Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area — Attraction in Brainerd

What a fanstastic experience! I know I will be short on words and details but will try my best. The drive: Getting there starts to turn on the magic of the whole area. Drive by a tiny towns where people mind their business yet start casual conversations with the friendliest smiles.

The conglomerate of areas: lakes and parks you get to visit while camping in Cuyuna. Everything is a 20 min walk or a 3 minute drive or a 10 minute bike ride. SO MANY BEAUTIFUL PLACE. The Cuyuna campsites are all set and very orderly. So go to the parks website make sure your permits and reservations are in order.

The views: Depending on time of the year your views and experience will vary. During he summer is he most beautiful blue sky and green shrugs and blue refreshing water areas.

Walk, swim, bike, jog, run,canoe, kayak, paddle, retreat and think, OMG you name it. Family, friends, solo travel. You will come a whole new person and with memories for a lifetime.

I cannot say enough great things. They are clean and safe so we must keep them that way. Care for each other and...

Amazingly beautiful. It's hard to believe that it is in Minnesota and that it is the ultimate result of mining. Minnesota has many awesome places. Each has its own special charm. Cuyuna is very unique, though.

The bike trails appear to be very well made and tended. The are definitely not for beginners, though. They look extreme to the point where I don't think I would be able to hike on them by foot. They look super fun.

The lakes are pristine. The water is clean and clear. You can see large numbers of trout. They would be great for fishing or paddling around in with a canoe.

There are some signs that mention diving. That water is deep and clear. It would be like scuba diving in the Caribbean but probably colder.

I'm glad I stopped here to check it out. The views are definitely worth it. I will be back. I wish I did mountain biking or trout fishing so I had more of an...

Definitely a mountain biking Mecca! Cuyuna was a different flavor of MTB than what I am used to with local TC trails. A lot more flowy, focus on berms, speed and downhills instead of constantly going over roots and rocks. Red clay means that the trail is never truly hard packed and rolling resistance is slightly more than your typical dirt trails. Make sure you take a trail map or app like TrailForks to plan your ride if it is your first time. Like many MTB trails, beginners can take it easy, but the distances can be long enough that this probably should not be your first foray into offroad biking. If you live within driving distance and enjoy biking, you need...