Public Beaches and Parks in the Brainerd Lakes Area

Photo of people swimming and biking at Whipple Beach with a lawn in the foreground and lake in the background on an early fall day.
Photo courtesy Brainerd Dispatch.

No matter where you are in the Brainerd Lakes Area, you will find yourself close to a public beach and park. Easy access to these public spaces is a perk of living and vacationing in the BLA. Find a list of public beaches and their amenities below!

Crosby Memorial Park

2 2nd St SW, Crosby, MN 56441

In the heart of Crosby and on the banks of Serpent Lake, you’ll find the Crosby Memorial Park. The giant serpent, Kahnah’ bek, has watched over the park since 1977. The 20 ft serpent makes for a great photo backdrop. Kids will love the large wooden playset—perfect place to burn off some energy! There’s a nice swimming beach, too, for lots of fun-in-the-sun.

Campsites are available for tents and RVs. This is a busy campground with lots of hustle and bustle from downtown. You can easily walk or ride bike to restaurants and shops, plus the Cuyuna bike trails.

Crosby Memorial Park on a summer day picnic area and pavillions in the background
Photo courtesy City Of Crosby.
Crosby Memorial Park on a summer day with lake in the background
Photo courtesy City Of Crosby.
Crosby Memorial Park on a summer day picnic area and lake in the background
Photo courtesy City Of Crosby.

Amenities

Cross Lake Recreation Area

35507 County Road 66, Crosslake, MN 56442

The Cross Lake Recreation Area is a picturesque recreation area in one of central Minnesota’s most popular cities—Crosslake.

The campground is well-maintained and located on the shores of the Whitefish Chain of Lakes, which connects 14 lakes and are controlled by the Pine River dam at the Campground.

When you’re in the campground, you would never guess you’re in walking or biking distance from great restaurants, shops, and golf.

If you’re not camping, you can still enjoy the recreation area for the day. Swim at the beach. Walk across the dam. Play at the playground. Check out the interpretive programs. Fish from the dock. It’s all here for the perfect summer day!

Photo of a park next to a lake on a summer day with a covered pavillion in the background and a long dock in the water of the lake
Photo courtesy Recreation.gov.
Photo of a truck and a large RV parked in a camping site surrounded by pine trees at the Cross Lake Recreation Area.
Photo courtesy Recreation.gov.
Photo of the interprative learning center entrance with a mosaic at the Crosslake Recreation Area
Photo courtesy Recreation.gov.
1080x648 water rushing from a dam in Crosslake

Amenities

Gull Lake Recreation Area

10867 E Gull Lake Drive, Brainerd, MN 56401

Gull Lake Recreation Area offers something for everyone with a boat launch, hiking, fishing, and swimming.

The campground offers well-spaced sites. Near the campground is a playground and the Gull River at the outlet of Gull Lake. The platforms on the river offer great fishing!

The beach area is a short distance from the campground and is open to the public for day use. There is a roped-off swim area, sandy beach, and grassy area with picnic tables for families to enjoy.

Photo of a park filled with people on a summer day next to a lake with trees and a playground.
Photo courtesy City of East Gull Lake.
Photo of a boat launch at the Gull Lake Recreation Area on a summer day with two docks in the water.
Photo courtesy US Army Corps of Engineers.

Amenities

Lum Park

1619 NE Washington St, Brainerd, MN 56401

Lum Park Recreation Area is an excellent family destination for camping, fishing, outdoor activities, and swimming. Lum Park is on Rice Lake, which is a reservoir off the Mississippi River.

Lum Park is just a short drive from the hotels in Brainerd/Baxter, which means you can easily access the water while staying in town.

The campground is a perfect place to enjoy the best of what Brainerd/Baxter has to offer.

Photo of two children climbing monkey bars at Lum Park with a lake and a playground in the background on a summer day.
Photo courtesy Happy Dancing Turtle.
Photo of a sign that says Lum Park Camping on a summer day with trees in the background.
Photo courtesy City of Brainerd.
Photo of children swimming in a lake on a summer day with a far shore of forest
Photo courtesy City of Brainerd.

Amenities

Pillager Lake Recreation Area

12170 County Rd 1 SW, Pillager, MN 56473

You’ll find the Pillager Lake Park on Pillager Lake west on Hwy 210, then north two miles on County Road 1. This quiet park is a great place to soak up some nature. The beach is clean and sandy for kids to swim. The pier even has a small slide that goes it to the water!

Pack a lunch or bring food to grill and use the pavilion. Kids can also play at the playground. Your family will enjoy spending an afternoon here!

Sign that says Pillager Lake Recreation Area with a wooded park and playground in the background on a sunny summer day
Fishing peir going into Pillager Lake with the lake and forest in the background on a sunny summer day
Playground in a park next to a lake in the background surrounded by forest on a sunny summer day
A Sandy swimming beach with a park in the background surrounded by forest on a sunny summer day
Sandy beach with the lake surrounded by forest on a sunny summer day
Pavillion shelter at Pillager Lakes Recreation Area on a sunny summer day
Photo of a yellow slide going into a lake on a summer day with forest in the background
Sandy beach next to a lake with a fishing peir in the background and the lake surrounded by forest on a sunny summer day

Amenities

Whipple Beach Recreation Area

14441 Oakwood Drive, Baxter, MN 56425

A visit to Whipple Beach is a great place to spend the afternoon. Whipple Beach Recreation Area is a public park and beach close to Brainerd/Baxter hotels. The recreation area is in the perfect location if you’re staying in Brainerd/Baxter.

 You’ll find an excellent sandy beach perfect for kids to swim and build sandcastles.

You can rent the pavilion for celebrations and gatherings. The pavilion has a kitchen you can use if you rent the pavilion.

Photo of people swimming and biking at Whipple Beach with a lawn in the foreground and lake in the background on an early fall day.
Photo courtesy Brainerd Dispatch.
Photo of people swimming and relaxing at Whipple Beach with a lawn in the foreground and lake in the background and picnic benches and tables in the foreground on an early fall day.
Photo courtesy Brainerd Dispatch.
Photo of people and a dog swimming and playing in the lake at Whipple Beach on a summer day.
Photo courtesy Brainerd Dispatch.
Photo of Whipple Lake Recreation Area sign with a park and lake in the background on a sunny fall day.
Photo courtesy Brainerd Dispatch.
Photo of a picnic shelter and lawns with a lake in the background and trees at Whipple Beach on a bright summer day.
Photo courtesy Brainerd Dispatch.

Amenities

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