winter and summer, visitors can be as active as they want to be or simply relax with a book at the beach or inside in front of a cozy fire. The Brainerd micropolitan offers diverse shopping, theater productions and worldclass summer music fests with everything from bluegrass to symphonic orchestra to opera, and a regional airport with commercial and general aviation. So no matter what the interest is, the Brainerd lakes area has plenty to do and see.
CROW WING STATE PARK
Crow Wing State Park, located south of Brainerd on Highway 371, is a nature lover's delight. Explore prairie, pine and hardwood forests. PAGE 54 | DESTINATIONS 2018
View the Mississippi River from historic and picturesque "Chippewa Lookout." Novice canoeists can paddle the calm waters of the Crow Wing and Mississippi rivers. Crow Wing is a park rich in cultural history. In this area, a frontier town emerged to serve the needs of travelers and traders. The town died when the railroad chose to cross the river at Brainerd. Walk through the site of the Old Crow Wing Village for a sense of history. The park still has a section of the famous Woods Trail, which served ox cart traffic that carried supplies between St. Paul and the Red River settlements. Camping and lodging are available at the park. More information can be found at
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ state_parks/cro w_wing/ index.html or by calling 218825-3075.
PILLSBURY STATE FOREST
The trails at Pillsbury State Forest, located north of Pillager and west of Gull Lake, meander through a heavily forested area consisting of a variety of deciduous and coniferous trees. The woods are dotted with small lakes and ponds where you're likely to see evidence of beavers and other wildlife. You may also find several varieties of wildflowers, including the yellow lady's-slipper. The trail system in this state forest is especially popular with equestrians and mountain bikers during the
summer and cross-country skiers in the winter. Land ownership within this forest includes state, county, municipal and private holdings. Trespass laws are enforced. Please be aware and respect these lands. Grouse hunters find good bird hunting in the fall. The forest is closed to off-highway vehicles so bird hunters are assured they will not be disturbed by ATV traffic while walking the old logging roads. Recreational facilities in the forest include the Walter E. Stark Horse Assembly Area, Shafer Lake and Green Bass Lake. Rock Lake Campground and Day-Use Area can serve as a great alternative to the more developed and heavily used Crow Wing State Park.