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Brainerd Lakes Area Brainerd Lakes Area

Where Minnesota memories are made

There is no better destination than the Brainerd lakes area to enjoy the great outdoors with all the comforts of home, to be closer to all that nature can provide — sparkling water bodies and 2,000 miles of shoreland amid tall pines, with hundreds of miles of bicycle, walking, jogging and snowmobile trails. There are deep mine pit lakes for a quiet kayak ride or scuba dive, lakes and rivers for fishing and recreation.

Load up the bike (or rent one) to try the Cuyuna Range mountain bike trails, then take a break in an area coffee shop or eatery. The area has 45 resorts and more than 400 holes of golf, plus a zip line. Or camp and see the glorious Milky Way, away from city lights.

While nature and the outdoor experience are the stars here, that’s not the only attraction. Visit historic homesteads in area parks — from early settlements to the nearby boyhood home of famed aviator Charles Lindbergh — along with local history museums and art galleries.

But the area offers so much more, from Brainerd-Baxter to Pine River, Pequot Lakes to Crosslake, Crosby to Pillager, there are unique experiences available, whether walking on a nature trail or shopping along a main street. With numerous festivals and events all year long, a visitor can be as active as they want to be or simply relax with a book at the beach.

The Brainerd micropolitan offers diverse shopping, theater productions and world-class summer music fests with everything from bluegrass to symphonic orchestra to opera, and a regional airport with commercial and general aviation. Go to visitbrainerd.com and explorebrainerdlakes. com/events for more information and calendars of events. Love it! Locals Cuyuna Pump Track offers more than 2,000 feet of continuous circuit of dirt rollers, berms and jumps for a variety of skill levels with tent and RV campsites, pavilion and playground and all near the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Trails. “This pump track is a hidden gem in the Cuyuna area,” Lindsay Leet wrote in a review. “With loads of dirt trails, hills, mounds and more tucked into a relatively small area, it offers lots of opportunity for practice and fun.” For more information, go to ci.cuyuna.mn.us/pump-track.

GIVE A BREWERIES TOUR A TASTE

The Brainerd area is home to several craft beer options with local brews. Make it a daylong outing by visiting Jack Pine Brewery’s tap house in Baxter, Big Axe Brewing Co. in Nisswa, 14 Lakes Brewery in Crosslake, Cuyuna Brewing Co. in Crosby, the Roundhouse Brewery in Nisswa, Block North Brew Pub in Aitkin and Starry Eyed Brewing in Little Falls and Snarky Loon Brewing Co. in Jenkins. In Brainerd, 5 Rocks Distilling Co. offers a microdistrillery. Also venture to the Dennis Drummond Wine Co. near Brainerd with wine tasting, retail, a bistro and wedding venue.

Love it! Locals GO BIG

Take a selfie-photo tour with the bigs — the giant walleye on the shores of Mille Lacs Lake in Garrison, the leaping deer in Deerwood, a waving Paul Bunyan at the Brainerd Lakes Area Welcome Center, the colorful serpent on the shores of Serpent Lake in Crosby, or Babe the legendary blue ox at Paul Bunyan Land near Brainerd, or the big man himself — the 26-foot-tall talking Paul Bunyan.

Lakes Jam

Founded in 2012, the multi-day event brings big names in music to the lakes area for a lineup of concerts for both rock music and country music fans for an entire experience, including camping on the site, nearby lodging, and other activities at the event such as watercross, drifting, lawn mower racing, poker tournaments, bag tournaments — all on the expansive grounds of Brainerd International Raceway. www.Lakesjam.com

CUYUNA MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS

Enjoy heart-pumping action with tight turns and scenic vistas along 50 miles of trails spread across 800 acres of the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area. Trails wind around mine pits and lakes with breathtaking overlooks. With more than 30 purpose-built routes to choose from, mountain bikers from beginner to pro can enjoy a ride. Find more info at cuyunalakesmtb.com. Bonus pro tip: You can stay in a yurt while at Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area. Three sevenperson yurts are available for rent year-round along the Yawkey Mine Lake.

TAKE THE STAIRS

The historic 100-foot Pequot Lakes fire tower, north of County Highway 11 and east of Highway 371, is on the National Register of Historic Places and provides a bird’s eye view of the lakes area. Located at Paul M. Thiede Fire Tower Park, the fire tower is open for people to climb the 135 steps from dawn to dusk daily in the warm months. Interpretive signs along the crushed granite walking path to the fire tower share information about the history of the park and of fire towers, Minnesota landscapes, and fires and firefighting. Two trails lead to the fire tower -- a 0.3 mile Fire Tower Trail and a 0.4 mile Wildlife Loop. Dogs are welcome, with two Mutt Mitt stations for people to clean up after their dogs.

TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE:

VISIT SAFARI NORTH WILDLIFE PARK

The mission of Safari North Wildlife Park is to promote conservation and preservation through safe, affordable and memorable experiences with a quality recreational and educational environment dedicated to wildlife care and conservation. There are hundreds of mammals, birds, reptiles and primates that make their home in the expansive wildlife park. People can take camel rides and view the African and Asian grasslands exhibits from the viewing areas. Hand-feed the white-tailed deer, or step up high and feed a giraffe from the comforts of a feeding station.

BEST BETS FOR SHORT TRIPS

STAY FOR THE WEEKEND:

Whether a beginner or an expert mountain biker, the 30 miles of mountain bike trails, or miles of paved walking and biking trails, or hours of kayaking on the clear waters of the mine pit lakes provide an outdoor escape in the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area, which is known for its “breath-taking rides” and scenic overlooks. The Cuyuna Lakes State Trail provides 8 miles of paved trail. There are multiple options for a weekend getaway, from camping to hotel rooms, cabins and resorts, along with eateries and breweries throughout the area. Hike or bike to the top of Miner’s Mountain, the highest point in the recreation area, to put it all in perspective.

STAY FOR A DAY:

Bike or drive from Brainerd and Baxter to the Crow Wing State Park for a day trip to the park to hike scenic trails, step back into history for unspoiled sweeping views of the confluence of the Mississippi and Crow Wing rivers and the historic Old Crow Wing Town Site. Interpretive signs provide a look into the past for the frontier town. “Start from the picnic area parking lot. From the boat landing, climb the stairs to Chippewa Lookout. Stand high atop the Mississippi River for distant views,” the park notes, adding along with canoeing or kayaking, the park provides a great place to get back to nature and observe wildlife. Add a walking history tour of Brainerd and shop in the historic downtown area while taking in what else the entire area has to offer.

LAKES AREA MUSIC FESTIVAL

This festival brings nearly 200 world-class classical musicians to audiences of upwards of 14,000 people for a series of free concerts. Outdoor yoga and ballet performances are sometimes incorporated into the concerts, too. Pre-concert lectures provide greater insight into the music, authors and musicians. For more information, go to lakesareamusic.org.

BRAINERD INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

This world-class racing facility combines a road course and dragstrip, and continues to grow and bring in top names in racing and rising stars. The 600-acre facility attracts a weekend population of 100,000 for its annual marquee drag racing event — Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals. Nitro-fueled NHRA drag racing returns to BIR for the NHRA Nationals on Aug. 18-21, 2022. The raceway offers 200 acres of camping, a playground, driving school, band stage, and bar and grille, along with 164 full-service recreational sites, shower trailers and in-field deluxe condominiums. For more information on events, go to brainerdraceway.com.

BRAINERD LAKES AREA Calendar of Events

MARCH

12: 22nd Annual Downtown Brainerd

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration. 12-13: Agate, Gem and Mineral Show,

The Gathering Event Center, 34212 Co Rd 3, Crosslake. 19: 48th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Celebration, Crosslake. 25-26: Brainerd Lakes Home Show and Expo, Essentia Health Sports

Center, Brainerd.