One of my family’s favorite places to go exploring in our area is Fritz Loven Park in Lake Shore, Minnesota. This is truly a hidden gem of the Brainerd Lakes area. This park was named after a man, named Fritz Loven, who wanted the public to continue to enjoy his beautiful land after his passing. During his life, he had always welcomed hikers, fisherman, and campers on his property. He sounds like a super cool guy! He was known as the “lovable hermit” of Upper Gull Lake and lived on the land for 43 years without electricity, running water, or a car. He planted a wide variety of trees each year by hand, 400 trees each year in fact! This adds to the beautiful variety of nature and wildlife you can see at this park. For more on Fritz Loven and his story Click Here.

The park is full of 80 acres of beautiful nature and there are opportunities to enjoy it many ways. The park is fabulous in the winter and in the summer. Today, I am going to share 6 activities you can enjoy at this beautiful park.

1. Enjoy the Trails
   The trails are beautiful and you can enjoy them a variety of ways! Hiking, trail running, snowshoeing, or cross country skiing are all excellent options for these trails. Also, a great place to take your dog for a walk.
   
2. Trout Fish
   Stoney Brook is a Minnesota state designated trout stream. We have fished a little here, but haven’t spent too much time on this yet. There is a fishing pier and tons of great areas along the trails to fish from shore.
   

   

   

   

   
   
3. Play in the Park or Go Sledding
   There is a small park that has swings and a nice slide for the kids. While the park is small, it has everything it needs and my daughter loves it here. Also, almost every time we have been here we have had the whole park to ourselves! There is also a great hill for sledding in the winter.
   
4. Have an Event
   During one of our visits to this park we noticed it was set up for a wedding and it was a super beautiful scene. They have a nice covered area with tables and you can reserve it for events. It would be an excellent place for a team event, family reunion, or graduation or birthday party.
   
5. Watch Wildlife
   With the variety of trees and nature and the stream there is a great variety of wildlife in this park. We have found it to be a fabulous place for bird watching.
   
6. Relax and Have a Picnic
   Bring a blanket and sit on the shore of Stoney Brook or sit at a picnic table park side. Whatever you choose this park is an excellent place to relax and have a picnic!
   

So, next time you are in the Brainerd Lakes area, get off the beaten path and check out Fritz Loven Park. Honor this awesome Minnesotan, and treat yourself to a great day! It’s certainly worth a side note that it is located conveniently near Zorbaz on Gull, a super fun place for a drink or bite to eat. Have you already been here? What other gems should I check out in the area? Please Share!

For Directions to Find Fritz Loven Park – Click Here

Much Love & Happy Travels,

Lacey