There’s A Hike In Minnesota That Leads You Straight To An Abandoned Village
Betsy Rathburn
Author
If you care to look for it, history can be found in every corner of Minnesota – even along hiking trails near Brainerd, Minnesota. Signs of ancient people, such as Jeffers Petroglyphs or Indian Mounds Park, are attractions that offer clues to the ancient past. There are more recent historical sites as well, such as Fort Snelling or the Forestville ghost town. But these well-known attractions barely scratch the surface of Minnesota historical sites. There are plenty of others that do not get as much attention. For example, there’s an abandoned village at Crow Wing State Park in northern Minnesota. Take a hike through the park to discover this little-known piece of Minnesota history. Here’s what you need to know:
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Crow Wing State Park is definitely worth the trip – for both the hike and the history. Not to mention, you’ll be in the beautiful Brainerd Lakes Area.
Have you ever visited Crow Wing State Park or any other hiking trails near Brainerd, Minnesota? What other historic places in Minnesota do you recommend? Let us know in the comments!
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More to Explore
Hiking Trails Near Brainerd, Minnesota
What are some other Brainerd, Minnesota trails?
With its location in the renowned Lakes region, Brainerd is a mecca for all kinds of outdoor activities, including hiking. Some of the best Brainerd, Minnesota trails can be found close to town. Others, you may need to travel a short distance to get to. Trails to consider include
Consider another of the waterfront hikes in Minnesota, near the Brainerd Area.
Other hikes in Minnesota, including several near Brainerd, will take you along spectacular waterfront trails, so you can enjoy all the natural riparian beauty that living in the Land of 10,000 Lakes offers. Gull Lake Recreation Area is right on Brainerd's main lake. From Brainerd, you can easily access Mille Lacs Lake, which is one of the largest in the state and is home to two state parks.
Some Minnesota hikes are even better in winter.
There are plenty of year-round Minnesota hikes, and in wintertime, you not only avoid the bugs, but you can also go places where you can't go in the summer, like along the edges of frozen lakes or across bogs. Moreover, with less foliage on the trees, the views change with the seasons.
Did you know there's a train tunnel that's been abandoned hiking trail in Minnesota?
That's right - Ely's Peak is home to a train tunnel that's been abandoned/hiking trail in Minnesota. Located in Duluth, which is a couple of hours northeast of Brainerd, Ely's Peak boasts a pair of awesome hiking trails. One of them will take you right into a railway tunnel that was bored straight through the 1,100-foot peak. But you don't have to worry about trains. The tunnel was built more than 100 years ago and was abandoned by train traffic in the 1990s. Now it's open for hikers, like you, to explore.