Beaches

Two sand beaches on Lake Independence at Three Rivers' Baker Park Reserve in Maple Plain, with a creative play area a short walk off.

The east-side beach on Bde Maka Ska, closest to the Uptown end of the lake and the busiest on a hot afternoon.

The north-end beach on Bde Maka Ska, a short walk from the refectory and the sailboat docks.

The wide southwest-shore beach on Bde Maka Ska, with grass to spread out on above the sand and the lake loop right behind you.

A wide sand beach on Big Marine Lake at Washington County's park reserve, open Memorial Day to Labor Day, with camping and trails nearby.

An unguarded sand beach on Bryant Lake in Eden Prairie, with a concession stand and the regional park's trails and picnic spots.

One of the state's most-visited beaches — a wide sand beach on Bush Lake in Bloomington's Hyland area, now run by Three Rivers, with a volleyball court and a concession stand.

The east-shore beach on Cedar Lake, backed by woods and reached off the Cedar Lake Trail.

The main beach on Cedar Lake, a short walk from the parking — sand, calm water, and the least crowded of the chain most mornings.

The small south beach on Cedar Lake, shaded and quieter than the Point up the shore.

The swimming beach at Cleary Lake Regional Park in Prior Lake, part of a big park with a golf course, campground, and trails.

An Anoka County sand beach on Coon Lake in Columbus, at the north edge of the metro — a vehicle permit gets you in.

A clean, shallow sand beach on Fish Lake in Maple Grove — gentle water that suits young kids, free and unguarded.

A sand swimming beach on the north shore of Medicine Lake in Plymouth, part of Three Rivers' French Regional Park.

A smaller, quieter Lake Ann beach in Chanhassen — Greenwood Shores, with a picnic area and trails and no boat launch crowd.

Chanhassen's Lake Ann Park beach, with paddle-craft rentals, a fishing pier, ball fields, and concessions right by the sand.

Anoka County's Lake George Regional Park in Oak Grove — a sand swimming beach with a boat launch, picnic areas, and miles of trails.

A small Ramsey County beach on Lake Gervais in Little Canada — unguarded, open dawn to dusk in summer.

The smaller, quieter beach at the north end of Lake Harriet, a short walk from the bandshell and the Rose Garden.

The southeast beach on Lake Harriet, near the bandshell and the streetcar line.

A neighborhood lake beach off the Hiawatha parkway, with a guarded swimming area and the regional trail running past.

A Ramsey County sand beach on Lake Josephine, on the Arden Hills–Roseville line — unguarded, open through the summer season.

Roseville's Lake McCarrons beach — a small, close-in Ramsey County sand beach just north of St. Paul.

Carver County's Lake Minnewashta Regional Park in Chanhassen — a sand beach with paddle rentals, a fishing pier, and sand volleyball.

The smaller south-side beach on Lake Nokomis, quieter than the main beach up the shore.

The metro's roomiest lake beach — a wide sand crescent with a beach house, a guarded swimming area, and paddleboard rentals a short walk down the shore.

A Ramsey County beach on Lake Owasso in Shoreview, with a playground and picnic area next to the sand.

A sand beach on big Lake Waconia at Carver County's regional park, with kayak and paddleboard rentals at the water's edge.

Ramsey County's only lifeguarded beach — Long Lake Regional Park in New Brighton, with guards on duty Thursday through Sunday afternoons in summer.

A far-north Anoka County beach on Martin Lake in Linwood Township — a sand swimming area with picnic grounds and a boat launch.

St. Paul's big guarded beach on Lake Phalen, with a sand swimming area, a splash pad next door, and free parking.

A St. Croix River beach at the southern tip of Washington County, where the St. Croix meets the Mississippi — unguarded, open through the summer.

The swimming beach at Anoka County's Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve in Lino Lakes, with camping and trails through the reserve.

A neighborhood beach on Lake Minnewashta at Chanhassen's Roundhouse Park, with a playground, fishing pier, and restrooms.

The Schulze Lake beach at Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan — Dakota County's main swimming beach, with water tested weekly through the season.

The Snail Lake beach at Vadnais-Snail Lakes Regional Park in Shoreview — a Ramsey County sand beach with trails around the lakes.

One of the metro's clearest swimming lakes — Washington County's Square Lake north of Stillwater, staffed with lifeguards on summer afternoons and popular with divers.

A river swimming beach on the St. Croix at Washington County's St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park, with a boat launch and wooded campground.

The Lake Johanna beach at Tony Schmidt Regional Park in Arden Hills — a Ramsey County sand beach with trails and picnic spots around it.

A quiet Ramsey County sand beach on Turtle Lake in northern Shoreview — unguarded, open through the summer.

A Ramsey County sand beach on the big, boat-busy White Bear Lake — unguarded, open dawn to dusk through the summer.

The guarded beach at Theodore Wirth Park, the metro's largest regional park, with a beach house and the trails behind it.

Three Rivers' chlorinated swim pond at Elm Creek Park Reserve in Maple Grove — filtered water, a sand beach, a changing shelter, and concessions. A daily or season wristband is required.

A chlorinated, sand-bottomed swim pond at Washington County's Lake Elmo Park Reserve — lake feel with pool-clean water and lifeguards. A daily pass is required.

A chlorinated, sand-bottomed swim pond at Lake Minnetonka Regional Park in Minnetrista — lake-swimming feel with pool-clean water. A daily pass is required.