On Water

Swimming, fishing, boating

The most popular public place to take a dip in the area is Detroit Lakes’ mile-long, sandy City Beach. It’s open to everyone, but dogs and alcohol are not allowed. The space is quick to fill with people in the summers, usually being the busiest during the hottest hours of the day. Tanning and swimming are always popular here, and boat rentals are available right on the beach, at J&K Marina, or a few miles east at the Holiday Inn Marina. A number of restaurants are just across the street from the beach, and food trucks and the Ice Cream Truck regularly visit the neighboring City Park.

Other public beaches in the area can be found at

Middle Cormorant Lake, Eagle Lake, Town Lake, Wolf Lake and in Osage, Frazee, Vergas and Ottertail. Perham has a swimming beach at Paul Miller Park, north of town. Visit the Becker County Parks and Recreation website, or Otter Tail County website, for more information on these.

In addition, fishing is popular year-round here, whether it be from piers, boats, shorelines or fish houses. There are dozens of public water accesses across both Becker and Otter Tail counties; visit the county websites for maps and more information.

Holiday Inn Marina

1155 Hwy. 10 E by the Holiday Inn, Detroit Lakes 218-847-2121

J&K Marina

121 W Lake Dr., Detroit Lakes 218-847-7291 www.jkmarine.com/rentals

Diving

Tri-State Diving of Detroit Lakes, owned by Gary Thompson, offers scuba diving equipment, dive trips, certification classes and more. Classes are two weeks long in the summer, plus exams. Dive trips are open to divers who are already certified.

Tri-State Diving

28300 Little Floyd Lake Road, Detroit Lakes 218-847-4868 tri-statediving.com or Facebook @Tri-State-Diving

Tubing down the Otter Tail River

Charlie’s Tubing and K&K Tubing, located right next to each other on Highway 34 in Detroit Lakes, both offer rides down the Otter Tail River. Tubes – for riders, dogs and coolers – as well as parking and rides to the river entrance, are provided by both businesses. Rides down the river are about 2 hours long straight through, but many tubers like to stop at the popular sandbar along the way. Water shoes are recommended for first-time tubers. You’ll also need to know how many drinks you have, and they need to be in aluminum cans. If you want to beat the crowds, go early or later in the afternoon, as prime time tends to be around 2 p.m.

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