Traveling Around the Brainerd Lakes

MOONLITE BAY, CROSSLAKE, MN

TRAVELING AROUND THE BRAINERD

EXPLORING THE BRAINERD LAKES is easy no matter what mode of transportation you choose!

Photo Courtesy Josh Marquart, CFI at NorthPoint Aviation

Take to the sky for a birds’ eye view of the landscape. NorthPoint Aviation, based out of the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport, offers scenic flights of the Brainerd Lakes Area. An experienced pilot will fly you over beautiful terrain. You can see lakes, the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area (including bike trails and mine pit lakes), and depending on the time of year, fall colors. Flight tours are 30-or 60-minutes.

2.Car

We’re a destination that’s easy to navigate and travel by car. Drive the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway, and make stops along the way in Jenkins, Pequot Lakes, and Crosslake. You’ll also traverse along some scenic nature spots with stops where you can get out and learn about the area at interpretive kiosks.

You can drive around the popular Gull Lake for an afternoon cruise. County Road 77 winds around Gull Lake starting north of Baxter and finishes up by Lake Shore (or start in reverse). This route is particularly beautiful in the fall when the colors pop.

While driving the County Road 77 route, there are several restaurants to stop and grab a bite to eat. All of the major resorts (Cragun’s, Madden’s on Gull Lake, and Grand View) have dining options. Reservations recommended.

• Sunshine Summerhouse • Dock 77 • Bar Harbor • Zorbaz on Gull Lake • Lost Lake Lodge

3.Boat

When you’re in Lake Country, it’s hard to beat spending the day on the water. You can chill and float, dial it up by pulling the kids tubing or waterskiing, or rip around on a jet ski. Whether you want to cruise the Gull Chain or Whitefish Chain of Lakes or prefer a quieter lake, you’ll find a body of water that fits your style. Don’t have a boat or jet ski? No problem! If you’re staying at a resort, many offer boat rentals. You can also check out these places that offer rentals.

• Bertha Boatworks • Boats and Beyond • Brothers Motorsports • Lake Fun Rentals • The Power Lodge • Your Boat Club

If you’re looking to slow the pace and soak in some unfiltered nature, head down river. Check out Crow Wing Kayaks in Crosslake to buy or rent kayaks for paddling around the lake. You can even do day trips down the Pine River with their preplanned kayak routes. These trips range from 1.5 hours to all day. Kayaking is a great family friendly activity for all ages. Visit www.crowwingkayaks.com!

5.ATV/UTV

We have an expansive ATV/UTV trail system covering hundreds of miles all around the area—Brainerd, Cuyuna Lakes, Emily and Outing, and Pine River.

The Spider Lake Trails, located in the Foot Hills State Forest near Pine River, is one of the most popular trail systems in Minnesota. You’ll travel 29 miles on diverse terrain. From smooth and sandy to rough and rocky, it’s exciting, challenging, and a great place to improve your riding ability. While riding the trails, you’ll also see lakes, ponds, and climb hills and slopes around the forest.

If you’re looking to rent UTVs, check out Seaberg Motor Sports or The Power Lodge.

You’ll travel 29 miles on diverse terrain. From smooth and sandy to rough and rocky, it’s exciting, challenging, and a great place to improve your riding ability.

6.Snowmobile

Cruising trails through the woods and across frozen lakes is a fun way to spend a winter’s day. Ride for a few hours and stop to grab a bite to eat before heading back to your resort or hotel. You don’t need your own snowmobile to enjoy the hundreds of miles of trails. Businesses that rent snowmobiles: The Brainerd Lakes Area makes it easy for you to enjoy the woods. Trails are groomed regularly during winter months. You can check trail conditions at www.crowwing.us. The Northland Arboretum, which is within the Brainerd/Baxter city limits, has 12 miles of trails with nearly 5 km lighted for evening skiing.

The Nordic Ridge trail system is also popular with outdoor enthusiasts with over 14 miles of multiuse trails.

The Crow Wing State Park would be a great place to snowshoe, especially the beautiful trails that follow the Mississippi River. You can snowshoe on the trails around the Paul Thiede Fire Tower Park just outside of Pequot Lakes.

Easy Riders in Brainerd rents snowshoes and cross country skis. The Crosslake Community Center also rents snowshoes.

8.Bike

If you love biking, you’ve come to the right place. You and your family can enjoy miles of biking along the backdrop of the Northwoods. The area’s renowned Paul Bunyan State Trail is 115 miles long. The trail winds through the Crow Wing State Park south of Brainerd/Baxter and heads north through Nisswa, Pequot Lakes, and Pine River. Trailside Park in downtown Pequot Lakes is the perfect spot to rest right off the trail.

Visit the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area (CCSRA) for an adrenaline rush. Cuyuna’s 5,000 acres are mostly undeveloped offering a rugged landscape perfect for the outdoor enthusiast. CCSRA has 55 miles of singletrack trails at a variety of difficulties, so if you’re a newbie or avid biker there’s a trail for you.

Biking in Cuyuna isn’t just for summer months. Fat tire biking in the winter brings a new dimension to biking.

• Boats and Beyond • Brothers Motorsports • Central Lakes Motorsports • Cragun’s Resort on Gull • The Power Lodge • Seaberg Motorsports

1) PHOTO BY BUFFALO MEDIA GROUP, COURTESY OF WHITEFISH AREA LODGING ASSOCIATION 2) PHOTO BY ISAAC JOHNSON, COURTESY CRAGUN'S RESORT ON GULL LAKE 3) PHOTO BY BLAZEAIR 4) PHOTO BY BUFFALO MEDIA GROUP