What is the best lake in Minneapolis for swimming?

Lake Harriet and Bde Maka Ska are the deepest city lakes and have several beaches each, and Cedar Lake's beaches are the least crowded. Lake Nokomis is the usual pick for families. Lifeguards were scheduled only at certain beaches from June 13 to August 23 in 2026, so check the park board listing.

Can you swim in Lake of the Isles?

There is no public beach on Lake of the Isles and it is shallow, with a maximum depth of about 31 feet and a lot of weed growth. It is a lake for canoes, kayaks and the walking path. Swim at neighboring Bde Maka Ska or Cedar Lake instead.

How big is Lake Minnetonka?

The Minnesota DNR lists Lake Minnetonka at about 14,200 acres with a maximum depth of 113 feet. It is a maze of bays and channels rather than one open basin, which is why it holds so much boat traffic.

Is there a swimming beach in St. Paul?

Yes. Phalen Regional Park Beach on Lake Phalen is the city's guarded sand beach, with free admission and parking, changing rooms and watercraft rentals. Como Lake has no swimming beach.

Which Twin Cities lakes are best for fishing?

Minnetonka and White Bear have the widest range of species, including muskellunge, walleye and bass. Within the cities, Bde Maka Ska, Harriet, Nokomis and Phalen all hold bass, panfish, pike and stocked walleye or muskies, with piers and easy shore access.

Best Lakes Near Minneapolis and St. Paul: What Each One Is Good For

For a quick answer: go to Lake Harriet if you want one lake that does everything, Bde Maka Ska for people-watching and rentals, Cedar for a quieter swim, Minnetonka or White Bear if you have a boat, Phalen for a guarded beach in St. Paul, and the St. Croix for a river-lake with bluffs. Acreages and depths below come from Minnesota DNR lake data; park details were checked with the Minneapolis and St. Paul park systems in 2026.

Quick comparison

Lake	Size	Max depth	Best for
Bde Maka Ska	424 acres	82 ft	Beaches, rentals, sailing, crowds
Lake Harriet	341 acres	87 ft	Swimming, walking, music, all-round
Lake of the Isles	114 acres	31 ft	Canoeing, kayaking, skating
Cedar Lake	164 acres	51 ft	Quieter beaches, paddling
Lake Nokomis	201 acres	33 ft	Family beach, south Minneapolis
Lake Minnetonka	14,206 acres	113 ft	Powerboating, bass and muskie fishing
White Bear Lake	2,428 acres	83 ft	Sailing, boating, east metro beaches
Lake Phalen	198 acres	91 ft	St. Paul's guarded beach, paddling
Como Lake	71 acres	15.5 ft	Walking loop, shore fishing
Lake St. Croix	8,393 acres	78 ft	Big-water boating, bluff scenery

The Minneapolis Chain of Lakes

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board defines the Chain of Lakes Regional Park as Brownie, Cedar, Isles, Bde Maka Ska and Harriet, tied together by about 15 miles of separated walking and biking paths. Channels connect Brownie, Cedar, Isles and Bde Maka Ska, so a canoe or paddleboard can cover four lakes without a portage. Harriet is separate by water but a short walk south. These are paddle and sail lakes; you will not be dodging wake boats.

Bde Maka Ska

The largest lake in the chain and the busiest. Three beaches (North, 32nd Street and Thomas), a rental concession for kayaks, canoes and paddleboards, a sailing fleet and a path that is shoulder-to-shoulder on a warm Saturday. Best for a social afternoon. Downsides: parking is tight, and it is not where you go for quiet. Anglers should know it is a muskellunge lake with a 40-inch minimum.

Lake Harriet

The best all-rounder. It is the deepest of the city lakes, tends to hold its clarity, and has two beaches (North and Southeast), a bandshell with summer concerts, and a slightly calmer feel than Bde Maka Ska. If you are bringing out-of-town visitors to one city lake, bring them here.

Lake of the Isles

Shallow, winding and lined with big houses. There is no beach. What it does well is flat-water paddling around its two islands and through the channels to its neighbors, and the walking path is the prettiest in the chain. In winter it is a favorite for skating.

Cedar Lake

Three beaches (East, Point and South) and noticeably fewer people than the lakes to the south. The shoreline is more wooded and the atmosphere more relaxed. Good for a swim after work or a paddle up from Isles. Facilities are thinner than at Harriet.

Lake Nokomis

Nokomis is a few miles southeast and not technically part of the Chain of Lakes Regional Park, though locals lump it in. Two beaches (Main and 50th Street), a wide grassy park and an easy loop make it the family lake of south Minneapolis. It is shallower than Harriet or Bde Maka Ska, so it warms early and can green up late in summer.

A note on swimming at all city lakes: in 2026 the park board staffed lifeguards at select beaches from 1 to 7 p.m. daily, June 13 through August 23. Beaches are tested for bacteria and can close after heavy rain, and late-summer blue-green algae is a real possibility on the shallower lakes. Read the posting at the beach.

Lake Minnetonka

About 20 minutes west of downtown Minneapolis and a different world: roughly 14,200 acres of bays, points and channels, the largest lake in the metro by a wide margin. This is the powerboat lake, with restaurants you can dock at in Wayzata and Excelsior, and heavy traffic on summer weekends. It is also a legitimately good fishery for largemouth bass, muskellunge and panfish.

Honest downsides: without a boat, access is limited to a handful of public beaches, piers and parks, and launch ramps back up on Saturdays. The DNR lists zebra mussels, Eurasian watermilfoil and flowering rush here, so expect inspectors at the ramps and follow clean, drain, dispose rules.

White Bear Lake

The east metro's signature lake, about 2,400 acres and up to 83 feet deep, straddling Ramsey and Washington counties. It has a long sailing tradition, public beaches, and clearer water than most metro lakes its size. It fishes well for bass, walleye and muskies. Smaller and less frantic than Minnetonka, but still busy on holiday weekends.

Lake Phalen

St. Paul's best lake for most purposes. Phalen Regional Park Beach is the city's guarded sand beach, free to use with free parking, changing rooms and watercraft rentals. At 198 acres and 91 feet deep, Phalen is deeper than any Minneapolis city lake, and it connects by channel to smaller lakes to the north for paddlers.

Como Lake

Small and shallow at 71 acres and about 15 feet. There is no swimming. Como is a walking and jogging loop beside the zoo and conservatory, with shore fishing for panfish, bass and stocked species. Only car-top boats are allowed, and trailers cannot park in Como lots. It is a pleasant hour, not a lake day.

The St. Croix

Lake St. Croix is the wide lower stretch of the St. Croix River from Stillwater downstream, which the DNR lists at about 8,400 acres. Sandstone bluffs, sandbars, marinas at Stillwater, Bayport and Afton, and a fish list that includes walleye, sauger, smallmouth bass, catfish and lake sturgeon. It is border water with Wisconsin and a National Scenic Riverway, so check the border-water fishing rules and current no-wake restrictions, which change with water levels.

Bottom line

One lake, no boat: Lake Harriet. With a boat: Minnetonka on a weekday, White Bear on a weekend.
Check the beach posting for closures and lifeguard status before you get in, and read up on swimmer's itch if you have kids along.
When the city lakes feel crowded, the day trips guide lists better water within an hour. For more local options see Hennepin County lakes, Ramsey County lakes and fishing near Minneapolis.