When you head out for some much-needed rest and relaxation, you want a place where you can soak up peace and tranquility as well as quench your thirst for fun and excitement. You’ll fill the bill with a trip to the beautiful land of 10,000 lakes, where you’ll make memories, take plenty of pictures, gather souvenirs and mementos and much more during your indoor and outdoor adventures. Minnesota is a place filled with natural wonders, including many species of wildlife you can pick out and capture photos of while you’re out hiking, biking, or wandering through the serene outdoors of Gull Lake and the surrounding area. You’ll love wandering through state parks and forests in search of the many species of wildlife in Minnesota.
Emily State Forest
Near the town of Emily in Crow Wing County, you’ll find the smallest state forest in all of Minnesota. Head to its 639 acres of land in search of deer and other Minnesota native species like fox, songbirds, and others, but the small size of the forest may make it hard to find the furry creatures in the daylight hours. Hunting, hiking, and backcountry dispersed camping is also allowed, so pack your camping gear and wait for your chance to see the residents of the area overnight.
Land O’ Lakes State Forest
Spanning across lands in Cass, Aitkin, and Crow Wing counties, the over 51,000-acre forest is a popular recreation site for people offering a boat ramp, canoeing, kayaking, picnic and dispersed camping sites, swimming, hiking, and many other activities to keep you in Minnesota’s great outdoors throughout the day. With all the commotion though, you’ll definitely need to keep your eyes peeled for native species like deer, beaver, raccoon, and more. They may be more comfortable coming out in the evening, overnight, or early morning hours when human activity is at a minimum.
Father Hennepin State Park
Named for Father Louis Hennepin, a priest who visited the area with a French expedition in 1680, the 320-acre state park features camping, beaches, fishing, and much more to keep you active, happy, and engaged with the Minnesota outdoor experience. Bring your camera and binoculars for a glimpse of hawks, ospreys, owls, eagles, beaver, raccoon, mink, and deer can be seen. You’ll especially want to keep your eyes peeled for the albino deer that call the area home.
Hill River State Forest
Sprawling between Crow Wing, Isasca, Cass, and Aitkin counties, the over 120,000-acre forest welcomes anglers, swimmers, kayakers, picnickers, and hikers alike to share the pristine lands with native furry residents. An abundance of lakes makes it great for water activities like boating and swimming, but make sure to take some time out to appreciate the natural beauty surrounding the recreational areas. Keep your eyes peeled for the local wildlife. You could spot beavers, deer, eagles, fox, songbirds, and any of the many other species call the depths of the forest home.
Crow Wing State Park
As the crow flies, the distance isn’t much, but when you get into your rental car to get here, it’s about 17 miles. When you’re staying in the Gull Lake area and want to spot some wildlife and get amazing photos, make sure to add Crow Wing State Park, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, to your list. The park made the list in 1970 due to areas of the park being part of Old Crow Wing, one of the most populous towns in the state of Minnesota in the 1850s and 1860s. While here, keep your eyes peeled and camera ready for glimpses of coyote, white-tailed deer, eagles, beavers, hawks, muskrats, waterfowl, fox, and a variety of songbirds.
Wildlife Watching in Gull Lake
Enjoy your getaway to Gull Lake and forget all your cares and worries at the door of your vacation rental provided by Gull Lake Beach Resorts. You’ll want to make sure all the fun and excitement of your vacation is reflected in your accommodations. After a long day of fun in the outdoors and spotting incredible area wildlife, settle in and prepare a home-cooked meal in the fully equipped kitchen. Relax and unwind in an open living area with a book or your favorite movie or TV show. We have units to fit your small family or group as well as units that accommodate larger groups. No matter what your vacation needs and style while enjoying the outdoors of Minnesota, we have a rental that is just right for you. You can even rent pontoons or fishing boats and boat lifts for a fun, easy time on the water.
Contact us today to plan your fun-filled getaway!