Lake Harriet South Beach

Minneapolis, Minnesota · on Lake Harriet · Lake Harriet

Verified · 5 independent sources · top-verified

WATER: lake
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: Yes, see below
SEASON: Best in summer

About Lake Harriet South Beach

Lake Harriet South Beach refers to the public swimming beach on the south side of Lake Harriet in Minneapolis, officially designated by the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB) as "Lake Harriet Southeast Beach" at 4740 Lake Harriet Parkway E. It is one of two lifeguarded places to swim on Lake Harriet, a 335-acre natural lake within the Chain of Lakes park system, and with seasonal lifeguard coverage and weekly water-quality monitoring it serves as a dependable in-city swimming hole.

Lake Harriet is a 335-acre, 85-foot-deep natural lake in southwest Minneapolis, part of the city's Chain of Lakes park system between Bde Maka Ska and Minnehaha Creek. The lake is ringed by a paved parkway with bike and pedestrian trails, and the historic Como-Harriet streetcar line runs along part of its shore near the bandshell area. The Lake Harriet Bandshell hosts a summer concert series, and the Bread & Pickle restaurant operates nearby.

Swimming at Lake Harriet South Beach

The Southeast (south) Beach is a sandy, lifeguard-supervised swimming area with marked boundaries suited to families and casual lake swimmers rather than open-water or wilderness swimming. Water quality is actively monitored by the park board and swimming is discouraged after heavy rain due to temporary bacteria spikes.

How to get to this swimming hole

The beach is located at 4740 Lake Harriet Parkway E, Minneapolis, MN 55417, on the south side of Lake Harriet; the MPRB describes it as reachable by bus, bike, car, or on foot along the lake's parkway path.

The walk in

No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. Drive-up urban beach at 4740 Lake Harriet Parkway E; the paved Chain of Lakes parkway trail (about 2.75 mi pedestrian loop around the lake per Wikipedia) runs right along the shore, but no hike is required to reach the swim area itself - it's steps from parking/the parkway.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

Good for kids

Sandy, lifeguard-supervised designated swim area with marked boundaries on a calm city lake (not a river/current site); MPRB requires an adult to accompany children under 8 at all times and requires swim diapers for non-toilet-trained kids. Lifeguards are on duty June 13-Aug 23 daily 1-7pm (reduced hours through early Sept) but 'take safety breaks during the day', so supervision isn't continuous.

Hours

Beach/swimming hours are 6am-10pm daily under city ordinance PB-3-1. Lifeguards are on duty June 13-August 23 daily 1pm-7pm, with reduced post-season coverage (weekdays 4-7pm, weekends 1-7pm) through early September.

Swim smart

Bacteria levels (E. coli) and blue-green algae are monitored weekly and can spike after heavy rain, prompting beach closures when E. coli exceeds 1,260 organisms per 100mL; the park board also advises on swimmer's itch and the rare risk of Naegleria fowleri, recommending swimmers avoid submerging their heads or use nose clips.

Rules: Open 6am-10pm daily (swimming prohibited outside these hours) under city ordinance PB-3-1. Lifeguards on duty June 13-August 23 daily 1-7pm, with reduced post-season coverage (weekdays 4-7pm, weekends 1-7pm) through early September. Swimming restricted to marked areas; children under 8 require adult supervision; no swimming when air temperature is below 65F; no inflatable flotation devices without a permit; no glass containers or alcohol outside licensed restaurants; dogs are not allowed on the beach or in the water.

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

KayaksCanoesPaddleboardsPedal boatSailboatsElectric motorboat

Restrictions: No gas-powered boat motors are allowed on Minneapolis city lakes (gas motors must be removed from the water); electric trolling motors are permitted without a permit. Lake Harriet has a public boat launch located east of the Bandshell.

Lake Harriet also offers annual canoe/kayak rack permits and sailboat buoy permits for lake-side storage (Lake Harriet Yacht Club is based here per Wikipedia), separate from the seasonal Wheel Fun Rentals concession.

Rentals nearby

Wheel Fun Rentals - Lake Harriet

Single kayaks, canoes, pedal boats, stand-up paddleboards, electric retro boats, and tandem bikes

4135 W. Lake Harriet Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55419, near the Lake Harriet Bandshell; phone (612) 922-9226 · Jul 20-Aug 23: Mon-Fri 10am-8pm, Sat/Sun/holidays 9am-8pm; Aug 24-Sep 7: daily 1pm-7pm; closed Sep 8-late May; May 22-Jul 18: Mon-Fri 10am-9pm, Sat/Sun/holidays 9am-9pm (last rentals depart 1 hour before closing)

Backstory

Lake Harriet was known to the Dakota as Bde Umáŋ and was renamed for Harriet Lovejoy, wife of Colonel Henry Leavenworth, following his 1819 arrival; Colonel William S. King donated the surrounding land to the Minneapolis park system in 1885. The lake's bandshell has burned and been rebuilt multiple times since 1888 (most destructively in a 1925 windstorm that killed two people), with the current structure dating to 1986 and renovated starting in 2023.

Lake Harriet South Beach: FAQ

Does Lake Harriet South Beach charge a fee?

No admission fee is charged for the beach itself; canoe, kayak, paddleboard, pedal boat, and bike rentals are available seasonally through Wheel Fun Rentals for a fee, and permits are required for group use, special events, or use of inflatable flotation devices.

Is Lake Harriet South Beach kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Lake Harriet South Beach?

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

Where do I park for Lake Harriet South Beach?

MPRB's general parking page confirms the park system has both free lots (including at neighborhood parks) and paid options (regional lots, on-street parkway meters) system-wide, but no page found specifies which applies at Lake Harriet Southeast Beach specifically; the beach page only points to a general interactive parking map and a phone number (612-230-6400) for details.

Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Lake Harriet South Beach?

When is the best time to visit Lake Harriet South Beach?

Summer; lifeguards are on duty June 13 through August 23, with reduced post-season hours through early September, consistent with Minnesota's warm-weather swimming season.

What are the rules at Lake Harriet South Beach?

Open 6am-10pm daily (swimming prohibited outside these hours) under city ordinance PB-3-1. Lifeguards on duty June 13-August 23 daily 1-7pm, with reduced post-season coverage (weekdays 4-7pm, weekends 1-7pm) through early September. Swimming restricted to marked areas; children under 8 require adult supervision; no swimming when air temperature is below 65F; no inflatable flotation devices without a permit; no glass containers or alcohol outside licensed restaurants; dogs are not allowed on the beach or in the water.

What water body is Lake Harriet South Beach on?

Lake Harriet South Beach is on Lake Harriet, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.

Conditions right now

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Managed by

Lake Harriet

Official site · Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board

At a glance

Land access: Open to the public
Facilities: sandy designated swim area; marked swim boundaries; seasonal lifeguard coverage; nearby restaurant (Bread & Pickle); bike and walking paths; seasonal canoe/kayak/paddleboard/pedal boat rentals
Highlights: Historic Como-Harriet streetcar line runs near the lake; Lake Harriet Bandshell hosts a summer concert and movie series; Part of Minneapolis's Chain of Lakes park system
Nearby towns: Saint Louis Park (2.2mi); Calhoun Beach (2.9mi); Richfield (3.0mi); Oak Knoll (4.2mi)
Coordinates: 44.9171, -93.3005