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15 Best Recreational Lakes near Minneapolis, MN

The Minneapolis area is dotted with lakes and reservoirs of various sizes offering swimming, fishing, boating, and paddling in summer. Come wintertime, ice fishing, ice boating, and cross-country skiing become possible.
itiswild.com Best Lakes near Minneapolis

With lakes anywhere you look, the Minneapolis area map resembles Swiss cheese. There are dozens of lakes and ponds within 30 miles of downtown.

And the best thing is, most of these lakes have parks and boat launches for access, making Minneapolis one of the best cities in the country for lake recreation.

In summer, swimming, boating, and paddling are popular. Come wintertime, many lakes offer ice fishing, ice boating, cross-country skiing, and ice skating, just to name a few.

All city lakes restrict gas motors, and few have campgrounds, so for water skiing and family camping, places like Rice Creek Chain of Lakes are best.

Learn more about the area and check out what Minneapolis has to offer!

Lakes near Minneapolis:

  1. Bde Maka Ska
  2. Lake Harriet
  3. Lake Nokomis
  4. Cedar Lake
  5. Lake Phalen
  6. Medicine Lake
  7. Lake Minnetonka
  8. White Bear Lake
  9. Bald Eagle Lake
  10. Rice Creek Chain of Lakes
  11. Lake Waconia
  12. Snelling Lake
  13. Lake Elmo Park Reserve
  14. Lake Independence
  15. Big Marine Lake
Lakes near Minneapolis Minnesota Comparison Table
Comparison Table

1. Bde Maka Ska

Bde Maka Ska North Beach
Source: dreamstime
  • Website: Bde Maka Ska
  • Distance from Minneapolis: 4 miles (10 min)
  • Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Sailing, Picnics, Hiking, Biking, Ice Fishing, Snowshoeing

A few miles southwest of downtown, Bde Maka Ska is the largest lake in the city’s Chain of Lakes regional park system

Once known as Lake Calhoun to recognize John C. Calhoun, who sent troops to the area to survey the Fort Snelling site during his tenure as Secretary of War, concern about Calhoun’s slaveholding legacy led to the renaming of the lake to honor its earlier Dakota name, one that roughly translates into “Lake White Earth.”

This 419-acre lake has 3.15 miles of shoreline and is surrounded by Bde Maka Ska City Park. Bike and pedestrian trails a little longer than three miles encircle the lake. 

Visitors also enjoy three swimming beaches, a fishing pier, kayaking, boating, windsurfing, and winter recreation. Seasonal rental canoes are available. 

A popular place to fish for muskellunge, bass, and walleye, the lake hosts a variety of species. 

Other fish found in Bde Maka Ska include crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, perch, sucker, and sunfish. 

2. Lake Harriet

Lake Harriet Minneapolis
Source: unsplash
  • Website: Lake Harriet
  • Distance from Minneapolis: 5 miles (15 min)
  • Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Sailing, Picnics, Hiking, Biking, Ice Fishing, Snowshoeing

Located north of Minnehaha Creek and immediately south of Bde Maka Ska, Lake Harriet is also part of the city’s Chain of Lakes. 

This 341-acre body of water honors Harriet Lovejoy, a pioneer who settled in the area in 1819. The lake and land surrounding it became a popular park after they were donated to the city in 1885.

In addition to trails that encircle the 2.7 miles of shoreline, Lake Harriet has two beach areas. South Beach is located where the Lake Harriet Parkway meets the West Minnehaha Parkway. 

The larger North Beach includes a concert area with many benches and the Band Shell. Summer concerts and movies are popular events. 

Also, on the north end, the 33-acre Thomas Sadler Roberts Bird Sanctuary became a designated bird sanctuary in 1936.

Those who fish from the bank or rent a boat or canoe will find a wide variety of fish in Lake Harriet. Common species include walleye, perch, sunfish, bass, and muskellunge. 

3. Lake Nokomis

Lake Nokomis Minneapolis
Source: dreamstime
  • Website: Lake Nokomis
  • Distance from Minneapolis: 9 miles (15 min)
  • Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Sailing, Picnics, Hiking, Biking, Ice Fishing, Ice Skating, Snowshoeing

Located a little more than a mile north of the runways at Minneapolis – St. Paul International Airport, Lake Nokomis was originally a shallow marshland that served as a drainage area for nearby neighborhoods. 

Once known as Lake Amelia, the name was changed in 1919 to honor the grandmother of Hiawatha. The city acquired the 405-acre Lake Nokomis Park property in 1907, and dredging soon took place to expand the depth of the shallow 201-acre lake.

The lake became a popular summertime swimming destination by the 1920s. This recreation area in the southern area of the city soon surpassed Bde Maka Ska’s popularity as a swimming destination. 

The main swimming beach sits along the lake’s northwestern side. During the winter, ice skaters flock to the lake.

A 2.7-mile pedestrian trail and a slightly longer bike trail offer access to all areas around the lake. Kayak and boat rentals are available here. 

The lake is home to bowfin, bass, crappie, walleye, muskellunge, and sunfish. 

4. Cedar Lake

cedar lake minneapolis
Source: flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0
  • Website: Cedar Lake
  • Distance from Minneapolis: 5 miles (10 min)
  • Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Sailing, Picnics, Hiking, Biking, Ice Fishing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing

Located less than a mile north of Bde Maka Ska and immediately west of Lake of the Isles, Cedar Lake is known for its three swimming beaches. 

East Beach, Point Beach, and South Beach are places where people gather during the summer months to swim in this 163-acre lake. 

Cedar Lake Park touches the Kenwood neighborhood on the east and the Cedar-Isles-Dean neighborhood on the south and west sides. 

The lake is surrounded by trails and grassy areas that offer convenient year-round access. Although most of the shoreline around the lake is open to the public, some southeastern shore areas adjacent to the Cedar Lake Canal are private residences. 

Immediately north of Cedar Lake, the 27.6-acre Brownie Lake Park and 10.25-acre Brownie Lake sit alongside the Bryn-Mawr neighborhood. A small canal under the railroad tracks connects these lakes for boaters and kayakers.

Fishing in Cedar Lake is excellent, especially near the fishing pier area on the lake’s west side. Northern pike, muskellunge, and bass are top catches, though sunfish, crappie, perch, and shiner are also regularly caught here.

5. Lake Phalen

boat on a mooring in Minneapolis
Source: dreamstime
  • Website: Lake Phalen
  • Distance from Minneapolis: 14 miles (20 min)
  • Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Sailing, Picnics, Hiking, Biking, Ice Fishing, Ice Skating, Snowshoeing

Lake Phalen is a few miles north of downtown St. Paul and a little more than 10 miles east of downtown Minneapolis. 

Named after Edward Phelan, an early resident, this 197-acre lake is the centerpiece of the city’s comprehensive Phalen Regional Park System

Originally the City of St. Paul’s drinking water source from 1869 to 1913, frequent dredging transformed the parklands surrounding the lake in the early 1900s.

This East Side park in St. Paul is known for swimming, biking, golf, picnicking, boating, cross-country skiing, and ice skating. 

The boat launch at the northern end of Phelan Lake is a place that not only provides access to this lake but also to Round, Keller, Spoon, and Gervais Lakes through connecting canals. 

The 494-acre park surrounding the lake is home to unique areas in the metropolitan region. A China Garden planned with the city and the Minnesota China Friendship Garden Society recognizes the aesthetic traditions of Chinese, Hmong, and other Asian gardening cultures. 

The Dragon Garden area includes book-like benches that celebrate poetry in an area with community gardens. 

Four miles of fishable shoreline and lake access encourage anglers to cast a line at Lake Phalen. Sunfish and walleye are common catches here. 

Other fish found in the lake include pike, largemouth bass, crappie, channel catfish, bullhead, yellow perch, and muskie.

6. Medicine Lake

french regional park and Medicine Lake Minnesota
Source: dreamstime
  • Website: Medicine Lake
  • Distance from Minneapolis: 11 miles (20 min)
  • Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Sailing, Picnics, Hiking, Biking, Ice Fishing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing

Medicine Lake is approximately ten miles west-northwest from downtown Minneapolis. This 925-acre lake is the second-largest lake in Hennepin County, and a place where sailors, fishers, and boaters enjoy visiting. 

The municipality of Plymouth surrounds most of the lake, except for a small section along the south, where the community of Medicine Lake occupies a small peninsula that extends into the lake. 

The Clifton E. French Regional Park is located along the northern side of Medicine Lake. This extensive park offers guests a fishing pier, swimming beach, and trails. 

Those who cast lines will enjoy recreational fishing for bullhead, bass, pike, pumpkinseed, crappie, bluegill, and perch. 

7. Lake Minnetonka

Lake Minnetonka
Source: dreamstime
  • Website: Lake Minnetonka
  • Distance from Minneapolis: 20 miles (35 min)
  • Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Sailing, Picnics, Hiking, Biking, Wakeboarding, Water Skiing, Tubing, Ice Fishing, Ice Boating, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing

Located approximately 20 miles west-southwest of Minneapolis, the multiple kettle lakes from the Ice Age that have formed Lake Minnetonka comprise the largest lake in Hennepin County and the entire Twin Cities region. 

The lake has two halves, the Lower Lake in the east and the Upper Lake in the west, with the watershed having 18 islands and more than 20 bays and lakes as part of a lake that exceeds 14,000 surface acres. 

The first major real estate boom around Lake Minnetonka took place in the 1870s and 1880s, as resort hotels appeared on the landscape. 

A yacht club and seasonal homes appeared before the 1890s, with streetcar and steamboat services accelerating development by the 1920s. A century later, the many areas of Lake Minnetonka continue to serve as popular recreation destinations. 

The interconnected lake system offers a wide variety of fishing locations, allowing anglers to choose their favorite area to enjoy fishing. 

Among the fish caught in Lake Minnetonka are largemouth bass, muskie, walleye, and northern pike. 

8. White Bear Lake

First Timer Water Skiing
Source: dreamstime
  • Website: White Bear Lake
  • Distance from Minneapolis: 18 miles (25 min)
  • Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Sailing, Picnics, Wakeboarding, Water Skiing, Tubing, Ice Fishing, Ice Skating, Ice Boating, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing

North of St. Paul and approximately 18 miles northeast of Minneapolis, White Bear Lake covers more than 2,420 surface acres in the northeastern Twin Cities metropolitan area. 

Early vacationers flocked to this lake during the 19th century, with this large, clear body of water even attracting the notice of authors such as Mark Twain. 

Cottages appeared along the shoreline during the early 1900s as people considered White Bear Lake a retreat from nearby urban areas.

Although most of White Bear Lake’s 13.6-mile shoreline is privately owned, the lake has popular parks on its west and northwest sides. Two parks developed by the City of White Bear Lake are Matoska Park and West Park

Managed by Ramsey County, White Bear Lake County Park offers a swimming beach and boat launch. Formed in 1971, the White Bear Lake Conservation District was created by the state to regulate the condition of and access to the lake to ensure its long-term preservation. 

Fish within this lake include a number of popular species. Among the fish found in White Bear Lake are bluegill, muskie, walleye, crappie, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and yellow perch. 

9. Bald Eagle Lake

Lake pier and pontoon boat in Minnesota
Source: dreamstime
  • Website: Bald Eagle Lake
  • Distance from Minneapolis: 21 miles (30 min)
  • Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Sailing, Picnics, Hiking, Biking, Wakeboarding, Water Skiing, Tubing, Ice Fishing, Ice Boating, Snowshoeing

A little more than a mile north of White Bear Lake, Bald Eagle Lake has a shoreline that spans 9.6 miles in a residential area. 

The best location to access this 1,047-acre lake is Bald Eagle-Otter Lakes Regional Park, a recreation area in Ramsey County that has separate greenspaces. 

One section with a large boat launch sits along the eastern end of Bald Eagle Lake. The second part of this park is located just west of the lake, with access to the southern shoreline of the shallow, weedy Otter Lake.

Those who fish in Bald Eagle Lake and Otter Lake will enjoy the abundance of walleye, bluegill, muskellunge, northern pike, and largemouth bass found in these lakes. 

Other fish located in these bodies of water include yellow perch, crappie, pumpkinseed, green sunfish, and brown bullhead. 

10. Rice Creek Chain of Lakes

Centerville Lake Minnesota
Source: unsplash
  • Website: Rice Creek Chain of Lakes
  • Distance from Minneapolis: 24 miles (30 min)
  • Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Sailing, Picnics, Hiking, Biking, Camping, Wakeboarding, Water Skiing, Tubing, Ice Fishing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing

The Rice Creek Chain of Lakes sits approximately 20 miles north-northeast of downtown Minneapolis. From southwest to northeast, this 5,500-acre recreation area includes Baldwin Lake, Rice Lake, Marshan Lake, Reshanau Lake, George Watch Lake, Centerville Lake, and Peltier Lake. 

The recreational area provides a beach, picnic areas, playgrounds, and locations for golfing, hiking, and geocaching. Those who visit the Rice Chain of Lakes can enjoy a visit to the Wargo Nature Center.

The lakes and surrounding parklands maintain significant wildlife habitats in the northeastern area of the Twin Cities region. 

The Rice Creek North Regional Trail offers access to many parts of this preserve. 

It is a family-friendly location where walking, jogging, boating, biking, cross-country skiing, and fishing are enjoyed in different seasons of the year. 

Anglers will find walleye, sunfish, largemouth bass, bullhead, and catfish swimming in these lakes. 

11. Lake Waconia

Lake Waconia Beach
Source: dreamstime
  • Website: Lake Waconia
  • Distance from Minneapolis: 33 miles (40 min)
  • Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Sailing, Picnics, Hiking, Biking, Wakeboarding, Water Skiing, Tubing, Ice Fishing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Sledging

Lake Waconia is 30 miles west-southwest of downtown Minneapolis. This large, circular 3,080-acre lake in Carver County is the second-largest lake in the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. 

The City of Waconia sits along the lake’s southern shoreline. Lake Waconia offers recreational opportunities throughout the year, with the lake’s size making this an ideal location for sailing, sailboarding, and water skiing, as well as swimming and fishing. 

A boat launch on the lake’s east side offers access to Coney Island, a 34-acre island that was once the site of a resort from 1889 through the late 1930s. Today, the island has impressive picnic grounds and is known to many as the Coney Island of the West

On the lake’s southeastern shore, Lake Waconia Regional Park offers 164 acres of recreation space. 

Water quality has improved in the lake in recent decades, making Lake Waconia a preferred destination for anglers. 

Known primarily for its walleye and muskellunge, the lake is also home to bullhead, bluegill, pike, and bass.

12. Snelling Lake

  • Website: Snelling Lake
  • Distance from Minneapolis: 14 miles (20 min)
  • Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Picnics, Hiking, Biking, Ice Fishing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing

Snelling Lake is situated near where the Minnesota River meets the Mississippi River, just south of the Minneapolis – St. Paul International Airport. 

This 101-acre lake sits within the Minnesota River floodplain, near the bluff where Fort Snelling was erected in 1820. 

Located within Fort Snelling State Park, a recreation area that became a state park in 1961, this lake is surrounded by trails. 

A swimming beach opened in 1970, and snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are popular during the winter months.

Located in the heart of the Twin Cities, Snelling Lake is a great place for fishing from the embankment or the fishing pier on its northeastern corner. 

Species found in this lake include northern pike, largemouth bass, bluegill, and yellow perch. 

13. Lake Elmo

pier lake preserve
Source: pixabay
  • Website: Lake Elmo
  • Distance from Minneapolis: 21 miles (25 min)
  • Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Picnics, Hiking, Biking, Camping, Ice Fishing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing

Twenty miles east of downtown Minneapolis, Lake Elmo is one of many bodies of water within the 2,165-acre Lake Elmo Park Reserve. 

The rolling hills surrounding the 256-acre Lake Elmo, Eagle Point Lake, and smaller estuaries preserve the forest and prairies that once were found throughout this region. 

The Lake Elmo Park Reserve features playgrounds, trails, a campground, and opportunities to enjoy fishing. 

Those who cast a line will find bluegill, bullhead, trout, bass, pike, sunfish, trout, walleye, and pumpkinseed. 

14. Lake Independence

Two men fishing during sunset
Source: pixabay
  • Website: Lake Independence
  • Distance from Minneapolis: 22 miles (30 min)
  • Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Sailing, Picnics, Hiking, Biking, Camping, Wakeboarding, Water Skiing, Tubing, Ice Fishing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing

Lake Independence offers a serene and relaxing fishing destination a little more than 20 miles west-northwest of downtown. 

With 7.5 miles of shoreline, this 832-acre lake is easily accessed by visiting Baker Park Reserve on its southeastern shore. 

With a playground, trails, camping area, pier, and boat launch, this park spans more than 2,700 acres between Medina and Maple Plain. 

Anglers who visit Lake Independence will enjoy casting lines. Popular species they may encounter include bullhead, bluegill, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, crappie, bass, and sunfish. 

15. Big Marine Lake

large lake with pontoon boats in Minnesota
Source: dreamstime
  • Website: Big Marine Lake
  • Distance from Minneapolis: 35 miles (40 min)
  • Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Picnics, Sailing, Hiking, Wakeboarding, Water Skiing, Tubing, Ice Fishing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing

A little more than 30 miles northeast of Minneapolis, Big Marine Lake is regarded for its high water quality. At more than 1,750 acres, the lake has experienced a renaissance since 2009. 

In that year, the Big Marine Lake Association was incorporated as a civic group that led efforts to address the presence of the highly invasive Eurasian water milfoil aquatic plant that took hold in the lake. 

Big Marine Park Reserve, on the southern shore, offers a boat launch with the best access point to enjoy the lake. 

This year-round park also has trails that are popular for hiking in the summer and fat-tire biking and cross-country skiing in the winter. 

Fish found in the lake include largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, bluegill, crappie, bullhead, and yellow perch. 

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