Paul Bunyan State Trail Reviews

This is my favorite bike trail in Minnesota. I love the beautiful pine trees on both sides of the trail as you go north our of Brained. The trail is wide near the trailhead and well maintained throughout. I've biked this trail from Brainerd to Backus. The landscape is beautiful for most of the way. There are parts where you are riding next to the highway. The trail is well maintained.

Not a good starting point if you have small children. Offers nothing. Go further north. Nice if you like to go & push it. No real vacation-able services nearby.

Well maintained trail. Most of the trail is lined with trees. An occasional marsh area opens up the view (and the wind factor on the day we rode). Rented bikes in Nisswa and headed toward Brainerd. Some of us stopped before Merrifield and took a boat access road to a lake. It was beautiful to sit and relax on the dock until our fellow bikers returned for our trip back to Nisswa.

This is a terrific trail to bike or walk. Nice even elevation and not too crowded. You can make your trip as long or short as you want.

The trail is amazingly beautiful. It "begins" in Bemidji and ends in Brainerd (or oppositely), providing diverse, gradually-changing terrain. Most areas are family-friendly (there are numerous towns along the trail, and at least one shelter with an outhouse), but the atmosphere compensates for a lack of challenging stretches. The sights are great, as well: the trail passes through woods, marshes, and more open areas, and winds its way around towns, farms, and pristine lakes. You won't regret taking a biking trip on this trail, so pack a snack, gather up the family, and break out the bikes.

Beautiful place to talk a walk, well marked and lots of parking. Great way to get outside during Covid.

Although when you think of a trail like Paul Bunyan State Trail you might think of biking, we walked the trail recently. The bikers were courteous and we saw things that you wouldn't see driving down 371. The trail is well maintained, there are different spots to sit and view the scenery (local lakes) which we took advantage of. All in all it was a very nice afternoon on a lovely sunny day on a crisp early fall feeling day.

We thought we could get on the trail from our resort but brought our bikes to Nisswa & got on. Nice trail, saw deer & other wildlife. It had a nice surface & went for miles.

The Paul Bunyan Trail is a retired railroad line turned paved multi-use trail. I have biked every mile of the 100+ miles of trail multiple times over the years. The entire length of the trail is level grade and easy to access. (With one exception, there is an eight mile option with a much hillier route just south of Walker. There is an alternative flat route to that section if hills aren't to your liking, as well.)

Depending on the experience you are looking for, this trail has it. If you want a short jaunt with food and shopping options near by, heading out of the Nisswa trail head is highly recommended. Nisswa is by far the best shopping town in the lakes area and has a lot of personality. The trail north and south of Nisswa is one of the most scenic to ride through, as well.

If you are looking you stretch your legs for miles of uninterrupted cycling, blading or walking, north of Pequot Lakes the traffic is much lower.

In my opinion, any stretch between Crowing State Park and Pequot Lakes is the prettiest. Albeit, navigating through Brainerd is a chore. The ride between Hackensack and Walker on the hilly section is a VERY close second.

You can't go wrong, no matter where you enter this many miles long biking/hilking/walking trail. Right now in September, leaves are starting to turn, yet it is still mild, and there are no bugs! Perfect conditions for a day long cruise, or a half hour run.

This is a very well kept trail which walkers, bikers can enjoy. It passes through a variety of environments, which include: grass lands, lakes, rivers, coniferous and deciduous forests. Visitors have a good chance to view wildlife. Birding opportunities are numerous and rewarding.

Old railroad track. Many bikers. Saw trail in Backus hackensack bimidji

I have been regularly riding this trail since 1997. Being a long trail at 110 miles, it has its great stretches like Baxter to Nisswa and Walker to Hackensack with deep forest and views of a few lakes to less stellar stretches like 6 miles either side of Pine River where traffic noise from MN 371, older asphalt, and open country dominates.

I grew up in the area, less than a mile from this trail, I can still remember when it was a railroad track and the trains would roar past in the middle of the night. When it was paves and converted to a bike trail my friends and I rode it 100's of times. I still take my young daughter riding the trail when we visit my folks.

The Paul Bunyan Trail from Nisswa to Pequot Lakes is great for walking and biking. Many lakes and beautiful woods to see and enjoy. It is well maintained and a great addition to Nisswa.

I took my youth group up to ride bikes on the bike trail. The teens loved it. We saw a great part of Minnesota and we enjoyed it a lot. The towns were just far enough apart that there was a good workout but great places to rest and relax.

This is a great trail for family fun. In the summer you and bicycle, walk, or roller blade. It is paved and fairly level so it perfect for all ages. In the winter, it is great for snowmobiling with gas and restaurant stops that are easy to get to.

My husband and I rented some bikes while visiting Nisswa and rode them on the Paul Bunyan trail. It is beautiful and relatively quiet.

So many families ride the trail, going through changes with the 371 Hwy and it will be finished soon. Longest trail in Minnesota. Bike rentals available in many areas. Enjoy with your family and get out there and exercise.

We meet our friends at the trailhead in Baxter every summer for our annual bike trip to Nisswa. It's over 30 miles round trip. We stop for coffee and scones in nisswa and head back. Fun bike trips on the trail.

We enjoyed many walks on this trail in three days we were in town. The paved trail makes for a great walk. Lots of trees, wildlife and plenty of parking at the trail head. The memorial bridge is also very neat. We would love to ride the trail to nearby towns one day but didn't have our bikes with us. Many people were riding bikes on the trail. Loved it. This will be a major reason we return to the Brainerd/Baxter area.

Three of us road the Paul Bunyan Trail from Brainerd to Bemidji over a two day period. I absolutely love this trail. It's an old railroad track turned into a paved walking/biking trail. Because it's an old train track, no part of the trail is more than a 2% grade up or down.

Day one was 67 miles long with 900 ft of total climb meaning it was flat. We passed through Nissa which had a brewery; Pequot which had a veterans memorial; and Hackensack which had a brewery and nice lake access. Walker was the midpoint which was filled with things to do.

Day two was 44 miles long with 550 ft of climb. Picking up from Walker, we did not really enter any towns. It was all rural lakes, pines and countryside. So beautiful. The trail ends in Bemidji at the visitor center where you can see Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox.

I am a bird watcher, and I enjoyed this ride immensely. Every 50-100 feet for 110 miles some kind of warbler, vireo, thrush, grosbeak, catbird or oriole was singing. After hearing them for six hours straight, I memorized most of them. By day two I could call out Blackburnian, Black-and-white, Ovenbird, Red-eyed vireo, Yellow and more. So cool. We saw three loons as well. Snapping turtles were laying eggs trail side.

If you decide to bike this trail there are a few things to know. Stopping mid-trail to view lakes and wild life will invite an army of mosquitos. There are virtually no restrooms. The few towns you go though may have a gas station, store or actual rest area. A very small portion of the 110 miles has poor maintenance and would be considered bumpy. The rest is pure joy.

Bring water and plan to stop in the towns to refill. There is nothing along the trail. You are truly in the woods most of the time.

I live in the area but the trail is about half an hour from me. However, it is worth the drive with the bike because the trail is so nice, well-maintained, and there are lots of fun destination towns.

From Nisswa for 10 miles. I loved the scenery & the town & all the shops but the trail is really rough. FIND ANOTHER BIKE TRAIL.

It is comfortable bike trail for young & old. Towns on the say are very interesting & great places to take a rest. The bike shop in Nisswa was great when my bike needed a repair.

This trail offers ample flat rolling terrain, particularly south of Hackensack to Brainerd. The area around Walker is more challenging with many short steep hills. From Walker to Bemidji seems like a gradual incline. Most areas are in forest, some areas parallel highways.
Friendly people in the small towns along the way.

I just finished a round-trip of the the entire Paul Bunyan State Trail, and I was not disappointed. The trail is well maintained (a few rough sections here and there, but overall very good), and very scenic. The trail passes by many gorgeous lakes and plenty of small towns, and I enjoyed every minute of the ride. The nine-mile section through the Chippewa National Forest is particularly beautiful, and stronger riders will enjoy the curves and rolling hills. All in all, I wholeheartedly endorse the Paul Bunyan Trail with five stars.

Our family enjoys biking the Paul Bunyan State Trail several times every summer. It is a scenic trail, pretty flat and easy enough for most ages/biking abilities. For a fun treat, we stop at the Chocolate Ox in Nisswa for an ice cream cone.

wonderful trail for biking, hiking, running, or snowmobiling. Easy to use parking facilities, brought grandkids for their 1st trail ride(4&8) they enjoyed the smooth trail, and stopping for lunch. Go here many times a year, can always see something new, nature's always changing.

This is one of our favorite trails in Minnesota. Particularly the stretch from Brainard to Nisswa. Nice flat trail with minimal road crossings and plenty to do at each end. This portion of the trail is not parallel to the road so it feels remote. The flies can be bad a t times so be prepared for that. The trail is very flat and well maintained. It is an excellent ride for fall colors.

Nature highlights were the (A) beautiful rolling hills in the Chippewa National Forest and neighboring Paul Bunyan State Forest, (B) Lake Bemidji State Park, and (C) Crow Wing State Park. Though it may be tempting to shorten the lengthy trip by stopping in Bemidji or Brainerd... I was pleasantly surprised by the State Parks at the extreme ends of the trail.

*** The EMBRACING PINES SHUTTLE was a wonderful partner by providing both comfortable transportation with flexible timing and the advice of a reliable local tour guide.

Biked Paul Bunyan State Trail one-way over two days.
Day 1 - 90 miles from Benedict (Walker) to Crow Wing State Park
Day 2 - 30 miles from Bemidji State Park to Benedict

the trail is based on an old railroad grade, so few hills except around walker, mn. small towns every few miles for food, etc. also, brainerd and its lakes are on the trail, and only a few miles from a terrific mountain bike experience in Crosby, with miles of fun trails.

Its a very well kept trail but rather boring. Its not hilly or steep in any way. If your an average rider you will enjoy it.
More experienced rider will be bored.

Great trail and endless. Good for walking, biking. Is extremely long if you want to have fun. There are bike rental places in Nisswa.

I rode the trail from Brainerd to Bemidji and back over a weekend. The portion from Brainerd to roughly Jenkins was very nice. The portion from Hackensack and north was also very nice. The views of forest and lakes are stunning. The portion in between was ok but not nearly as nice. That portion of the trail (Jenkins to Hackensack) runs most of the time within sight and sound of a highway, and has a seam about every 30 feet that is jarring to ride over and gets old fast. The portion (roughly 7 miles) that runs east and west through the Chippewa National Forest is the prettiest part of the trail. It is very hilly but none with an especially steep grade. The scenery in that part is worth the hills. There are bathrooms about every 10 – 15 miles and easily accessible water at most. Walker is poorly marked as there are in-town trails that spur off the PBT route without indicating which to take. It appears that staying straight, through town and near the lake, is the most direct route. Taking the east west route through the Chippewa avoids Walker entirely and is all the more reason to take it.

Three generations of my family met at Pequot Lakes to take to the bike trail and it was wonderful. There were short rides that enabled the old and the young to ride and for the die-hard riders, there was a 70 mile trip. The trail is paved and wide and mostly flat with only slight hills between Pequot Lakes and Nisswa. Going north to Hackensack the trail has a few more hills. Friendly people to share the trail with and lots of places to stop to rest or get water, etc. This was our 2nd year and we plan to do it again next year.

Great place to bike and hike. Lots of fun stops in the little towns along the way. Stop in Pequot Lakes, Jenkins, Nisswa, Pine River for fun places to eat, drink and be merry.

Having recently moved back to the midwest, my goal for the summer is to take the time to ride this trail end to end. This weekend I knocked off the Nisswa to Pine River section. This is a lovely, well maintained trail that is pretty flat and goes through the trees, past lovely lakes, and through some nice little towns. Despite economic hard times, these towns have maintained nice little parks and rest stops (air conditioned clean bathrooms along the trail by the parking lot in Pequot Lakes!), and there are benches along the tracks. I have filled up my tires at several gas stations and everyone is nice even though I'm not a huge spender (I try to stop in these little towns and buy a snack or a meal or something). Every weekend one of the towns on the trail is having some sort of festival. Great way to spend a cool morning or evening. Most sections of the trail are well shaded except mid day and the wildflowers and wildlife sitings a nice bonus!

I was in Baxter for a weekend and walked 2 different times on this trail. Was easy to find, plenty of parking and people were friendly.

As part of our 2013 Cycle Tour along the Mississippi River Trail we had the great pleasure of cycling the Paul Bunyan Trail. We were thrilled to have dedicated bike path, with shops and services along the way. We rode the entire length of the trail and would highly recommend it! Our only wish....that all bike trails were this well maintained and serviced. Thank you Minnesota!

To read more about the trail and view, please feel free to visit our blog at www.rwnetworks.blogspot.ca

My wife and I spent two days biking and geocaching on the Paul Bunyan Trail. The first day we biked from Baxter to Pequot Lakes (22 miles) and the second day we biked from Pequot Lakes to Backus (18 miles). All in all we visited a bit more than 300 geocaches along this "power trail." The trail is immaculate and flat. The pavement itself is in great shape. Every 6 miles or so, there is a small town along the trail that has restrooms, food/water, and other amenities. There are plenty of places to park your bike and stop for a bite to eat, or grab some ice cream.

We biked from Nisswa to Jenkins MN. on the Paul Bunyan trail and it was very nice. There were a a lot of people using it by walking, roller skating, or biking, everyone we came in contact with were very nice. Stopped in Pequot lakes and enjoyed a hot coffee at a small coffee-gift shop before heading back.

My girlfriends and I had an awesome day in the area! We walked the Paul Bunyan trail in the morning and headed to Gull Lake for the afternoon/evening. We had so much fun! The best part was The Loon's Cycle Cruise, It is a cycle pub on water! Amazing! And so much fun. We had a blast. https://www.facebook.com/TheLoonsCycleCruise/posts/935706219801147:0

This is a nicely paved, mostly flat bike trail through the scenic northwoods. My husband and I, with another couple, rode from Hackensack to Bemidji on Saturday, and made the return trip Sunday. I liked that the trail was clearly marked, and that the trail had a mix of flat straight-aways, bridges, a few hills, and a couple lakes or streams. It took us about 4 and a half hours each way for riding time, not including stopping for lunch. We are all fairly active 40-somethings, and while the length of our ride was longer than some people might be ready for, the trail itself seems very accessible for new and/or casual bicyclists alike.
There aren't many options for food or provisions along this stretch, so plan accordingly. Wear sunscreen, as there are some long stretches in full sun. We encountered very few cyclists, surprisingly. Everyone we did pass, however, was quick to say hello.

Rode a few miles with the grandkids a couple of weeks ago. Rode entirely within Crow Wing State Park. Very nice trail, good surface, winding & scenic.

I live a few miles from this trail and access it on my snowmobile from other trails near my home. The trail is groomed by local snowmobile clubs and the DNR I think. The trail follows hwy 371 for the most part and runs from Baxter to Bemidji. There is much traffic on this trail generally, so if there is a breakdown or an emergency there will be help close at hand. I have not used this trail in the summer or without snow. There are many places along this trail that offer food and drink.

Beautiful trail with breathtaking views of quiet lakes and dense forest, with places to stop and explore about every 6 or 7 miles.

This is the best bike trail! Lots of parking & spots to do quick repairs on your bike. How’s right through Nisswa & Pequot Lakes. The trail is well maintained & mostly flat.

While camping at Lake Bemidji State Park, I took my bicycle on this trail. The paved portion started right in the campground, and wound around some local overlooks, until it connected with the main trail which travels from Bemidji down to Brainard Mn. The part in the park, is all paved, but after that it is a well packed, and travelled, gravel path. I went to the Bass Lake overlook, Sundew Pond overlook, and rode down to the bridge where the Mississippi river enters Lake Bemidji. The trail is on a abandoned rail line, and is well maintained. From the park, it is a 6-7 mile pedal to Downtown Bemidji. I found it to be most enjoyable and would recommend it to all.

What a wonderful bike trail! Mostly level, completely paved. We did 4 different sections of 20 miles round trip. Pequot to Pine River was just mostly along the highway but the other 3 were very nice. I want to go back and do more! At our age 20 miles is about the maximum we can do but it was very nice.

Definitely a summer venue but if the snow is right you could ski it. Its a ride through the woods and on a summer day awesome. Trails are maintained and good surface for a ride. Bring some water and a snack, a very nice ride and if you are quiet you may see some deer. Also, bring some bug spray and wear glasses so you don't eat bugs while riding.

We use the trail for biking and snowmobiling. Fall colors are great, as is the ease of which you can snowmobile from one area to the next in the Brainerd Lakes area. You can stop at some of the prime tourist locations or get off at less known spots.

This is a very nice trail and is very well kept. It wanders through the woods and near Bemidji Lake. It is used by hikers with families of young children and teens through senior

we camped up near Pine River, and just across the road is the trail...away you go!
nicely paved...flat...nice scenery....you are not always alongside the highway, so that is good...
it would be nice if there were a few more signs telling you how far to the next town.
we are older and like to pace ourselves, but you can't always tell how far you have gone.....and a couple more benches would be nice. otherwise it is great....

The is a very wide paved trail that is perfect for biking and hiking. It has a some bumps that are almost like expansion joints on the highway. But it is still a very smooth surface! Great fun!

We love this bike trail. All 115 miles of it. Great places to stop along the way...Nisswa and Pequot Lakes are our favorites!

What a wonderfule trail. I've been on this trail dozens of times. It's a paved state trail that goes on for miles and miles. Every mile is marked. There are runners, bicylcists, roller bladers, and walkers that use this trail. The trail goes along lakes, prairies, small towns, forests, etc. You can usually find a trail map anywhere that you can find tourist brochures. There are many places for parking along the trail. A few downsides: garbage cans and restrooms are hard to come by, so plan accordingly.

We did the Brainerd to Nisswa round trip (32 miles total). Paved trail, some nice, intermediate stops, fairly level grade. Plan on 1 hour 30 minutes each way unless you are used to long runs on a touring bike. We are seniors and ride urban-cross tour type bikes...made for comfort and not speed. Stop for a break (lunch) in Merryfield or wait till you get to Nisswa...some nice local eaterys there. Trail begins at the Arboritum in Baxter/Brainerd, MN

I rode the Paul Bunyan Trail from Brainerd to Bemidji on my bicycle on October 7, 2019. Beautiful weather and the fall colors were gorgeous. Most of the trail was very nice and smooth. But there was a stretch between Nisswa to Hackensack where there were major breaks in the pavement about every 30 feet. It made for a joltingly uncomfortable ride. I would not recommend riding this section until the trail has been repaved and the cracks covered. I was on a fat tired bike and felt every crack. The state of Minnesota can do better on this travel destination gem.

We rode the Paul Bunyan Trail from Walker to Bemidji. Unfortunately, we found the trail itself to be a little boring. This is rails to trail bike path and while the asphalt/paved path is in great shape overall, there isn't a whole lot to see along the 40-mile stretch that we rode.

The only real stopping point on the trail is LaPorte, Minn., a town of 300 people and two bars. That, and a couple of deer sightings, were the only interesting things the whole stretch between Walker and Bemidji.

We rode back to Walker the next day on a different route which included a good deal of highway and the town of Cass Lake, which was much more interesting to see than the secluded PBT. So, if you're interested in a sight-seeing bike ride, I would not recommend this stretch of the Paul Bunyan Trail.

see the history how we got to be out in nacer and it is good for little kids to be outtsid in nacher

The paved trail is covered with leaves in the fall and a wonderful experience. If you are only going to ride a segment of the trail, I suggest selecting a segment away from the highway.

We rode from Guthrie to Laporte and were the only bike riders on the trail. Beautiful fall scenery and we were well away from roads. We saw swans, a ruffed grouse, and a pileated woodpecker.

We also rode from Brainerd to Nisswa, another nice segment of the trail away from roads and close to lakes. Nisswa had restrooms and a latte shop in a small mall adjacent to the trail.

Very extensive and well maintained! I have biked and rollerbladed on this trail during my time here and it is always very nice. Trees don't intrude on the trail and the path itself is smooth.

Wanted to take a couple of hour walk during a family reunion so drove to Nisswa and walked along the trail for a couple of hours. Very pleasant with trees to shade part of the path. Some bicycles and rollerblading on the trail but not crowded as it was during the middle of the week. Would be a fun to complete the whole trail sometime. Not sure if the whole thing is paved but the portion we did was.

This is the best bike trail we have ever ridden. We live in Cali and have ridden along the coast and around some back country, for comparison. This trail, particularly the segment from Nisswa to Baxter, is absolutely delightful, you'll ride by pristine lakes and meadows and through some forested areas as well. The trail is well-maintained and for the most part, nearly flat. You can make a work-out of it by challenging yourself to ride 12+ mph : ) Northward from Nisswa, the trail offers more services and interesting little towns to explore: Nisswa is the queen of them all, but Piquot Lakes is sweet, too. We stopped in Pine Lakes and had a sundae at the 50's style fountain restaurant. Our rented bikes came from Trailblazer Bikes out of Nisswa, which we highly recommend.

The Paul Bunyan Trail is built where the trains used go through small towns like Merrifield, Nisswa and Pequot Lakes and runs up to Walker, MN.

There is a lot in the south end of Nisswa to leave a vehicle just off the path. You could also rent bicycles in town.

Riding North takes you through the woods, past some lakes toward Pequot Lakes. Pequot Lakes is 8 miles from Nisswa and has several coffee shops and restaurants.

The trail is mostly flat and easy riding.

This is a great place to take the kids for a bike ride. We have ridden both directions from Pine River.

I love the trail. I run it, I walk it. It is convenient, peaceful, and can be an hour long event or an entire day. I live near Nisswa and have to visit the chocolate ox for ice cream when I finish or go to Rafferty's on main street for a great pizza.

Great place to get a home cooked meal, large arrangement of fresh pie daily and their famous Made Rite. Staff is friendly and service is great!

This trail is great for any distance, and has gorgeous views. You can walk or bike, and there are rarely lots of people on the trail. You can really get out by yourself or with a friend. You can always head toward Brainerd and grab a bite to eat or a drink!

Great trail that runs through quaint small towns. Bike, run, or walk you'll enjoy the sights. Then go into Nisswa for a bite or coffee.

In mid-June, 2022, we rode 2 sections of the Paul Bunyan trail and had 2 completely different experiences. From Brainard south to Crow Wing State Park - beautiful, a smooth trail and a route across the river and through the wooded areas of the park. However, we also rode from Nisswa to Walker and back. The first 10 miles out of Nisswa were nice (pretty country) but from there to Backus (that’s about 20 miles, it was horrible! The trail has not been maintained. Serious cracks (1 to 2 inches across and not filled), 2 places where there were sinkholes in the trail (dangerous!) and hundreds of areas where grass, weeds, and even trees were growing in the trail. Would never ride that again. The trail from Backus to Walker was again a pleasant ride and beautiful country. If we had to do it again, I’d arrange for transport to miss the middle section of the 55 mile run we made (and having to go back over it the next day was like punishment.)

Great Trail, nice and mostly level for all bikers. Enjoy nature and the pine and white birch trees along the way. The trail consists of 112 paved miles and they are always adding more paved areas. This trail is great for couples, friends, or families. Take your bathing suit as there are several lakes along the trail where you can take a dip. In the winter snowmobiles are allowed to use the trail.

Rented bikes in Nisswa. Spent the day riding on nicely paved trails with beautiful scenery by several lakes. Good way to get some exercise and it was fun.

My husband and I rode about 47 miles on the trail today round trip from Nisswa to the southern starting point in Crow Wing State Park. (We added a few short detours). It was wonderful. Yes, there were some repaired cracks but on a hybrid or Mountain bike you will hardly even notice most of them. Apparently some road bikers don’t feel the same. The highlight of the day was Nisswa. It is a beautiful little town with a lot going on! Our day was perfect!

First off I'm not an avid biker unless it has a motor strapped to it. We rented some bikes and had a lovely afternoon, beautiful scenery, really nice trail, all paved. Very gentle grades, good for all ages.

I love biking the Paul Bunyan Trail. It's beautifully paved, mostly flat, and very scenic. I use it, but also bike around many nearby lakes along the way. I especially love that it goes right through my favorite small town - Nisswa, MN. Such a quaint, little town! Trailblazer Bikes is located right on the trail, so if I have guests in from out of town, they can rent bikes there, and ride right out the back door onto the trail. Also, if I need some biking equipment or repair, they are very helpful. I love the coffee shops in Nisswa and, of course, the shopping. Enjoy the ride!

The State trail runs very close to my place in Merrifield MN. It is a nice bike/walking trail. (No motorized vehicles during the summer months.)
The Merrifield Marathons keep it groomed in the winter for snowmobile traffic.
The Merrifield Diner is an excellent stop for delicious food, reasonably priced on your way through and Valerie Ann's pizza is excellent too.

I bought a new rode bike in Brainerd this spring and planned to ride the trail for the first time this summer. I rode from Brainerd to Pine River. To my disappointment, the trail was largely in disrepair. My front wheel was even jarred loose from the thumping of asphalt cracks filled with tar. I probably should have bought a mtn bike. Recently the DNR filled some of the cracks that had expanded quite wide with tar again and topped the tar with toilet paper, south of Nisswa to at least mile mark 17 and probably all the way to Brainerd. I contacted them to find there was no more funding for any other work on the trail. The trail has significant asphalt cracks from Nisswa to Hackensack with only an occasional smooth section of trail. Pequot Lakes, Jenkins, and Pine River are particularly in bad shape. I have heard that the trail from Hackensack north is in better shape and hope to ride that part of trail soon. With the new state program incentive for electric assist bike purchases, it would be nice to bring the trail back to a good standard as the recreation industry is so key to MN.

This is a paved bicycle trail on an old railroad grade through the woods and lakes of north central Minnesota. It goes through heavily forested woods and along several lakes. The Brainerd to Nisswa section is our favorite for scenery. It is stunning during fall color season.

We went for a quick 28 mile bike ride from Merrifield to Pequot Lakes. The trail was in pretty good shape, and the grade was no problem. We wish that it didn't travel so close to the highway, kind of distracts from the wilderness feel.

Happened to bike this trail during peak fall colors. It was something special! This trail is for everyone.

Nice wide paved trail. We stayed in Nisswa, MN at a small motel right downtown (Nisswa Motel) Nothing special at all but was clean, they will store your bikes and so easy to ride to trail. Nisswa is a cute town with lots of shops, a few restaurants. We rode south to Brainerd & north to Pequot Lake. There are placed to eat in Pequot Lake & a few shops. Our plan was to ride farther north but it rained. We also rode the trail in Crow Wing State Park, very nice, pretty ride. The trail is 6 1/2 miles in the park but you can continue on to Brainerd.

Three generations of my family rode this trail together from Nisswa to Brainerd and we had such a good time! With a total incline of only 30 feet, this section of the trail takes you past numerous lakes and fields and through beautiful shady forests, and the cute town of Merrifield makes the perfect little pitstop. The trail is easy enough for riders of every ability - from young children to avid cyclists. There are even spots to stop for a picnic along the trail. Fun way to spend part of a day or even a whole day!

To clarify, I biked the portion from Laporte, Minnesota south about 5 miles toward Walker and back up, so this review is only for that portion of the trail. The bike trail (one of the rails to trails if you're familiar with that) is paved over from an old railroad. There are not many people using the trail, so if it is solitude you seek, you will find it. The full biking trail goes from near Bemidji to the north, down to Baxter (near Brainerd) in the south, a length of about 120 miles. You will ride by several wooded areas and lakes of varying sizes on your adventure.

Pack water, an energy snack, wear sunblock, and mosquito repellent. It was a well-paved trail, perfect for biking. If you have a full day to commit to it, you can probably ride the whole distance. I hope to do this someday when I return.

The Paul Bunyan trail is a great place to come for rollerblading, biking, walking or a nature walk. The trail is groomed very well and there are mile markers along the way as a few benches to take a break. The view is so beautiful during the spring and summer watching the trees and flowers bloom and in the fall the changing of colors. It is peaceful and quiet and a great escape!

This is a fabulous resource in Northern MN for any amount of walking, running, or biking. You can easily pop on the trail at many, many points along the route. It is well marked and at the most popular sites has parking lots. Otherwise it is still easy to park along the route. If you are in for a long bike ride or run, it is almost endless to go from one end and back again. You can stop along the way at many quaint towns, such as Pequot Lakes, or Nisswa, or Pine River. Super friendly people in MN always willing to answer questions, give directions. the trail is paved and wide. It would be wheel chair accessible. It winds through open areas, over rivers and brooks, through forested areas, on overpasses across roads. It is just wonderful.

I've only been on parts of the trail around the Brainerd and Nisswa areas, but that section provides some wonderful lake views not available from highways and roads. The trail is well kept and well labeled. It takes you right through several key shopping and food break areas in Nisswa. If you're walking or running, bring your bug spray for those trail portions that cut through the deep woods. There's a nicely remodeled set of public restrooms right next to the trail at the Nisswa depot.

We had a great time on this trail. Spent three days biking from Brainerd to Bemidji. We stopped in some great places and met a ton of great people. Shuttle back to Brainerd by Dennis with Embracing Pines was spot on and efficient.

Overall highly recommend the trail. There are a few bumps here and there, but it appears to be well maintained. When you consider that this is a paved mile that goes 100+ miles, this is really exceptional.

Get on your bike and take a long slow outing, stopping along the way at the many small quiet towns. Just enjoy the scenery and friendly folks along the way. I know, I live where it starts. You can use it year around.

This is probably one of the nicest bike trails in the country. A bike path almost 120 miles long. There is just one campsite on the trail and it wasn't that good though.

I have biked the entire trail, Crow Wing Park to Bemidji. Any part of it is beautiful and fun. The Crow Wing Park to Baxter segment is great and runs along the Mississippi.

We were staying at Good Ol Days Family Resort in Nisswa for a large family reunion; we enjoyed our walks along Paul Bunyan State Trail from the resort into town.

We realize this is only part of the larger trail but it was still pleasant.

We are very familiar with this trail or at least the southern half from Brainerd. My favorite section is Merrifield to Nisswa. Ride Brainerd to Nisswa, coffee and Scone at StoneHouse, ride back to Brainerd and have lunch at Prairie Bay in Baxter. Stop at Christmas Point for shopping and check out bike stuff at Trailblazers Bikes (Nisswa and Baxter). Perfect Day.

Day 1 we rode from Brainerd to Walker. The riding surface was great. Really straight and flat. The town's we rode through we nicely spaced. Nissaw has a really cute area right on the trail. The best part day 1 was the longer section we took, some hills with lots of twists and turns. Don't be scared when you hear there is hills. They really aren't bad! 72 mile day
Day 2 we rode from Walker to Bemidji a little bit more variation on the trail..... More curves which was nice. 31 mile day

Rail to Trail !! this is a great PAVED trail. we biked every mile. the trail is great ! it hooks up to the heartland trail to the north. it's a must trail to bike. great litlle towns along the way for ice cream and water. get on your bikes and ride !!

This trail is 110 miles long so we did sections of it on diferent days. Pretty easy riding with flat railroad grade for the most part. Stopped for lunch in pine river one day and hackensack another. Nice way to get some exercise and fresh air in the country.

For several years, we have enjoyed biking on this fantastic trail in the Brainerd area! It is well planned and well maintained. I have biked from Hackensack to just north of Brainerd. It is a safe enjoyable ride.
We stopped in Pine River for a snack and break. I am so happy we did this when we were younger and able!

I rode the trail in segments to maximize use of grade for out and back and will breakdown each:
Crow Wing State Park to Baxter Parking area.
Surface condition is new near the state park and good in most others, the section adjacent to city streets is not congested and most crossings have walk lights. There is no public water on this section, and the bridge crossings near Walmart have some ledge to them, watch a few of the road crossings too for the same reason.
Nisswa to Baxter Parking area.
Nice trail here, a few road crossings, but out in the woods for the most part. There is a tool\pump stand at the Nisswa Parking, and a bike shop ¼ mile north that rents bikes and has parts etc. There is no public water, but are convenience stores and shop adjacent to the trail in Nisswa. A few “thump-thump” cracks in the asphalt here, so adjust your tire pressure accordingly.Parking in Nisswa has signs off main street.
Nisswa to Hackensack
A good deal of this section is adjacent to Hwy 371, and there is some traffic noise, and some busy crossings. There is a climb north of Nisswa that could be a challenge for some, but not bad. Public Restrooms at Hackensack, Pequot Lakes, Pine River in the parks. Some “thump-thump” cracks near Pine River and north, but the section south of Pine River has some of the best trail surface. Public C-Stores along the route.
Walker to Hackensack
Public Parking is on 10th Street South on the west side of Walker. There is a tool stand there, and port a potti, but no water. Going South here you are on shared Paul Bunyan and Heartland Trail. About 6 miles out you reach a T where Paul Bunyan goes south. The next 6 miles or so have some STEEP grades in places, most are not that long, but this could be a challenge for a novice or families with youngsters with single gear bikes. I ran south to Hackensack and caught the Shingobee Cutoff on the return North. Shingobee also has 2 or 3 pretty good climbs, but not near as many as PB.
Bemidji to Walker
Parking is off Gould Ave NE, north of 1st Street East. Go north from the lot and left at the first T to catch the trail, it does continue north to the state park from this T. Once you clear Bemidji you are probably on one of the best stretches of the trail, good surface, level grades and pretty out there. At LaPorte it parallels MN 200 for a while with some road noise from here until Walker. No public water that I saw, so be prepared.
Overall a good ride, some rough spots in the trail, some climbs.

Fall is a nice time to relax on the bike trail. The leaves were great and the trail was nice. Relaxing trail worth the drive to get to. Enjoyed the Pine River Chamber of Commerce building, nice clean restrooms, great things to look at.

If you find yourself spending some time near Brainerd, MN be sure to bing your bikes. This is a long bike trail with many access points and as long a rind as you would like.

We decided to do a 4 day up and back thru-bike ride last minute when other adventure plans fell through. We camped at Crow Wing State Park and Bemidji State Park plus stayed at Bayside Cabins and Resort in Backus twice. We highly recommend this trail, parks, and accommodations. We didn’t know what to expect as reviews of the trail’s condition were mixed. Maybe we are just more used to the rough surfaces of most rail trails because this paved surface was a pleasure to ride on. Sure there were some tree roots and cracks but overall the condition was excellent. This was these East Coasters first trip to the Land O’Lakes! Minnesotans should be very proud of this wonderful trail!

We are staying at The Preserve RV Village in Pequot Lakes for a few weeks. Last weekend, my husband, my brother and I rode our bicycles from the RV park to Hwy 371 and across to the Paul Bunyan Trail. We rode north to Baxter. Coming back we took a break in Pequot Lakes and the guys treated themselves to an ice cream cone. I was disappointed that the Smoothies were made with ice cream, so I had to be content with water. The trail was approximately 17 miles round trip and we older adults really appreciated the flat surface! :)

MN is blessed to have so many paved bike trails... you can head on this trail, north and connect with even more trail that will take you all the way to Bemidji.

Good place to stretch and walk the dogs during a long road trip. Fall leaves were amazing at this time of year. The lake is huge.

Great place to take a scenic, quiet walk. The trail is accessible from many entry points and is used by walkers, and bikers in summer; snowmobilers and skiers in winter. It is a well maintained trail traversing many different ecosystems, allowing communion with nature while exercising.

Rode my recumbent trike from Baxter to Brainerd over Memorial Day weekend. I experienced some of the most beautiful moments I can remember, riding north out of Baxter in the morning. The white-barked birch trees leaned over the trail from each side, mingling their leaves above and creating a cathedral-like impression that inspired a sense of peace and calm in the cool morning air.

The feeling was much different farther north in Nisswa and Pequot Lakes, where crowds of people enjoyed the trail as it snaked past numerous small picturesque lakes and tiny resorts. The trail tied together miles of landscape and quaint little shops that everyone seemed to enjoy. Walkers and runners, in-line skaters, bicyclists, and even another recumbent triker out for the day.

North of Pequot Lakes, though, the trail goes through an unwelcome shift in character. The surface becomes punctuated with perpendicular splits of 1-2 inches in width; someone on foot would barely notice them, but they are maddening to someone on wheels. I felt the impact every 10-20 feet, jolting up through my spine. I needed to slow down to a crawl to save my body and my tires, which made the 90-degree heat and noontime sun doubly uncomfortable, and kept my arrival date at my motel in Pine River seemingly forever out of reach. The trees also changed to mostly scrub pine, which robbed the trail of every last bit of shade. It was truly a slog.

Starting out from Pine River the next morning, I was grateful for the coolness and the slight breeze. But the remaining 15 or so miles of bad road cut my speed way down, and I knew that I wouldn’t make it to Walker before the heat and sun became miserable again. The wetlands of this section were filled with mosquitoes, but a spray-down with repellent prevented all but one tiny bite to my knuckle on the entire trip.

Backus was very small, but Hackensack was a good-sized town where I got a nice lunch. The trail became better-maintained around that point, which I was thankful for. My speed was much better, and I started making up time. I decided on the Shingobee trail connection into Walker instead of the 15-ish mile trail through the hills, and I was glad I did—the heat, the lack of shade and the modest hills of the connection took enough out of me that I was starting to get concerned about heat stroke by the time I rolled into Walker.

After waiting out a raft of thunderstorms in Walker for a couple of days, I pushed on to Bemidji, my destination. The morning was again the best part of the day, and the trail out of Walker reminded me of my first morning in Baxter. Soon the day warmed up, and I was past the morning’s lakes and into more fields and farmhouses, and glimpsing the highway to the west. I finally came into Bemidji and found my way to the shore of the lake and my hotel. My 100-mile journey was over.

I have to mention the people I met along the trail. I’ve never been welcomed so warmly at every turn by most everyone I encountered. The Paul Bunyan State Trail is a real treasure and, while some areas would benefit from some TLC, Minnesota can be justifiably proud of this amazing resource.

111 miles of paved trail from Brainerd to Bemidji Minnesota. Great for biking and inline skating. Now the trail is designated as the only Geocaching tour in Minnesota.

Nice bike trail along different lakes. Not too many picnic options on the bike trail. Not too much lake access for public possible.

Terrible Shape

If you’re looking for a great bike ride, avoid this trail. It has deep tar cracks every 10 yards for miles and miles. Scenery is beautiful but it’s nearly impossible to enjoy because of the extreme consistent bumps caused by the cracks. It’s been like this for years. So sorry it hasn’t been repaired.

I have biked, walked and roller bladed on the the Paul Bunyan Trail for 18 years on every mile in the Brainerd Lakes Area. It is beautiful, well maintained and peaceful. Great during the times of social distancing!

Mid afternoon, we set out on our bikes from the campgrounds at Crow Wing State park. We were excited to try out the trail. We discovered a smooth ride all the while surrounded by wild flowers and birds.

Unfortunately our trek was cut short due to gnats and mosquitoes (really and truly an unbelievable number of them swarming about our heads). We couldn't find an explanation since we were traveling on a sunny afternoon, well saturated with bug spray, and moving at a decent clip.

We'd like to go back. And, will do so in the fall only, when cooler weather will decrease the bugs we encounter.

We like to bike when we go camping. This was the first time on the Paul Bunyan Trail. We have been on the Heartland trail many times and like that trail. This trail is even nicer. It is paved like the Heartland Trail, but it also appears to have "rest areas" at each town, which is really nice, so you don't have to hunt down a bathroom. My husband, self, and three girls (4,7,10) chose to go from Nisswa to Pequot Lakes and back. I think next year, we will go Brainerd to Nisswa and back. We like to have a "destination", like pizza and ice cream to entice the little ones. Nisswa seems to have more to offer like that than Pequot Lakes had.

Beautiful scenery, easy biking except for numerous areas where cracks have been filled and have become chasms and tree roots channeling under the path causing bone and bike rattling travel. We encountered a couple of Minnesota DNR workmen on the trail between Walker and Guthrie and discussed the problem with them. Apparently Minnesota is more concerned with building new trails than maintaining established ones. We traveled in mid September and encountered very few people on the trail except for nearer Brainerd.

A flat railroad bed winding through lake country. Can get pretty crowded on nice weekends but we biked miles and saw only two bikers on a spring weekday.

Great trail, safe, easy to ride, well marked. Lots of places to stop. Rode 200 miles 1 day. Brainerd to past bemidji and back. Can get on just about any where and park your car. Majority of the 100 miles one way is quite smooth. Rough spot between Piner River and Backus.

This paved bike/skate/walking/jogging trail is incredible. It goes for miles and miles. It is always kept in good repair. We love to walk it but have seen lots of bikers, inline skaters, mom's with strollers, etc. It feels like a nature walk. However, bug spray is not a bad idea.

The snow, peace and tranquility! The trail was perfect, through the woods, and most of all, we saw 9 deer along the way!

Just cycled with group of four the whole trail, and added on the Heartland Trail into Park Rapids as well. It took us five days. The trail is paved and in great condition, with occasional biking self-serve bike maintenance stations with tools and a pump for minor repairs. The small towns along the way provide good "pit stops" for food stops (either picnic supplies or restaurants) as well as hotels. Surprisingly, there are few public washrooms provided at the trail stops, though, you usually have to go into town for that. Other than that inconvenience, we would all rate this trail a five out of five experience.

I love to skate this trail! I have not traveled all 99 miles from Brainerd to Bemidji but getting close. So many spots to stop along the way. Nisswa has the best shops and COFFEE. "Run for Dru" in August was great

We biked from Pequot lakes north to Pine River and back, and on another day from Pequot to Nisswa. Gentle grades on the first, some slopes on the second, beautiful scenery, minimal competition with cars, nice rest stop/museum in Pine River. If you enjoy recreational biking, this is a must do trail.

We were traveling across country and wanted to take a half day to bicycle in northern Minnesota. The Paul Bunyon Trail (starting in Crow Wing State Park) was an enjoyable ride. We did 40 miles (20 out and 20 back).

Try the full length of the PB Trail to gain the full experience! Every town is a little different and has something different and fun to offer! Pine River has a lovely park & recreation area along the shores of the Pine River, a tributary of the Mississippi River! It's just five blocks, right, off the PB Trail! Grab a cool drink, pedal down and cool your heels in the "Pine"! Great break!
Pine River prides itself by being "The Birthplace of the Paul Bunyan Trail"! Yes, it all began in Pine River in 1983!

We picked up the trail in Hackensack. We didn't have a scheduled pickup, so had to ride out and back. There are a huge number of starting points, and all suitable to any level of riding skill. We are currently planning a destination ride for next summer where we can be dropped off or picked up after a longer ride.

What a wonderful bike trail for any age. We took a three day trip from the Crow Wing Park in Brainerd to Bemidji and back. Day one ride was a 120 miles. We left at 6:30am and arrived in Bemidji at 5:05pm. We stayed at the country inn.

Day 2 we left Bemidji at 7:00. Start out with a ride around Lake Bemidji to see Paul Bunyan and Babe. After a nice morning ride a round town we started heading back to Brainerd. Our first stop was in Walker for lunch and a beer. Tonight we are stayed in Hackensack at the Owl Nest.

Day 3 we left Hackensack at 6:30am and arrived in Brainerd at 10:45am.

My wife and I ready enjoyed the small towns along the trail. Our only complaint was some on the visitor center didn't open until 10:00. I was hard to find restrooms and water along the trail before 10:00am.

We stayed at Crow Wing State Park and it was a great place to start our journey down the Paul Bunyan State Trail. Starting off along on the Mississippi we were treated to miles of great views and beautiful fall colors. While we didn't make it all 112 miles, we are excited to go back and do it again this next summer.

We rented bikes and rode from Nisswa to Pequot Lakes and back. It was 12 miles roundtrip and pretty level most of the time. We stopped in Pequot Lakes for lunch and a little shopping. It was a great morning out!

A well groomed bike trail that's easy for most bikers. You can go as little or as far as you'd like, even ride from Brainerd to Nisswa to Pequot Lakes or beyond. I love the easy trip between Nisswa and Pequot Lakes. A great afternoon outing. Bike rentals available.

This trail is such a gem! It is under used; more open trails for us. We bike from Backus to Pine River and Backus to Walker. There are wildflowers, shady spots, and a nice wide trail about 8 feet wide. If you are a biker, it’s a great trail to use.

This trail was the best planned trail... I HIGHLY recommend. It also has a bonus; the beautiful arboretum is right next to it.

You can bike, you can walk.. or heck, probably crawl if you want. Miles and miles of trails that go through a variety of towns on the way. Great for kids as is fairly flat most places. Pick a sunny day and take a trip down the trail!

We just completed the week long family ride of the PB trail with Adventure Cycling Association and our 14 year old son had a blast. Made lots of new friend and saw many cool adventures along the trail daily like PB and Babe! Did you know PB had a wife? We just found out too that he does and she's very pretty:) Take a trip and enjoy all the adventures....Happy trails.....

I had my grandchildren for the week and my new young dog. How was I going to exercise the dog everyday when the kids couldn't walk that far? Let's hit the PBT! I loaded their bikes in the back of the truck. I walked the dog and they road bikes. They had a blast. We went to different areas each day. North of Nisswa, south of Nisswa, south of Lake Hubert, then north of Merrifield. Each area is a different type of beauty.

We read some not so great reviews on this trail but honestly the sections we’ve ridden on this visit were very enjoyably. We rode from Baxter to Merrifield and back - very pretty and roughly 28 miles. Also rode from Baxter to Crow Wing State Park and it was very enjoyable as well… yes you may find a small section here and there with some patches but our trails in Iowa have their faults as well.

I love this trail because there are so many easy access points. A very quiet section of the trail is only two miles from my house and my five year old and I love to bike on it a lot. It was just recently paved in our area and every section I have been on is in perfect condition.

My wife and I just spent 5 days in the Walker, MN area biking the Paul Bunyan and Heartland trails. I have to say the P.B. trail is one of the worst marked, poorly signed, and basically difficult to find of any trail we've been on, and we have been on a LOT !
We couldn't find trail heads, there were no signs pointing out directions to the trail, and once we were on the trail, there weren't any mile markers or maps showing distances to the next town or facility. On the other hand, the Heartland trail was well marked, there were at least a few signs to indicate where the trail access was, and there were mile markers indicating distances to the next town, nice !
Both trails were in good to excellent condition, so riding them was a breeze, that was nice.
We would recomend both trails for novice riders because they are mostly flat and not too demanding. It was great to be among the trees rolling along blissfully, though there were some stretches where the trails go close to highways and the attendant traffic noise, but mostly it was peacefull.
Along the way we happened upon a big street fair in Dorset, the annual "Taste of Dorset, Land Of 1000 Foodies" event, that was enjoyable, as was the icecream stop in Akely on the way back.
Hopefully someone will take care of the Bunyan trail marking, other than that it was an enjoyable trip.