | Full day $295, 6 hrs $225, half day $200 for 1-3 anglers; +$50/angler for 4-5 | $350 for 24-hour minimum, 1-3 anglers |
IV. The almanac
Seasons at a glance
- May 9, 2026Walleye, sauger and pike seasons open.
- May 23Bass harvest opens.
- June 6Muskie season opens.
- February 28, 2027Walleye, sauger and pike seasons close.
- March 1 / March 15, 2027Fish houses off the ice: March 1 south of Highway 34, March 15 north of it.
Fishing dates are from the DNR's 2026 regulations.
V. Regulations
Fishing rules
2026–27 season (May 9, 2026 – February 28, 2027)
- Walleye and sauger season: May 9, 2026 – February 28, 2027. 6 combined, only one walleye over 20 inches. Kabekona Lake: release every walleye from 20 through 26 inches; 4 in possession, only one over 26.
- Northern pike (North-central Zone): 10 in possession, not more than 2 over 26 inches; release every pike from 22 through 26 inches.
- Big Mantrap, George and the 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th and 10th Crow Wing lakes: release every northern pike from 24 through 36 inches; 3 in possession, only one over 36. Big Mantrap also has a crappie limit of 5.
- Bass: catch-and-release only from March 1 to May 22, then 6 combined from May 23. George and Mary lakes: release every bass from 14 through 20 inches; Little Mantrap: largemouth from 12 through 20 inches.
- Muskie: June 6 – November 30, 1 fish, 54-inch minimum.
- Fish houses must be off the ice by midnight on March 15, 2027 on lakes north of Highway 34 (Fish Hook, Potato, Big Sand, Belle Taine), and by March 1, 2027 on lakes south of it, including the Crow Wing chain.
From the DNR's 2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations: inland seasons, the North-central pike zone, and the special regulations for Big Mantrap, George, Kabekona, Mary, Little Mantrap and the 5th, 6th and 8th–10th Crow Wing lakes. Fish Hook, Potato, Big Sand, Belle Taine and Long Lake have no special regulation in the 2026 booklet. Check before you fish.
VI. Asked at the dock
Questions people ask
How much does a fishing guide cost around Park Rapids?
A guide boat for 1–2 anglers runs $800–$800 for a full day. A guide boat for up to 3–4 anglers runs $850–$850 for a full day. Rates are per boat, not per person, and usually include bait and gas.
When do fish houses have to come off the ice around Park Rapids?
The DNR's removal line follows Highway 34 through Park Rapids, Nevis and Akeley. On lakes north of it, houses must be off by midnight March 15, 2027; on lakes south of it, by March 1, 2027.
Sources and photo credits
Photos: Lake Itasca - Summer Storms at Itasca State Park, Minnesota (47967322921), Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY 2.0; Red Bridge Park, city of Park Rapids, Minnesota, Richard N Horne, CC BY-SA 4.0; Itasca State Park, October 2022 DSC06959, Crown Star Images, CC BY 2.0.
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