Winter | Spring & Summer | Fall
The Brainerd Lakes Area is a year round destination and provides fun and entertainment during all four seasons. Fall, winter, spring or summer...the Brainerd Lakes Area has something to enjoy by all!
Winter
With winter and the snow that the season brings, an entirely new set of outdoor recreational opportunities emerge. Cross country skiing, snowshowing, downhill skiing, snowboarding and tubing to ice fishing and snowmobiling are a few favorite activities enjoyed by area residents and visitors alike.
Cross Country Skiing
Nordic skiers will discover 240 miles of groomed and ungroomed ski trails in the Brainerd Lakes Area. Thousands of skiers enjoy these trails that take them through a variety of forests and landscapes allowing them to experience the Brainerd Lakes Area in a way they have never experienced it before. Some trails even have lighted sections for nighttime skiing.
Ski Pass – All cross-country skiers on public ski trails age 16 and above must have a Minnesota Ski Pass in order to use the trails.
Trail Conditions – Be prepared for what the trails have in store for you by checking out the trail conditions, which are updated on a regular basis.
Trail Maps – There are numerous cross country skiing trails in the area. Get out and enjoy them all!
Downhill Skiing, Snowboarding & Tubing
Brainerd Lakes Area visitors that want to downhill ski will find fun and family-style skiing at Ski Gull. The facility features 13 runs, chairlifts, rentals, refreshments and a chalet. You can also go snowboarding, tubing, night skiing or attend ski school at Ski Gull.
Ice Fishing
Some anglers feel that the fishing in the Brainerd Lakes Area only gets better when the lakes freeze over. In one day, on one lake, maybe even from one hole, anglers can catch walleye, bass, crappies, sunfish, northern pike and yellow perch. The more popular and larger lakes have fish house rentals available with plowed roads leading to many of the good fishing spots.
Ice House Rentals – The businesses listed below are happy to rent ice houses and are hoping you land a big catch!
| Boats & Beyond Rentals, Nisswa |
(218) 963-7700 |
| Cragun's Conference & Golf Resort, Brainerd/Gull |
(218) 825-2700 |
| Eddy's Lake Mille Lacs Resort, Onamia/Mille Lacs |
(320) 532-3657 |
| Quarterdeck Resort, Nisswa/Gull |
(218) 963-2482 |
Bait & Tackle Stores – Local bait and tackle stores have gear and advice waiting for visiting anglers.
Fishing Report – Find out what fish are biting and where by checking out the most current fishing report.
Snowmobiling
The Brainerd Lakes Area is a snowmobiling paradise! With miles and miles of connected and groomed trails, sledders can ride miles enjoying the beautiful sites and sounds of the area. Visiting snowmobilers will find a plentiful amount of retail and service outlets for gas, repairs, food and lodging in communities along the trails. And don't worry if you don't have your own sled, rent one from one of our reputable recreational rental facilities. Plus, our color-coded trail system makes traveling easy and the local snowmobile clubs do an excellent job of keeping the area trails in tip-top shape for your enjoyment.
The Crow Wing County Snowmobile Trail Association (CWCSTA) is made up of 12 Snowmobile Clubs that help maintain a 1,000 miles of trails in the Brainerd Lakes Area in North Central MN. These clubs include; Bay Lake Sno-Packers, Baxter Snowmobile Club, Brainerd Snodeos, Emily/Outing Snowbirds, Fort Ripley Trail Busters, Garrison Commercial Club, Gull Lake Drifters, Ideal SnoPros, Merrifield Marathons, Pequot Lakes Brush Pilots, Ponto Knight Riders and the Sno-Serpents Snowmobile Club. These clubs are made up of hundreds of volunteers that understand the importance of being active in snowmobile clubs. These volunteers support the clubs by clearing and maintaining trails, driving and maintaining grooming equipment, managing the finances of the clubs, participating in many community events, creating the CWCSTA trail map each year, selling raffle tickets for our annual Snowmobile Raffle fundraiser, working with land owners to allow private land access for trails, work with DNR and other local government agencies to ensure the health of the sport of snowmobiling.
DNR – The Department of Natural Resources is available to answer your questions pertaining to snowmobiling 24/7 at (888) 646-6367.
Snowmobile State Trail Sticker – Please be aware that a snowmobile state trail sticker is required for all persons operating a snowmobile on state or grant-in-aid trails. Order one online, by calling (888) 665-4236 or by stoping in to one of the Brainerd Lakes Area businesses that sell snowmobile stickers. Note that if you register your snowmobile in Minnesota, part of the fee is automatically applied to a state trail sticker. All sleds that were registered outside of the state of Minnesota need to purchase a state trail sticker.
Trail Conditions – Get up to date snowmobile trail conditions from all area snowmobile clubs in one place.
Trail Maps – The Brainerd Lakes Area is home to 1,200 miles of snowmobiling trails...be sure to experience them all! You can also contact the Brainerd Lakes Chamber to request trail maps via the mail.
A new online interactive snowmobile trail map and a downloadable GPS background map are now available to help people explore and navigate Minnesota’s extensive snowmobile trail system, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). For more details, click the link below.
http://news.dnr.state.mn.us/index.php/2010/12/16/two-new-snowmobile-map-products-available-from-the-dnr/
Birding
1/20/12
This is a great time to travel Hwy. 61 along the Mississippi River to view large numbers of overwintering bald and golden eagles. Be sure to stop at the National Eagle Center in Wabasha to learn all about these birds. And don't miss the upcoming Golden Eagle Project Field Trip offered by the National Eagle Center on February 4--this field trip begins at 1:00 p.m. with a brief classroom session on how to identify golden eagles, followed by a caravan to a field site to view golden eagles in the wild. To reserve your spot, contact Scott Mehus at 651/565-4989 or scott@nationaleaglecenter.org
Explore Minnesota Tourism
Spring & Summer
Fishing
World-class fishing is one of the best reasons for visiting the Brainerd Lakes Area. With 465 lakes teeming with a wide variety of species, you’re sure to have a successful fishing experience every time you drop your line. With expert fishing guides, boat rentals, bait and tackle stores in every neighborhood, we make your fishing experience seemless and easy.
The 2011 fishing openers are as follows:
May 14, 2011 through Februray 26, 2012 - Walleye & Northern Fishing Opener
May 14, 2011 through Februray 26, 2012 - Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass Fishing Opener
June 6, 2011 through December 1, 2011 - Muskie Fishing Opener.
Fishing Guides – Learn the lay of the lakes from the area's premier fishing guides.
Boat Rentals – Bring your own boat or rent one from one of the area's reputable businesses.
Bait & Tackle Stores – Local bait and tackle stores have gear and advice waiting for visiting anglers.
Species Grid - Learn what fish like in what lakes in the Brainerd Lakes Area.
Fishing Report – Find out what fish are biting and where by checking out the most current fishing report.
Hunting
Mid-April marks the opening of turkey hunting season in the state of Minnesota. The Brainerd Lakes Aera is alos home to numerous hunting preserves perfect for the avid sportsman who is looking to perfect his or her shot.to wild turkey hunting.
DNR site.
Fall
Fall Color
The Brainerd Lakes Area takes on a new look during the fall. The leaves on the sky-high trees change from bearing bright green leaves to showcasing foliage in shades of red, orange and yellow. The color change provides the opportunity for breathtakingly beautiful drives or bike rides along the area byway and trails.
Fall Color Report – The DNR keeps a close watch on the fall color changes happening throughout the state of Minnesota, including the Brainerd Lakes Area. Find out what the current "color" situation is in the area.
Fall Drives - Some of the best areas to view fall color in the Brainerd Lakes Area are by driving the following roads: Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway, Highway 77 around Gull Lake, Crooked Lake Road off of Highway 18 east of Brainerd and County Road 3 around Edward Lake and Pelican Lake.
Motorcycling
Explore the beautiful Brainerd Lakes Area by motorcycle during the fall months. Ride your own motorcycle or rent one from the local dealer. Exploring the area by motorcylce lets you experience all of the sights, sounds and scenery that you may otherwise miss.
Motorcycle Rentals
