Attractions| Trails | Water Activities | Fishing and Hunting | Golf

Attractions Facts
The Brainerd Lakes Area offers year-round activities for most lifestyles and interests.

Water
More than 465 lakes exist within 30 miles of Brainerd.

The area also has many rivers and streams, including the Mississippi River, which runs through Brainerd at the geographical center of the state.

Popular warm-weather water activities include boating, wind surfing, sailing, water skiing, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, snorkeling, skin diving, fishing and riding personal watercraft.

Frozen-water activities include ice fishing, snowmobiling, ice skating and cross-country skiing.

Golf
More than 25 golf courses (520+ holes) are located within a 50-mile radius of Brainerd — a higher concentration of courses than anywhere else in Minnesota.

Trails
Hike, bike, cross-country ski, inline skate or snowmobile on the 850+ miles of multi-use, year-round trails.

Parks
Pillsbury State Forest is the state's oldest forest at more than 100 years old. The forest's 14,756 acres are a hilly mixture of ponds, lakes, woodlands and trails.

Cuyuna County State Recreational Area was added to the state park system in 1993 and is the area’s newest state park.

Nature Centers
The Paul Bunyan Nature Learning Center has a diverse collection of wildlife exhibits, an environmental library, a wildflower garden, three miles of hiking trails and a boardwalk that leads through a bog.

The Northland Arboretum offers educational opportunities and events, as well as more than 500 acres with walking and cross-country ski trails, some of which are lit in the winter.

Dining
The area has 72 restaurants, giving diners a wide variety of choices.

Shopping
The Brainerd Lakes Area has about 500 stores, shops, service stations, restaurants and night clubs.

Stores range from unique specialty shops to national retail chains to antique stores.

Lodging
More than 130 lodging properties are located in the area, including bed and breakfasts, hotels, motels, resorts and campgrounds.

Attractions
Attractions include the talking Paul Bunyan, miniature golf, an amusement park, a community theater, indoor and outdoor water parks, museums, horseback riding, hunting preserves, casino gaming and championship motorsports.

Trails Facts
The Brainerd Lakes Area offers 850 miles of multi-use, year-round trails designed for snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, bicycling, inline skating, jogging and hiking.

Paul Bunyan Recreational Trail

• This 100-mile paved trail runs from Brainerd to Bemidji.
• It connects with more than eight miles of bike trails throughout Brainerd and Baxter.
• The trail is on a railroad bed built in 1893 by Burlington Northern and abandoned in 1983.
• It is among the longest paved "Rails to Trails" trail in the nation.
• It is for non-motorized vehicles, except snowmobiles, and is handicap accessible.
• The trail passes along 21 lakes, through scenic wetlands and over several streams and rivers.

Northland Arboretum, Brainerd/Baxter
The 500-acre Northland Arboretum sits on the border of Brainerd and Baxter and offers hiking, cross-country skiing, bird watching and interpretive opportunities.

The arboretum’s cross-country ski trails are rated beginner to moderate.

The 12 miles of trails are expertly maintained and groomed by the Brainerd Nordic Ski Club. Many are groomed for dual use while others are designated for either skating or classic cross-country skiing.

Three miles of trail are lit until 9 p.m. daily.

Crow Wing State Park
Crow Wing State Park, located nine miles south of Brainerd, has more than 2,000 acres of prairies, pine and hardwood forests.

The park has 18 miles of hiking trails as well as canoeing opportunities, fishing, camping and winter recreation.

Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area, Crosby
Mining companies abandoned this 5,000-acre area more than 20 years ago. Its former mining pits and rock deposits now feature clear lakes that draw a wide range of recreational activities.

The park offers mountain biking on old mining trails and hills with terrain for any type of rider. Iron ore tailing piles make for a more challenging climb.

Flat trails on old railroad beds are also available.

French Rapids Ski Area, Brainerd
The French Rapids cross-country ski trails are rated expert only.

There is an advanced 16K course that affords views of the Mississippi River.
Trails are expertly maintained and groomed by the Brainerd Nordic Ski Club and are very well marked.

Paul Bunyan Nature Learning Center, Brainerd
The center features more than three miles of hiking trails, a wildflower garden, naturalist-led programs and 145 acres of diverse habitat.

Pillsbury State Forest, Pillager
Pillsbury State Forest, the state's oldest forest, offers 27 miles of marked paths for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing and horseback riding.

The trails are rolling and wooded, and pass a hilly mixture of ponds, lakes and wooded area as they wind through the park’s 14,756 acres. 

The Walter E. Stark Horse Assembly Area provides horse camping and a trailer parking area for day use.

Gull Lake Snowmobile Trail
The Gull Lake Lighted Snowmobile Trail connects to 850 miles of groomed trails in the Brainerd Lakes Area.

Rentals
Many retailers and resorts in the Brainerd Lakes Area rent equipment to those who want to enjoy the public trails. Equipment includes bikes, inline skates, cross-country skis, snowshoes and snowmobiles.

Other Cross-Country Ski Trails:
Aitkin - No Achen Trails
Boyd Lodge Trails
Breezy Point Trails
Cut Lake Trails
Deep Portage Trails
Foothills Trails
Grand View Lodge Trails
Hiram Trails
Larson Lake Trails
Pine Beach Trails
Spider Lake Trails
Upgaard Trails
West Gull Trails

Water Activities Facts

The Brainerd Lakes Area features 465 clear, sandy lakes, as well as a number of rivers, including the Mississippi River. The biggest lake in the area is Gull Lake with 9,418 acres and a maximum depth of 80 feet.

Popular water activities in the area include boating, sailing, wind surfing, water skiing, kayaking, canoeing, swimming, snorkeling, skin diving, fishing and driving personal watercraft. During winter, the frozen lakes are used for ice fishing, snowmobiling, ice skating and cross-country skiing.

Multiple chains of lakes are unique to this area. Whitefish, Cullen, Gull and Ossawinnamakee are chains of lakes in the Brainerd Lakes Area that enable boaters to travel from lake to lake.

Cuyuna Range Mine Pit Lakes, Crosby
Twenty-seven abandoned open pit mines in Crosby have been transformed by nature into a unique recreational resource. When the mines closed, huge pumps that had kept the mines dry were shut off, allowing clear spring water to fill up these deep holes.

The water in some of the pit lakes is clear to 90+ feet, and divers have gone as deep as 150 feet.

Entire forests are now submerged, providing habitat for northern pike, walleye, trout and pan fish.

The shorelines are void of docks and cabins. Small boats and canoes can travel between pit lakes through machine-cut channels.

Canoeing and Kayaking
Well-defined canoe/kayak routes exist on the Mississippi, Pine, Gull and Crow Wing rivers. Maps are available at local chambers of commerce and the Department of Natural Resources.

The routes offer plenty of access, allowing users to select a portion of the river that matches their time schedule and skills.

Several segments of the river routes have stream-side campgrounds.

Some retailers offer canoe and kayak rentals, and some offer a shuttle service to drop off users upstream to start their trip and pick them up when they’re done.

Boat Rentals
Many resorts and boat dealers rent personal watercraft, recreational and fishing boats, and pontoons to the public. Some also rent water skis, wakeboards, fishing rods and reels, etc.

Sailing
The Gull Lake Yacht Club offers sailing classes for all ages, starting as young as 6 years old. There are three levels of instruction: beginners, advanced and racing.

Public Beaches
A number of public beaches are located throughout the Brainerd Lakes Area. They’re located on Gull, Pelican, Whipple, Rice and North Long lakes.

Fishing and Hunting Facts

Fishing
With 465 lakes to choose from, plus rivers and streams, anglers have plenty of choices when fishing the Brainerd Lakes Area.

Most of the lakes provide habitat for a wide variety of game fish species. Some lakes and streams, however, are especially good for one species or another.

• Walleye – Mille Lacs Lake, Pelican Lake, Whitefish Chain, Gull Lake Chain, Round Lake, Mississippi River
• Northern Pike – Gull Lake Chain, Whitefish Chain, North Long Lake, Lake Edward, Lower Mission Lake
• Largemouth Bass – North Long Lake, Bay Lake, Upper Gull Lake Chain, Hardy, Lake Hubert
• Crappies and Sunfish – South Long Lake, Upper Mission Lake, Upper Gull Lake Chain, Nokay Lake, Hardy, Mississippi River
• Trout – Cuyuna Range Iron Ore Pits, Trout Lake, Roosevelt Lake, Stonebrook Creek
• Muskie – Mississippi River
• Smallmouth Bass – Mississippi River, Lake Hubert
• Mille Lacs Lake is Minnesota’s most famous walleye lake.

The deep clear mine pit lakes near Crosby support some of country’s best rainbow and brook trout fishing.

Dozens of largemouth bass fishing lakes are nationally acclaimed by top bass anglers who describe them as some of the best anywhere.

Most lakes have a public access from which anglers can launch a boat.

The Brainerd Lakes Area is home to the Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame, Al & Ron Lindner, Babe Winkelman, Lindy Little-Joe, In-Fisherman and a great selection of outdoor equipment retailers and renters.

Ice Fishing
Ice fishing can produce walleye, bass, crappies, sunfish, blue gills, northern pike and yellow perch.

Anglers can bring their own fish house or fish right out in the open if the weather permits. Some resorts and tackle shops rent fish houses.

Anglers can drive onto lakes using public accesses or public shorelines.

Ice Fishing Extravaganza
The world’s largest ice fishing contest, the annual Jaycees $150,000 Ice Fishing Extravaganza on Gull Lake, attracts more than 12,000 anglers each January.

In 2003, Jaycee members had approved donations to 70 local charities totaling more than $206,000. Since the inception of the Extravaganza in 1991, donations to local organizations have exceeded $1.5 million.

Fishing Guides
The Brainerd Lakes Area is home to many of the nation’s top fishing guides. Anglers can hire guides who provide the boat, bait, rods and reels, and know-how. There are also launch services available where large groups fish together on the same boat.

General Fishing Regulations and Licenses
A Minnesota fishing license is required; they’re available at many retail outlets. Fish limits and harvest methods are regulated.

Hunting

Game Species of the Brainerd Lakes Area
The Brainerd Lakes Area features habitat that supports many popular game species.

The mixed hardwood and conifer forests are home to ruffed grouse, wild turkey, squirrel and deer, while the expansive willow meadows and marshes provide excellent habitat for pheasants, ducks, geese, black bear and rabbits.

Deer
The mixture of lowlands, tree-covered ridges and agricultural fields in the area create an excellent deer hunting environment.

Record harvests in recent years are due to a combination of relatively mild winters and ever improving food sources.

Deer can be taken during archery, firearm and muzzle-loader seasons.

Waterfowl
With more than 400 lakes and countless marshes, the Brainerd Lakes Area has excellent waterfowl habitat, attracting hunters from all over the country.

This area attracts early-season wood ducks, blue-winged teal and geese, as well as migrating mallards and diving ducks. Late-season ducks include ring-necked ducks, bluebills, redheads and the occasional canvasback.

Pheasants
The exotic ring-necked pheasant can be found in the southern part of the Brainerd Lakes Area, where the habitat is more suitable.

Game Preserves
In recent years, many hunters have discovered that game farms and hunting preserves provide a reliable, fun and realistic hunting experience. For a fee, hunters can hunt areas regularly stocked with pheasants, quail, chukars, ducks and even wild turkeys.

General Hunting Regulations and Licenses
A Minnesota hunting license is required; they’re available at many retail outlets. Bag limits and harvest methods are regulated.

Public Hunting Lands
Thousands of acres of excellent wildlife habitat are available for public hunting in the Brainerd Lakes Area. Some county and state lands are managed for optimum production of game species.

State and county agencies publish guides that identify public land for hunting. Online resources are also available. View Minnesota DNR Wildlife Management Area information, including details on Crow Wing and Cass County WMA's.

Golf Facts

The Brainerd Lakes Area features 25 golf courses and 520 holes within 50 miles of Brainerd.

There are courses for all skill levels and budgets.

The concentration of championship courses has made the Brainerd Lakes Area a golf mecca in the Midwest.

The Brainerd Lakes Area is home to some of the finest courses in the nation, designed by legends such as Arnold Palmer, Robert Trent Jones Jr. and Robert Day.

The Brainerd Golf Trail
The Brainerd Golf Trail offers over 300 holes of golf, more than 40 golf courses and 20 lodging properties.

The longest distance between any two Lakes Area courses is 45 minutes.

The Brainerd Golf Trail courses and resorts have received many national golf awards, including awards from Golf Magazine and Golf Digest, which ranked Brainerd as "One of the Top 50 Golf Destinations in the World."

Golf packages are available at more than 20 lodging properties.

Five of the Trail's facilities have received honors such as:

• "Top 100 Courses You Can Play" - Golf Magazine
• "Top 50 Golf Resort" - Golf Digest
• "Top 10 New Public Courses in the Nation” - Golf Magazine
• "Best New Public Upscale Golf Course in North America" - Golf Digest
• "Best Environmental Golf Course in the World" - Audubon International Signature Program
• "One of America's Best 40 Resort Courses'" - Golf & Travel Magazine
• "World's Largest Audubon Signature Sanctuary" - Audubon International Signature Program
• "Midwest Course of the Year" - Midwest Golf Course Owners Association
• "Minnesota's #1 Public Course"- Golf Digest
• "Minnesota's Top Ranked Golf Resort" - Golf Digest