Sandy Beach
Excelsior, Minnesota
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- No fee found
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Sandy Beach
Sandy Beach is a small, city-maintained public swimming hole in the Cottagewood neighborhood of Deephaven, Minnesota, on Carson's Bay of Lake Minnetonka. It is one of six public beaches operated by the City of Deephaven, part of the city's roster of places to swim, and the city itself describes it as a swimming spot.
Sandy Beach sits in the small lakeside neighborhood of Cottagewood, just down the street from the historic Cottagewood Store, on Carson's Bay (part of Lower Lake) on Lake Minnetonka. The bay is designated no-wake/minimum-wake, giving it calm water compared to more boat-heavy parts of the lake.
Swimming at Sandy Beach
The city describes Sandy Beach as "a delightful swimming spot" with a swimming dock. The real estate description of the neighborhood notes Sandy Beach and neighboring Rocky Beach are used for swimming, canoeing, and kayaking in the calm, no-wake water of Carson's Bay. No lifeguard is on duty, so it suits confident, self-supervising swimmers rather than those needing staffed oversight.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located at 20030 Lakeview Ave., Deephaven, MN, in the Cottagewood neighborhood, just down the street from the Cottagewood Store, on Carson's Bay of Lake Minnetonka.
Parking: Limited on-street parking at the beach; requires a Deephaven Beach Parking Sticker, available May through September at Deephaven City Hall.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. Sandy Beach is a drive-up neighborhood beach at 20030 Lakeview Ave. in Cottagewood; parking is roadside directly adjacent to the beach, so no hike or meaningful walk is needed to reach the water.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
No lifeguard is on duty at Sandy Beach (confirmed by the City of Deephaven's own beaches page), unlike the city's main Deephaven Beach which is staffed. The bay (Carson's Bay) is designated no-wake/minimum-wake, which reduces boat-wake hazard, and there is a swimming dock. Without on-site supervision or confirmed shallow-entry depth data, this suits families who actively watch their kids rather than a fully hands-off spot.
Parking
Paid, $60/season non-resident (Beach Parking Permit); residents get 2 free permits per year, $10 each additional
Limited on-street parking at the beach requires a Deephaven parking permit. Residents (vehicle registered to a Deephaven address) receive two free Beach Parking Permits distributed in late April, with extra permits at $10 each. Non-residents can buy a $60 Beach Parking Permit (parks/beaches only) or a $120 Boat Launch Parking Permit (adds Carson's Bay boat launch access) at Deephaven City Hall, 20225 Cottagewood Road, starting after April 6 for the May 1-October 1 season. Permit areas are patrolled/enforced May 1-October 1.
Restrooms
Yes
Restrooms are listed on-site at Sandy Beach alongside a swimming dock and picnic table, per the City of Deephaven's official beaches page.
Hours
No posted public hours specific to Sandy Beach itself; the city's parking-permit enforcement season runs May 1-October 1, and Hennepin County's E. coli water testing at area beaches runs roughly May 20-August 26 seasonally.
On the water
Restrictions: Carson's Bay (where Sandy Beach sits, part of Lower Lake) is a designated no-wake/minimum-wake bay, which effectively limits fast motorboat and jet-ski use near the beach.
A local real-estate description of the Cottagewood neighborhood states Sandy Beach and neighboring Rocky Beach are used for swimming, canoeing, and kayaking in the calm water of Carson's Bay. No official signage or regulation specifically for Sandy Beach's watercraft rules was found beyond the no-wake bay designation.
Sandy Beach: FAQ
Is Sandy Beach kid friendly?
No lifeguard is on duty at Sandy Beach (confirmed by the City of Deephaven's own beaches page), unlike the city's main Deephaven Beach which is staffed. The bay (Carson's Bay) is designated no-wake/minimum-wake, which reduces boat-wake hazard, and there is a swimming dock. Without on-site supervision or confirmed shallow-entry depth data, this suits families who actively watch their kids rather than a fully hands-off spot.
Do I need to hike to reach Sandy Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Sandy Beach?
Limited on-street parking at the beach requires a Deephaven parking permit. Residents (vehicle registered to a Deephaven address) receive two free Beach Parking Permits distributed in late April, with extra permits at $10 each. Non-residents can buy a $60 Beach Parking Permit (parks/beaches only) or a $120 Boat Launch Parking Permit (adds Carson's Bay boat launch access) at Deephaven City Hall, 20225 Cottagewood Road, starting after April 6 for the May 1-October 1 season. Permit areas are patrolled/enforced May 1-October 1.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Sandy Beach?
A local real-estate description of the Cottagewood neighborhood states Sandy Beach and neighboring Rocky Beach are used for swimming, canoeing, and kayaking in the calm water of Carson's Bay. No official signage or regulation specifically for Sandy Beach's watercraft rules was found beyond the no-wake bay designation.
When is the best time to visit Sandy Beach?
Summer, roughly May through September, matching both the parking permit window and the county's beach water-quality monitoring season.
What are the rules at Sandy Beach?
City-maintained beach requiring a parking permit (Deephaven Beach Parking Sticker, issued at City Hall May-September) for on-street parking. No lifeguard on duty at Sandy Beach, unlike Deephaven's main Deephaven Beach, which is staffed Wednesday-Sunday 11am-6pm through late summer. Hennepin County monitors area lake beaches weekly for E. coli from Memorial Day to Labor Day and recommends closures if EPA thresholds are exceeded.
