Photo Courtesy Minnesota Department of Natural Resources .
The Best Camping Sites in the Brainerd Lakes Area
BY RACHEL M . ANDERSON • CONTRIBUTING WRITER AND EDITOR ( BRAINERD )
When someone tells you they are heading to Central Minnesota , they may be heading there to enjoy time at one of the many resorts . But a resort-style vacation isn ’ t for everyone .
More and more these days , people want to just get away from it all and spend time surrounded by nature . The best way to do that is by camping , and there are plenty of places to do it Up North .
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CAMPING
According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources ( DNR ), the most popular camping site in the Brainerd Lakes area is the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area . Just a 20-minute drive southeast of Downtown Brainerd , the park features four walk-in camping sites , along with 29 drivein sites , 18 of which feature access to electricity .
There is also a group camping site that can accommodate up to 25 people , and three yurts that are available year-round . Each yurt sleeps seven people . There are also showers and restrooms available for campers .
“ In addition to great camping sites , the park is a fantastic place to go if you ’ re into adventure ,” says Rachel Hopper , Visitor Services and Outreach Manager for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources ( DNR ). “ Cuyuna Country features mountain biking , scuba diving , fishing and a whole lot more .”
The park encompasses 5,000 acres of mostly undeveloped land , and 25 miles of natural shoreline that can be explored by boat or canoe . The site is rich in history . Hundreds of years ago , it was a border area between the Dakota and Ojibwe Indians , and served as a long portage route from Mille Lacs to the upper Mississippi River .
More recently , in the 1900s , iron ore was discovered and mined there . Twenty to thirty mines
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