Minneapolis Beaches: What to Know Before You Go
Posted on 5 June, 2020As summer heats up, people are looking to cool off at one of the 12 beaches in the Minneapolis park system. However, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) has modified operations at beaches this season, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before visiting a beach, please review the changes below and plan accordingly.
- Beaches are open during regular park hours, from 6 am to 10 pm daily
- Update: Lifeguard services were announced on June 17, beginning June 20. See 17 June, 2020 update for details on hours and locations.
There are no lifeguard services provided. Multi-language signs are being posted to inform beach visitors that lifeguards are not on duty and to encourage social distancing and following of COVID-19 guidelines from the MN Department of Health. - Swimming buoys are being installed by June 13 at these most-visited locations, to mark off general areas for swimmers:
- Drinking fountains remain closed; please bring a water bottle.
- Portable toilets are available at the following locations:
- Cedar Lake East Beach
- Cedar Lake Point Beach
- Cedar Lake South Beach (7/1/20 update: portable toilet added at this location later)
- Bde Maka Ska 32nd Street BeachBde Maka Ska North Beach
- Bde Maka Ska Thomas Beach
- Lake Harriet North Beach
- Lake Harriet Southeast Beach
- Lake Hiawatha Beach
- Lake Nokomis 50th Street Beach
- Lake Nokomis Main Beach
- Wirth Lake Beach
- Maintenance and water quality monitoring continue at all beaches.
- MPRB’s park ambassador program now includes ambassador visits to the five most-visited beach locations, as noted above for swimming buoys.
More beach information
General info at www.minneapolisparks.org/beaches
Weekly water quality updates at bit.ly/mplsbeaches