BRAINERD, Minn. - The state's longest paved bike trail is even longer following the completion of a new 6-mile stretch on the Paul Bunyan State Trail.
The new segment connects the existing trail to Crow Wing State Park in Brainerd, and is now open to the public, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Parks and Trails Division.
DNR officials say the total length of the Paul Bunyan Trail is now 115 miles, not including a couple of short on-road connections through the cities of Baxter and Bemidji. It extends all the way from Crow Wing State Park to Lake Bemidji State Park, north of Bemidji, The DNR maintains that it is the longest continuously paved rail-trail in the country.
"This new segment is a great addition to the Minnesota state park and trail system," said Andrew Korsberg, state trail program coordinator for the DNR. "It connects the first class outdoor recreation opportunities of the state park to the Brainerd and Baxter communities via state trail."
An aerial video of the new trail segment, created by Anderson Brothers Construction Company of Brainerd, is posted on YouTube.
For more information about the Paul Bunyan State Trail, including a map and virtual tour, visit the DNR website.
