History of the Snake River The Snake River has its headwaters north of the town of McGrath and flows southward into theSt.Croix River. The Snake River was originally called the “Kenabig” by the Ojibwe. The river got its name from the fact that the Sioux and Ojibwe Indians were enemies. In the mid-1700s,the Siouxhad their main camps downstream on the St. Croix. When the Ojibwe were passing the mouth of the Snake River, they would remark,“That river comes from the land of the snakes.” In the 1700s, fur traders such as the Northwest Company used the Snake River and its tributaries to trap beavers and other fur-bearers. Around1900, timber baron James McGrath bought several thousand acres of virgin timber lands in southern Aitkin County and built one of the area’s largest logging companies. At one time,McGrath had 1,200 men working in his many camps. A series of dams were constructed on the Snake River to float millions of board feet of logs to his sawmill in Stillwater. In 1908, the Soo Railroad Line was built and the logs were no longer floated down the river but could be transported year-round to area mills. The railroad,dams, and logging camps are now gone, but remnants can still be seen in the woods today. Today the Snake River is used for canoeing and is considered one of the best “white water”rivers in Minnesota, especially from McGrath to Mora. North of McGrath, the river is navigable only during periods of high water. These public lands are open to hunting, fishing, and camping. There are great trail-riding opportunities in this area. During winter months, there are more than 600miles of snowmobile trails in Aitkin County, including the Soo Line Trail. During the summer months,the Soo Line Trail becomes part of the Northwoods ATV Trail. This 200-plus-mile trail system has several loop trails offering riding opportunities for various skill levels. The Redtop Loop is directly accessible from this campground and winds its way through 23 miles of rolling hills of aspen and birch forests. It also goes through the “Old Jones Farm,” which has been partially restored to pine.