Hike, Bike & Connect with Nature on our Multi-Use
Recreational Trails
 Let’s
pretend: There is an area in Minnesota with miles of
hard surfaced public trails where you can take a stroll
with a summer breeze at your back and listen to the
rustling of quaking aspen leaves, observe the soaring,
silent flight of a bald eagle, an osprey or red tailed
hawk and find solitude, free from I-pods, tv’s, the
internet and cell phones. There is an area where you
can in-line skate past bubbling streams and sparkling
blue lakes, enjoy the good natured banter of a catbird
and listen to the croaking of frogs in a wetland. There
is an area where you can bike for miles and occasionally
spot a white tailed deer, grouse or fox crossing your
path, and roll past native grasses and wildflowers as
well as majestic white, red and jack pines. There is
an area where the trail leads through bustling communities
with unique shopping and culinary opportunities and
an area where you can snowmobile over miles of trails,
kicking up your heals in fluffy snow.
Actually, who’s pretending? This place does exist.
Is it heaven? It well may be, but we refer to it as
Brainerd Lakes Country and we sport two world class
paved public trails.
The longest of the two is the Paul Bunyan Trail, over
100 miles in length and which includes over 80 paved
miles. The paved areas include 73 miles from Brainerd/Baxter
running all the way to Walker and another 7 miles from
Lake Bemidji State Park to County Road 20 across the
Mississippi River trestle to 5th and Gould. There are
at least 14 towns along the way offering rest stops
and parking, shopping and eating establishments. The
trail is handicapped accessible. Whether you are walking,
jogging, in-line skating, biking, cross country skiing
or snowmobiling this is where it is happening.
The second trail in the immediate Brainerd Lakes Country
area is the Cuyuna Lakes State Trail which at this time
has approximately six paved miles. It features biking,
in-line skating, jogging, hiking and cross country skiing
opportunities in some of the most breathtaking scenery
in Minnesota. It is located in the five thousand acre
Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area and winds around
a number of Minnesota’s newest lakes. These lakes
were created after mining operations ended on the historic
Cuyuna Iron Range. Who knows, while enjoying the trail
you might see a bald eagle overhead or stumble across
a piece of binghamite or silkstone under foot. While
you’re in the area be sure to visit the many antique
shops in downtown Crosby.
Just remember, whether you’re here to visit or
here for a lifetime take a moment - shut off the cell
phone, the i-pod and computer and go out and enjoy the
peace and tranquility of one of our local recreational
trails.
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