Pequot Lakes can be planned around different interests: lakeshores and a fishing pier, trails and natural landscapes, as well as local history and seasonal offerings. To help you find your way, it is also useful to distinguish between the similarly named Paul Bunyan offerings: the Paul Bunyan Trail is a trail, while the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway is a driving route. They represent different ways to explore the area.

Lakeshores, Parks and Trails

Sibley Lake Park is located on Sibley Lake. There is a boat landing on North Oak Street, and the park also has a fishing pier. This gives you both access to the lake and a designated place to fish in one location. Which of these options shapes your stay depends on whether you are more interested in boat access or fishing.

Trailside Park is in the center of Pequot Lakes, and the Paul Bunyan Trail runs through the park. The trail extends beyond its connection to the town: across the wider region, it is 112 miles long and fully paved between Brainerd and Bemidji. The Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway is different. It is a 54-mile driving route in the shape of a double loop between Pequot Lakes and Crosslake. A section of the byway has wide, smooth paved shoulders for cycling.

Nature and Observation Tower

Mayo Lake Nature Preserve encompasses 67 acres of land with upland forests and low-lying shrub bogs. Its trails are used for recreational activities. The landscape types give this natural area its own character; here, forests, bogs, and trails take center stage, rather than the lakeside facilities at Sibley Lake.

Paul M. Thiede Fire Tower Park in Pequot Lakes is home to a historic observation tower built in 1935, which is open to the public to climb. The park also has walking trails extending more than 3,000 feet, with informational signs. At this destination, you can choose between the historic structure and the trails with their interpretive stops, without combining the two offerings into a single point of interest.

Local History and Seasonal Offerings

Bobber Park lies beneath the town’s historic “Bobber” water tower. It is home to Babe, Paul Bunyan’s blue ox. Trailside Park has a veterans’ memorial and Dru’s Garden, a memorial honoring Dru Sjodin. The Pequot Lakes Area Historical Society archive in the heart of downtown offers another connection to local history.

In summer, “Bands in the Park” concerts are held every Saturday evening in the park pavilion; they are free and open to the public. Pequot Lakes also has farmers markets during the season. If you want to include concerts or markets in your travel plans, check the specific dates in advance.

Discover more destinations: Merrifield, Deerwood, Brainerd, Nisswa, Baxter

For the broader travel overview: Crow Wing County.