Clayhole Beach

Chaska, Minnesota · on Firemens Clayhole · Firemens Park I

Verified · 4 independent sources

WATER: lake
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: No fee found
SEASON: Varies by conditions

About Clayhole Beach

Clayhole Beach is the City of Chaska's official public swimming beach on Firemen's Clayhole (also called Brickyard Clayhole), a roughly 40-acre lake in Firemen's Park that formed when a former clay mine filled with water. The city-run beach has a sand swimming area, paddleboat rentals, a concession stand, and a kids' water play fountain, making this former clay pit a genuine swimming hole and one of Chaska's official places to swim.

The swim beach sits within Firemen's Park in downtown Chaska, on Firemen's Clayhole/Brickyard Clayhole, a former clay-mining pit that has since filled with groundwater and reaches roughly 37-40 feet deep across about 40 acres. The lake's drainage basin mixes residential neighborhoods with the surrounding parkland.

Swimming at Clayhole Beach

Swimming takes place in a designated, city-managed beach area of a clear, deep former clay-pit lake; water clarity often exceeds 13 feet, meeting standards typically associated with cold-water trout lakes. It is set up as a family swim beach (sand area, supervised designated swimming zone) rather than a backcountry hole, with paddleboat rentals available alongside the swim area. The lake also supports a warm/cool-water fishery (largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, yellow perch, sunfish).

The walk in

No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up, city-managed swim beach inside Firemen's Park in downtown Chaska, no trail or hike is involved. Exact walk distance from the park's parking area to the sand beach wasn't stated on the pages checked, but as a developed municipal beach with a concession stand and shelter right at the water, it's a short, direct walk.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

OK with supervision

There's a designated shallow swim area and a separate interactive water-play fountain that's good for young kids, but the city's own rules require an adult to supervise children and give weak swimmers one-on-one supervision, and a swim raft is anchored out for those who can swim independently (i.e., water gets deep quickly beyond the shallow area). No lifeguard staffing is mentioned on the official rules page, so supervision is on the visiting family, not city staff.

Water clarity

Clear

Per the Lower Minnesota River Watershed District's lake page (cited in the prior dossier), water clarity in this former clay-pit lake often exceeds 13 feet of Secchi depth, a transparency level typically associated with cold-water trout lakes, likely due to the pit's depth (~37-40 ft) and limited sediment inflow compared to a river-fed lake.

Hours

Beach hours are not posted on the city's official pages; the on-site concession stand runs 11am-8pm, weather permitting. The beach can also close on short notice for bad weather or water-quality testing (it was closed for elevated E. coli levels as recently as mid-July per the current status banner on the city's beach page).

Swim smart

Documented precautionary closure in 2019 due to elevated E. coli bacteria levels in the water, indicating the beach undergoes water-quality testing and can close on short notice. A 2018 report also documented small freshwater jellyfish (Craspedacusta sowerbii) observed in the lake by a paddleboarder, though these are not known to pose a swimming hazard to humans.

Rules: Per the City of Chaska: children must have adult supervision; weak swimmers require constant one-on-one supervision; non-potty-trained swimmers must wear snug-fitting swim pants; pets, glass, alcohol, and smoking are prohibited; no fishing within 100 feet of the beach; Coast Guard-approved life jackets permitted only with supervision by an adult 16+; no inflatable rafts or inner tubes; swimming is restricted to designated areas; beach closes during bad weather. Beach can also be closed on short notice due to water-quality testing (e.g., elevated E. coli).

This is an informational listing, not an invitation. Conditions and access change; verify locally before you go. Visiting any swimming hole is at your own risk. See our Terms of Use.

On the water

PaddleboatPaddleboards

Restrictions: Inflatable rafts and inner tubes are explicitly prohibited. Coast Guard-approved life jackets are only allowed on swimmers when supervised by an adult 16+. No official mention was found of personal kayaks, canoes, or motorboats being permitted or banned on this small lake; a 2018 news report documented a paddleboarder using the water, confirming SUP use, but no personal-watercraft launch or dock beyond the beach/rental area was described.

The only confirmed on-water rental/activity at the beach itself is the city's pedal-boat ("paddleboat") concession; personal paddleboard use has been documented by at least one news report but isn't part of an official rental program.

Rentals nearby

Chaska Parks & Recreation (Clayhole Beach concession)

Paddleboat (pedal boat) rentals at the swim beach

Prices: $10 for 30 minutes

On-site at Clayhole Beach, Firemen's Park, Chaska, MN

Backstory

Firemen's Clayhole (also called Brickyard Clayhole) originated as a clay mine that was abandoned and subsequently filled with water; its last official fisheries survey was conducted in 1984.

Clayhole Beach: FAQ

Is Clayhole Beach kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Clayhole Beach?

No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.

Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Clayhole Beach?

What are the rules at Clayhole Beach?

Per the City of Chaska: children must have adult supervision; weak swimmers require constant one-on-one supervision; non-potty-trained swimmers must wear snug-fitting swim pants; pets, glass, alcohol, and smoking are prohibited; no fishing within 100 feet of the beach; Coast Guard-approved life jackets permitted only with supervision by an adult 16+; no inflatable rafts or inner tubes; swimming is restricted to designated areas; beach closes during bad weather. Beach can also be closed on short notice due to water-quality testing (e.g., elevated E. coli).

What water body is Clayhole Beach on?

Clayhole Beach is on Firemens Clayhole, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.