In Detroit Lakes, City Beach offers a place to stay by the water, while the Heartland State Trail is an option for getting active. Art, a museum and seasonal events add further highlights. The time of year also makes a difference: swimming opportunities and trail use can vary by season, while Polar Fest and the Festival of Birds take place during specific seasons. First consider which focus matters most for your stay.
Beach and Water Activities
City Beach is a well-maintained sandy beach about one mile long on the shore of Little Detroit Lake. It offers swimming opportunities to the public; conditions can vary by season. If swimming is important to your travel plans, consider the conditions during your chosen dates.
City Beach also has two public access points for launching boats and watercraft for fishing and other water sports. This means fishing and water sports are options in addition to swimming. As access conditions can change, it is a good idea to check before your visit.
Trails by Season
The Heartland State Trail is a multi-use trail. You can walk your dog, jog and inline skate there. During the winter months, the trail is used by skate-style cross-country skiers and snowmobilers. Trail use therefore varies by season, and winter conditions can vary. Check current conditions if you are planning a specific activity.
East of Detroit Lakes, a 7.5-mile paved section of the Heartland State Trail runs to Frazee. Detroit Lakes’ municipal trail system also offers several ways to explore the community and its parks. Individual routes may change, so if you have a particular route in mind, it is worth checking the latest information.
Art, Local History and a Museum
To mark Detroit Lakes’ 150th anniversary, 150 sailboats were made locally in 2021 based on a design by Hans Gilsdorf. Artists from the region painted each boat individually. The number of boats reflects the anniversary; the design and painting give the project its own artistic character and a specific connection to the city’s history.
The Becker County Museum is also located in Detroit Lakes. It has 10,500 square feet of exhibition space. The sailboat project and the museum offer different cultural points of interest: individually designed boats created for a city anniversary, and a museum with a stated exhibition-space figure. These cultural attractions complement the choice between water and trails, so a stay need not focus solely on outdoor activities.
Events Throughout the Year
Polar Fest takes place every February; activities last two weeks or longer. The festival began in 1996 and was revived in 2005. Events include the Poles N’ Holes Fishing Derby, the Polar Fest Plunge, the ULTRA Snowmobile Rally/Swap and Frozen Fireworks, among others. Dates and programming vary from year to year, so check the details for the relevant year before you travel.
The Detroit Lakes Festival of Birds takes place every spring; its exact dates and schedule also vary from year to year. For travel planning, this creates a clear seasonal distinction: Polar Fest is a February event, while the Festival of Birds takes place in spring. If one of these festivals is the deciding factor for your visit, plan around the specific dates for that year’s event.
When to Visit and How to Find a Hotel
First decide whether to plan your stay around swimming and water sports, the Heartland State Trail or an event. This gives you a specific reason to start your search for a trip to Detroit Lakes.
For the broader travel overview: Becker County.
