Just Listed! 4902 Woodland Dr NW, Hackensack, MN

Nestled on the eastern shoreline of Ten Mile Lake just outside Hackensack, this lake-country pocket feels worlds away yet sits only about 45 minutes north of Brainerd and roughly 3.5 hours from the Twin Cities. Life here revolves around the water, the pines, and a quieter northwoods rhythm, with small-town Hackensack services just a few minutes down the road and the broader Walker and Longville lake chains within easy reach.

Schools & Education — The Ten Mile Lake area is served primarily by Walker-Hackensack-Akeley School District (ISD 113), with Walker-Hackensack-Akeley Elementary and Walker-Hackensack-Akeley High School covering kindergarten through 12th grade about 15–20 minutes away in Walker. Families also sometimes look to Pine River-Backus Schools (ISD 2174) to the south, with Pine River-Backus Elementary and High School roughly a 25–30 minute drive, depending on the route. For younger children, there are early childhood and preschool options in both Walker and Hackensack, and older students often take advantage of extracurriculars and athletics that draw from multiple nearby lake communities.

Parks & Recreation — Ten Mile Lake itself is the star attraction, known locally for its clear, deep water, excellent walleye and smallmouth fishing, and long stretches of natural shoreline. The Paul Bunyan State Trail runs right through Hackensack, offering miles of paved biking, walking, and snowmobiling access north toward Walker and south toward Backus and Pine River. Nearby Deep Portage Learning Center, about 20 minutes east, provides hiking, cross-country ski trails, and environmental programs, while City Park in Hackensack offers a beach, playground, and picnic spots on Birch Lake. In every season, residents take advantage of boating, paddling, ice fishing, and quiet backroad walks under tall pines.

Shopping & Dining — Everyday needs are handled in Hackensack, where you’ll find Swanson’s Hackensack for groceries, a hardware store, fuel, and small-town services just 5–10 minutes away. For dining, locals frequent eateries like Udom’s Thai Restaurant, Charley’s Up North in Walker about 15 minutes north, and Big Dipper for ice cream in downtown Hackensack during the warmer months. Walker provides a broader mix of shops, including Walker Bay Coffee Co., Reed’s Market for full-service groceries, and a variety of boutiques and outfitters. For larger box stores and expanded medical services, residents typically head to Baxter/Brainerd, roughly a 45–55 minute drive south along MN-371.

Commute & Transportation — The area is accessed mainly via MN-371 and County Road 40, with easy connections into Hackensack and north toward Walker. Commuters heading to Brainerd or Baxter can expect about a 45–55 minute drive, while Walker is typically a 15–20 minute trip depending on conditions. Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport is about 3.5 hours away, with regional flights available from Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport roughly an hour south. Most residents rely on personal vehicles, and winter driving is a normal part of life, with well-maintained county roads and plowed highway access.

Community & Lifestyle — The Ten Mile Lake area has a strong sense of stewardship and community, with a long-established Ten Mile Lake Association that focuses on water quality, conservation, and seasonal events. Neighbors range from year-round residents who embrace the quiet winters to multi-generational cabin owners returning every summer, giving the area a mix of stability and vacation energy. Days tend to be shaped by the lake and the seasons—morning coffee on the dock, evening pontoon rides, and winter bonfires under the stars. Social life often centers on the water, local resorts, nearby churches, and small-town gatherings in Hackensack and Walker, where festivals, parades, and community events keep this corner of the northwoods feeling connected and welcoming.