Paynesville combines recreational opportunities on Lake Koronis with trails along the Crow River and a specific perspective on the town’s history. When planning your visit, you can choose between time on the lake, non-motorized trails, and exhibits; annual events provide additional seasonal occasions.
Lake Koronis and waterfront recreation
Lake Koronis is used for boating and fishing. Seasonal fishing tournaments are held there throughout the year. If you’d like to plan your visit around one, check the current tournament dates in advance, as schedules may change.
Veteran’s Beach is a beach on Lake Koronis in Paynesville, where swimming and relaxing are among the activities. Details of seasonal recreational use may change. The lake offers a choice of both on-water activities and time at the beach.
Self-service kayak rentals are available at Veteran’s Park. Kayaks, paddles, and life jackets are included. If you’re planning to rent, check current availability in advance, as operations may change.
Trails along the Crow River and connections for biking and walking
The Lake Koronis Recreational Trail connects the city of Paynesville with Lake Koronis and Paynesville with the Glacial Lakes State Trail. It is a non-motorized trail for biking and walking. If this connection is important to your plans, check current trail conditions in advance.
Another option is Crow River Nature Park: its three trails run along the North Fork of the Crow River and are just under one mile long in total. The park is located on 12 acres of city-owned land along the river, within Paynesville’s city limits.
This gives you a choice of different trail options: the trail connecting Paynesville with the lake and the Glacial Lakes State Trail, and the park’s three trails along the North Fork of the Crow River. The connections and lengths described offer different points of reference when planning to walk or bike.
Local history and events
The Paynesville Historical Society & Museum features an indoor, walk-through village from the 1900s and a timeline exhibit about Paynesville. The Paynesville Historical Society also aims to share and preserve the culture of Paynesville and rural Minnesota through discovery, preservation, and programs.
Town and Country Days is Paynesville’s annual festival in June. The annual air show at Paynesville Municipal Airport takes place every August and features flight demonstrations. These are two recurring events at different times of the year; dates and programming for Town and Country Days, as well as details of the air show, may change. Check the latest information if either event is important to your travel dates.
Fishing tournaments on Lake Koronis take place seasonally throughout the year, so they are not tied to the same two months as the June festival and August air show. Together, the lake, trails, museum, and events offer different ways to spend time in Paynesville, without requiring all activities to fall within the same period.
Discover more destinations: Sartell, Albany, Saint Augusta, Sauk Centre, Waite Park.
Back to the main travel overview: Stearns County.
