Baxter's Trail Network Is Expanding: The New CSAH 48 Trail and More

Baxter is building its recreation network as fast as it is building homes. The city's park system is one of the most complete in the Brainerd Lakes Area, and now Crow Wing County is moving a new trail into the area, soliciting construction bids for the CSAH 48 Trail in July 2026. For buyers weighing a home here, an expanding trail system is practical evidence of a community that plans for the long term.

What Is the CSAH 48 Trail?

CSAH 48 Trail is a county trail project in the Baxter area. Crow Wing County solicited construction bids for the trail in July 2026, a concrete step that moves the project from planning toward construction. County trails like this are designed to give residents safe connections between neighborhoods, parks, and the wider regional network, so people can get around on foot, by bike, or by machine without fighting highway traffic.

Where Do Baxter Residents Ride and Walk Today?

**Northland Arboretum** offers 12 miles of groomed hiking and ski trails just across the Baxter border, covered in our guide to the arboretum's expanding recreation.

**Whipple Lake and the neighborhood parks** give families short, close-by loops, detailed in our post on Baxter's neighborhood recreation.

**The Brainerd-area ATV trail network**, including the Crow Wing Southern Loop, Pine Center, and Fort Ripley routes, gives off-road riders a real trail system a short drive away.

**The Paul Bunyan State Trail** passes through the lakes area for longer paved rides.

The new CSAH 48 Trail is designed to fit into that picture, adding a dedicated county route where walkers and cyclists can travel safely through a community that is still growing.

What Does the Trail Build-Out Mean for Baxter Homebuyers?

A connected trail system changes the feel of a community. Homes near trails hold a steady kind of appeal for families who want their kids to ride bikes to the park and for retirees who want a smooth surface for a daily walk. Baxter already had the shopping, the schools, and the highway access that make it the area's fastest-growing city; the trail investment adds the outdoor piece of that equation.

It is also worth noting that trail projects rarely stop at one. The county's July 2026 bid solicitation for CSAH 48 shows the project is funded and moving, and communities that complete one trail tend to plan the next. Buyers who choose Baxter now are buying into a city actively wiring itself together.

The Bottom Line

Baxter's growth is easy to see in new rooftops and retail, but the trail investment is the quieter part of the story. A new county trail, a deep park system, and nearby ATV and state trails give residents reasons to get outside in every season. If you are comparing communities, spend an afternoon on Baxter's trails and see how the city fits together on foot. Start with our Baxter community guide, read about Baxter's family-friendly side, and schedule a call to talk about your search. Cheers!