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    Lake Harriet

    4.8 (101 reviews)
    Open 6:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Lake Harriet Photos

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    Karina C.

    Hubby and I were visiting Minnesota and were looking for trails to walk and found Lake Harriet It was about a 3 mile loop trail. This is a very popular area for birding, biking, running and for sure walking, you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The path around Harriet is well maintained. Lake Harriet you can boat and picnic link at any spot. Recommended it

    DeJha P.

    Had a surprise birthday picnic dinner for a friend!!! We found the perfect area new at the peace rock garden. The landscape was beautiful and made for an amazing back drop. Hope to go back and explore more. We were on the East side so parking wasn't bad. There were plenty of spots on Kings Highway.

    Alexis B.

    Over our weekend in Minneapolis, my friend and I visited three of the city's 22 lakes - including Lake Harriet. It has so much to offer: a rose garden; a bandshell park with a café and clean bathrooms; canoe and kayak rentals; a walking path around the lake; and beaches! It's a great place to spend some time, whether you're up for a picnic, some time on the water, a walk, a bite to eat, some beach time...Lake Harriet has something for everyone! If you're visiting Minneapolis, don't sleep on its lakes - part of what makes Minneapolis unique and special!

    Old photos of past bandshell
    Jeremy S.

    Lake Harriet is a wonderful place to take a walk around, just under 3 miles in circumference. Like all the other chain of lakes, there is a separate path for pedestrians and bicycles, keep in mind the bike path is one way going clockwise. In the summer you can rent a boat near the bandshell. There's also a concession stand for a bite to eat. Just on the north hill side you can find a picnic area and jungle gym for the kids. If all the free parking is taken around the lake, there are two paid parking areas. You can also find bike rentals located in the parking lots. For those wanting to take their own boats out on the lake, there is one boat launching ramp.

    Sabrina F.

    This is such a fantastic lake - winter, spring, summer or fall.... you can get outside and enjoy Harriet. People in this area are always out and enjoying the space in some way (biking, walking, sailing, cross-country skiing, etc.). If you find yourself walking this lake, stop at Bread and Pickle (by the Harriet Bandshell) for a (spendy) wine or beer, or walk into the Linden Hills Village area and get a coffee at Dunn Brothers Coffee. In comparison to, Lake Maka Ska (previously known as Lake Calhoun) and Lake of the Isles, I think of Harriet as a lake more tucked into a residential and family-oriented scene.

    Dominik D.

    Basically equivalent in beauty to Lake Bda Maka Ska. This forms the chain of lakes that makes Minneapolis so darn scenic. Strongly consider moving this toward the top of your visit list.

    Risa Y.

    Lake Harriet is not only a wonderful place to visit in the warm beautiful months but also worth the visit in the winter as well. Last weekend my friends and I ventured to the Annual Lake Harriet Winter Kite Festival...oh and what a breathtaking sight it was to see all these fun, awesome kites of all shapes, sizes, colors and themes fly over frozen Lake Harriet! The Art Shanty Project also took place on the lake as well, this is a project where art studios set up in the traditional ice fishing house on the frozen Lake Harriet. Oh, what an amazing experience to watch gorgeous kites outside in the brisk weather and then warm up and enjoy art in these ice houses!

    Denise L.

    Another tourist item on my list checked off! It was the perfect day to visit Lake Harriet as the weather was just like cool California weather, and even just trying to find parking around the neighborhoods was fun! The sprawling mansions and neighborhoods were filled with so much character! As my friend and I walked around the lake, we would see dog walkers with 9 different fluffy dogs, kids skateboarding, and others biking. The lake was clear, although grimey at the bottom. It was a perfect photo day with the beautiful fluffy clouds in the sky. We picked up two bikes and biked around the entire lake. It was absolutely scenic to just go through the greens, take pit stops to take photos of the lake and boats, and people watch!

    Amy R.

    Of all the years we've lived here, never made it over until recently. Pros: Fairly easy parking Restrooms and relatlvely clean ones Bandshell Wonderful playground, but will appreciate when our little one is bigger Lunch options at Bread and Pickle Walking paths Trolley- with such an adorable little shop inside the trolley station. Beautiful views of the lake Counting planes Cons: Can't really think of any. Lovely park and a great place to hang out in the summer months.

    Kara D.

    I love Lake Harriet so much. There are just so many things to see and do here that I couldn't help but think to myself, "Who is this Harriet?? Because she must have loved all things joyous and fun." Well damn, I looked it up and the lake is named after F'in Harriet LOVEJOY. 'Sup, coincidences. Here's a few things you can do here: run/walk the scenic perimeter, hop on your floating device of choice (from paddle boards to sailboats), grab some food and drink at Bread & Pickle, check out a live performance at the Bandshell, watch a movie on the lawn in the summer, get your tan and swim on at the beach, and revel in the rose garden. There is a good-sized attached parking lot that I always find a space at. It IS metered, but just $1/hr, I believe. When I'm feeling lucky, I like to bring a scratch ticket and a rootbeer float to the pier and pray I win some money for more soda and ice cream.

    Sarah J.

    The best parts of Lake Harriet in my mind are three-fold. 1) The drive around the lake is the prettiest in the chain of lakes, in large part because the lake itself is so lovely. It's sparklier than Calhoun and Lake of the Isles, I swear (although the houses around those are more impressive if you're looking for that sort of thing). You also pass the Lyndale Park Gardens on the Northeast shore, where you will probably see a wedding party strolling in the Rose Garden if the season is right (warm). Actually the Rose Garden itself makes a trip 'round Harriet worthwhile. I can't quite get over the fact that we have a rose garden. How refined! 2) The bandstand. Must be new-ish. I first saw it from across the lake and thought it must be Disneyland Twin Cities, because it basicially looks like Cinderella's Castle, all turret-y and such. 3) The beach! I prefer the North beach. It's much quieter than Calhoun's and I can always find a place for my towel on the sand. There aren't too many kids and there's plenty of space to swim around. Maybe too much lakeweed. Consider riding your bike if you do go to the beach. Parking is a big annoying monster on hot days. Otherwise be prepared to park far away and walk.

    The neighborhood elf is probably hanging out in Cabo this time of the year...

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    Review Highlights - Lake Harriet

    Many performances have been taken in at the bandshell ( be well prepared for mosquitoes at certain times).

    Mentioned in 25 reviews

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    Bay Rentals Inc

    Bay Rentals Inc

    3.9(28 reviews)
    18.2 mi

    Overall we got to have fun on the lake but I will say these machines are a bit beat up and seem to…read moreneed a tune up. As I would turn the machine would lose a lot of power and my partner ran out of gas with a hour left, so they didn't fill up both machines asine still had half a tank left. $600 deposit and make sure to take a good video of the machines. The process of receiving instruction was a little odd as a younger kid was giving us rules then a seemingly drunk older man in a truck kept talking over him who I assume is the owner? Kind of a weird dynamic going on here. The process of taking off and riding was good no issues there.

    Ohmygoodness, not enough good to say!!…read more My friend and I had never been paddle boarding, it was 95 deg out with 72% humidity and we were feeling adventurous. Did a quick google search and found this place. Gave a call and the voicemail said to leave a message and they would get back. Yeah right. Well, about 30 minutes later the phone rang! Learned that SUPs were first come first served, but mentioned we were headed to them in mound from Coon Rapids and it would kinda suck to drive that far. I asked what our chances were and they were sweet enough to make sure they didn't all disappear! The process is super easy, tou check in and then walk the few hundred feet to the beach. They bring the boards (or whatever you've rented) over to you and you're set! When you're done you just beach the items and they come grab them. Only down side is SUP is kinda hard for a newbie as the lake is clearly a play lake. Constantly rough from all the jet skiiers.

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    Bay Rentals Inc
    Bay Rentals Inc
    Bay Rentals Inc

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    Lake Harriet - parks - Updated May 2026

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