Nestled in the heart of northeastern Minnesota Lake country, the Brainerd Lake Area is ideal for anyone looking to get away from it all. With over 465 lakes in the region and over 520 holes of golf to play, it's no surprise that the Brainerd Lake Area is Minnesota's #1 resort destination.
Gull Lake, one of the more popular lakes in the region, is located a few miles northwest of Brainerd. The largest lake in a chain of 7 (Gull, Upper Gull, Love, Margaret, Nisswa, Ray, Spider), Gull Lake provides both boaters and anglers with a unique set of challenges. The six northern lakes are interconnected by channels that wind through scenic woodlands while a rock reef lies in the middle of the northern portion of Gull Lake itself. Gull Lake is home to a wide variety of fish species and provides an angler with a great opportunity to hook walleye during the fall and winter months, crappie during the early spring, and decent blue gill, sunfish, and northern pike all year round.
To the east of Gull Lake lies North Long Lake. North Long Lake is 6,000 acres in size and is one of the larger and more popular recreational lakes in the Brainerd Area Fisheries management area. According to the latest cabin count (1993), development is fairly dense with over 450 cabins and homes and about a dozen resorts and campgrounds located along the shores. The lake is comprised of three distinct basins, each having its own characteristics. In many ways, the three basins can be considered to be separate lakes. This variety of habitat accounts for a widely diverse fish population.
Pelican Lake, located east of Breezy Point, has a very well developed shore line. There are approximately 20 homes/cabins per shoreline mile and a dozen resorts of different sizes and varieties. Don't let all this development fool you, though. Pelican's excellent water quality and diverse aquatic plant life allows for an enjoyable experience for all those who use the lake.
The Whitefish Lake Chain consists of 14 interconnected lakes in the northern half of Crow Wing County. Each lake has its unique characteristics, presenting a would be angler with a variety of challenges and rewards. The smaller lakes have little bays and coves, beaver and muskrat lodges, and is home to more of the shallow water fish. The larger lakes like Rush, Cross, Upper and Lower Whitefish prove to be a little more difficult with sunken island, underwater points, weed lines, river bars, and more elusive deep-water varieties of fish. All of these lakes have very high clarity ratings, making them excellent for swimming and boating.
If you want to spend some time away from the lake, the surrounding communities offer a wealth of things to do.
Satisfy your inner Tiger Woods and challenge the Brainerd Golf Trail in Brainerd. Golf Digest ranked it as one of "The Top 50 Golf Destinations in the World."
Celebrate all things Scandinavian at the Stamman Scandinavian Festival in Nisswa. Or cheer on your favorite turtle at the annual Turtle Races downtown.
Crosslake takes full advantage of its position on the Whitefish Chain, offering sandy beaches, stunning views and ideal conditions for boating and fishing. Many of the resorts offer lake level cottages as well as access to hiking and cross-country skiing trails in the surrounding area.
Winter enthusiasts should go to Breezy Point for Ice Fest and the World Championship Ice Auger competition. It's a celebration of skiing, skating and heavily modified power tools.
And don't miss Beanhole Days celebrated in Pequot Lakes on the shores of Sibley Lake. Giant cast iron skillets filled with a special baked bean recipe are lowered into giant wood burning pits to cook. When they are finished, the kettles are raised out of the ground and shared with all in attendance. While the beans are the main draw, people also come to enjoy the craft fair and the local entertainment.
For Lakeshoredreams.com, the counties grouped in Brainerd Lakes MN include:
Wadena County MN, Crow Wing County MN, Todd County MN, Morrison County MN
