Outdoors

Sparkling waters, forests & wildlife and miles of trails

Forests & Wildlife

Step outside the city and reconnect with your wild side in Detroit Lakes. We have three state forests, three state parks, two national wildlife refuges and more than 70,000 acres of wilderness in our backyard ready to explore. 

Trails & Parks

Stay inside city limits and stroll through our three city parks. Bring your pooch to our city dog park. Explore 117 acres of swamp, trout stream, marsh walk, shelter, woods and prairie at Sucker Creek Preserve. Or venture outside the city to our county park and beyond. Explore several trails that Detroit Lakes is part of:

Birding

Bring your binoculars so you can spot basically every bird in Minnesota. Detroit Lakes is nestled in the heart of a transition zone between tall grass prairie, northern hardwood and conifer forest ecosystems. This diversity of habitat is home to more than a whopping 275 species of birds! Mid-May birding is spectacular, so plan your birding trip to the annual Festival of Birds.

2 snowmobiles on frozen lake

Winter Wonderland Snowmobile Trails

Or venture beyond Detroit Lakes along 250 miles of snowmobile trails in Becker County. With the 2022-2023 City Snowmobile Map and 2022-2023 Becker County Snowmobile Map, and the latest winter trails report, you’re ready to go!