Is Anything Closed On The North Shore Due To The Crosby Fire?

UPDATE: A closure of a portion of the Superior Hiking Trail has been put in place as of the morning of October 10, 2025. Here is the latest.

A wildfire popped up in one of the state parks along Minnesota's North Shore yesterday, growing in size since it was first discovered.

The fire, being referred to as the Crosby Fire, is burning mostly within the borders of George H. Crosby Manitou State Park between Silver Bay and Tofte.

When it was discovered on October 8, it was originally estimated to be around 30 acres in size, but grew to an estimated 50 acres as of a report this morning.

The Minnesota Incident Command System (MNICS) reports as of this morning that the fire is 0% contained, and the cause of the fire is undetermined at this time. Breezier conditions combined with the remote location of the fire and the steep & difficult terrain are adding some challenges for firefighters dealing with the blaze.

How Will This Wildfire Impact Visitors To The North Shore?

During the busy fall colors season along the North Shore, many people are wondering how this fire is impacting the area.

UPDATE: A closure of a portion of the Superior Hiking Trail has been put in place as of the morning of October 10, 2025. Here is the latest.

The Minnesota DNR says as of right now that George H. Crosby Manitou State Park remains open to visitors, and the Superior Hiking Trail also remains open.

The remote location of the fire is currently expected to have no major impacts for visitors, though some smoke and increased aircraft activity, along with the presence of firefighters on the ground in the area will be noticeable.

The location of the fire is about 10 miles southeast of Tofte in a remote area of the park.

Officials stress that drones should not be flown anywhere near this wildfire. As firefighting aircraft are used to fight the fire, drone activity can hinder and even stop these firefighting efforts.

In addition, visitors are asked to avoid the area of the fire.

The Largest Minnesota Wildfires In Modern History

While Minnesota has experienced even larger, more devastating fires like the 350,00-acre Hinckley Fire in 1884 of the 250,000-acre Cloquet-Moose Lake Fire in 1918, fires have thankfully been relatively smaller in more modern times.

Even though these more modern fires have been smaller, largely due to better firefighting capabilities, many have still been devastating and destructive. Here's a look at Minnesota's largest wildfires since 2007 based on information from the Minnesota Incident Command System.

Gallery Credit: Nick Cooper