Cuyuna Country
Cuyuna Country: trails, mine lakes and small towns
Mountain bike trails around old iron mines, clear mine-pit lakes and a paved state trail, all within 20 minutes of the house.
An old iron range, turned into a place to play
The Cuyuna Iron Range was mined for most of the twentieth century. When the mines closed, the open pits filled with groundwater and became deep, clear lakes, and the rock piles became the hills the trails now climb.
Much of it is protected as the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area, on the edge of Crosby. Cuyuna Moon sits north of it on Fool Lake, close enough to ride in the morning and swim off your own dock in the afternoon.
Mountain biking on the red dirt
The Minnesota DNR describes about 50 miles of mountain bike trail on nearly 800 acres, with more than 30 purpose-built routes. The International Mountain Bicycling Association rates it a silver‑level ride center.
The house has bicycles, a children’s bike, a bike stand and tools. Red Raven in Crosby is a coffee shop and bike shop in one.
DNR trail maps and conditions
Cuyuna Mountain Bike Park
Bike park and pump track
12 min
Red Raven
Coffee and bike shop in Crosby
11 min
Miner’s Mountain
Trailhead and rally center
18 min
~50
Miles of mountain bike trail
30+
Purpose-built routes
Silver
IMBA ride center level
~8
Miles of paved state trail
Figures from the Minnesota DNR, checked October 2026.
Swim the mine-pit lakes
The flooded pits are known for clear water and steep, rocky shores. Yawkey Mine Lake is a local swimming spot on the edge of Crosby, and Portsmouth Mine Lake has the recreation area’s campground.
Yawkey Mine Lake
Swimming on the edge of Crosby
14 min
Portsmouth Campground
On Portsmouth Mine Lake
15 min
Louise Mine Lake
Inside the recreation area
19 min
The paved Cuyuna Lakes State Trail
About eight paved miles from Crosby to Riverton, through the recreation area and past the mine lakes. It is paved, so any bike works.
More lakes in every direction
Crosby sits on Serpent Lake. Crosslake, seventeen minutes north, sits on the Whitefish Chain and Cross Lake, with a public recreation area on the water.
Serpent Lake and Memorial Park
Crosby’s town park
12 min
Cross Lake Recreation Area
Park and campground on Cross Lake
15 min
Crosslake Town Square
Shops and restaurants
17 min
Four courses within 22 minutes
18
Minutes
Cuyuna Rolling Hills
Near Deerwood
19
Minutes
Whitebirch Golf Course
Breezy Point
22
Minutes
Jack’s 18 at Ruttger’s
Bay Lake
December to March
Winter in Cuyuna Country
The host lists cross‑country and alpine skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, fat tire biking and ice fishing for winter stays. Snowshoes are waiting at the house.
Snowshoeing
Snowshoes provided at the house
At home
Ice fishing
On Fool Lake and the lakes nearby
At home
Snowmobiling
Emily‑Outing trail, 3/4 mile
From the house
Platinum Powersports
Snowmobile rentals in Crosslake
15 min
Fat tire biking
Cuyuna trails at Miner’s Mountain
18 min
Larson Lake ski trails
Cross‑country skiing near Deerwood
20 min
Mount Ski Gull
Alpine skiing in Nisswa
40 min
1924
Milford Mine Memorial Park
Nine minutes from the house, a boardwalk and memorial mark the Milford Mine, where 41 miners died in 1924 when a nearby lake broke into the shaft. It remains the worst mining disaster in Minnesota history.
Small towns close by
Crosby has the brewery, coffee, a wine bar and the trailheads. Crosslake has more restaurants and golf. Brainerd is the place for big-box errands.
Restaurants and groceries on the map
Crosby
Mining town on Serpent Lake
11 min
Crosslake
On the Whitefish Chain
17 min
Deerwood
East end of the state trail
17 min
Breezy Point
Resort town on Pelican Lake
17 min
Nisswa
Shops on the Paul Bunyan Trail
23 min
Brainerd
Regional hub
31 min
Ride in the morning, paddle by afternoon
Book Cuyuna Moon direct and keep the trails, the lakes and the towns within 20 minutes.
