Auto Club Park
Rate this placeNearby: Xavier Court Playlot Overlook Pond
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Auto Club Park, located in Brainerd, Minnesota, is a must-visit destination for anyone looking for an outdoor adventure.
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Summary
The park boasts a wide range of activities for visitors of all ages, including hiking, fishing, camping, swimming, and boating. The park is open year-round, and visitors can enjoy the changing seasons and stunning natural beauty.
One of the top attractions at Auto Club Park is the Paul Bunyan Trail, a 120-mile recreational trail that runs from Brainerd to Bemidji. The trail is perfect for hiking, biking, and snowmobiling, and it offers stunning views of the nearby lakes and forests. Another popular attraction is the Gull Lake Recreation Area, which features a sandy beach, fishing piers, and a boat launch.
Visitors to Auto Club Park can also explore the nearby towns of Brainerd and Nisswa, both of which offer charming shops, restaurants, and museums. The areas are rich in history, and visitors can learn about the region's logging and railroad industries at the Crow Wing County Historical Society Museum.
Interesting facts about Auto Club Park include its original name, which was "Round Lake State Park," and the fact that it is one of the oldest parks in Minnesota, with a history dating back to the 1930s. The park was renovated in the 1990s and renamed Auto Club Park after a partnership with the AAA Minnesota/Iowa Auto Club.
The best time of year to visit Auto Club Park depends on the visitor's interests. Summer is ideal for outdoor activities like swimming and boating, while fall offers stunning foliage views and great hiking weather. Winter is perfect for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing, and spring offers great fishing opportunities.
Overall, Auto Club Park is a beautiful and diverse destination that offers something for everyone. Whether you're looking for outdoor adventure, historical exploration, or simply a peaceful place to relax, this park is definitely worth a visit.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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