Recreation

The Central Lakes Trail is Minnesota's 23rd State Trail running from Osakis to Fergus Falls.  This scenic recreational trail covers 55 miles through the communities of Osakis, Nelson, Alexandria, Garfield, Brandon, Evansville, Melby, Ashby and beyond to Fergus Falls.  The Central Lakes Trail is an all season recreational trail that provides a 14' wide bituminous surface for safe off road non-motorized travel by biking, walking or rollerblading in the spring , summer and fall.  It will  provides safe permanent routes for snowmobiling in the winter (December-March). The Central Lakes Trail offers beautiful prairie and lakes scenery and provides an opportunity for families to participate together in some great outdoor activities.  It also connects to the Lake Wobegon Trail which covers 65 miles from Osakis to St. Joseph, Minnesota with an extension from Albany to Royalton making the combined asphalt trail system over 120 miles and one of the longest paved trail systems in the country.

The Lake Wobegon Trail is a 46 mile long, 10 foot wide bituminous surfaced hike-and-bike pathway.  The trail, which opened on September 30, 1998, extends from the city of St. Joseph to the city of Osakis.  The trail also has an extension on the west side of Albany heading northeast to Holdingford and beyond.  The trail runs on the MN/DOT rail corridor formerly owned by Burlington Northern Railroad Company.  The trail is also available for snowmobiling, however, use of metal studs on snowmobiles is prohibited on the trail to help protect the trail from damage caused by the studs on the snowmobile tracks.  The trail has grown substantially since it was first opened and further additions to the trail are continuing to be planned.  The trail has already seen a lot of use by bicyclists, snowmobilers, roller-skiers, roller-bladers and, of course, walkers.