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    Lake Nokomis

    4.5 (58 reviews)

    Lake Nokomis Photos

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    On a Swan Boat
    Robert W.

    Lake Nokomis is by far one of my favorite lakes in the Twin Cities. If you go to the main beach, you can either do paid lot parking or just park on the street right across for free. There are places to put a boat in, go swimming with lifeguards watching, parks to play in, and paths to run/bike on. Additionally, they have huge bathrooms with showers, changing rooms, and a first aid station. This came in handy as I actually cut my hand and needed to grab a bandaid. Highly recommend everyone take some time to relax here.

    Christabel F.

    Beautiful trail and beautiful lake - I took a walk here and will definitely be back! Definitely would recommend for running/biking as they have trails all the way around for both

    Taneika W.

    I love being outdoors and I enjoy this park. I've done the swan boating , I like to run and walk this lake. It's not overly crowded and normally clean.

    Lake Nokomis
    Janae J.

    Love this lake! There's great trails, in the summer you can play at the beach or rent swan pedal boats. In winter there's the us pond hockey tournament. It's a free event. I was able to find easy parking by the community center and then walk over the ice to the event.

    Jeremy S.

    Lake Nokomis is a pleasant lake to relax and recreate. It's under three miles in circumference and offers docs, beaches or an actual ramp to go boating or launch your paddle board. Nokomis main beach is pretty big to sun bathe at ir watch your kids play in the water. There is also a ton of grassy areas to have a picnic. If your adventurous, is a little walk down to Minnehaha falls.

    I lake what I see
    Fox E.

    When I come to Mini Apples or Mini Soda, I Lake what I see here. Or rather what I see here are Lakes. This is a beautiful lake in the land of the Lakes. Minnesota has so many lakes it's just absolutely flush with lakes you could say. Although I hope they don't ever flush the lakes but knowing humans we could find a way to do exactly that. So this lake. It's beautiful and it's one of many but it's one of the better ones and a lovely place to hang out in the summer before the other 28 months a year come around, which are Siberian around here - it's just freezing to a fault, so be sure to bundle up well maybe even in summer, most of the time, honestly. Of course it's not Superior like Lake Superior, and it's not as dramatic as dating Mitch Again (Lake Michigan), but it's still lovely. They may only have Mini Sodas and Mini Apples in this state, but they have big lakes to go with their Mini Lakes. Speaking of Big Lakes, have you met Barbie.

    Garrett Z.

    Beautiful lake close to the heart of Minneapolis. Great place to run, walk, or bike around. I think it is around 3 miles around the lake. It is also conn3cted by trails to the other "chain lakes" of Minneapolis. In the warmer months there is a big swimming beach that isn't as crowded like the ones found at Lake Calhoun. You can also boat on the lake (non-motorized). There is also a great little place to grab a bite to eat and drink called Sandcastle. Perfect place to people watch or just hang out and enjoy a beautiful Minnesota summer day.

    Frozen
    Nick M.

    Great big-brother lake to Hiawatha. Although I guess Nokomis is the grandmother of Hiawatha. Awesome for canoeing, swimming or just hanging out. Lots of space for BBQs, throwing a ball around or organized sports. You may see a dead fish here and there, but that's really not shocking. The planes are a constant, taking off and landing at the airport nearby. Nokomis Beach Coffee, Fat Lorenzo's and the 5-8 Club are within walking distance of the lake. Great trails surround the lake for biking, blading or walking, running. Some fish here. I've seen sailboats and other kinds of boats as well as canoes and kayaks. Sometimes there are lifeguards on duty. They will regulate the masses of kids that congregate on the main beach on hot summer days. Recently they had a new diving pier out in deeper water. I remember late-night swims on Nokomis long ago. This lake is a superb spot to spend a day. From Wikipedia: Nokomis is the name of Nanabozho's grandmother in the Ojibwe traditional stories and was the name of Hiawatha's grandmother in Longfellow's poem, The Song of Hiawatha, which is a retelling of the Nanabozho stories. Nokomis is an important character in the poem, mentioned in the familiar lines By the shores of Gitche Gumee, By the shining Big-Sea-Water, Stood the wigwam of Nokomis, Daughter of the Moon, Nokomis. Dark behind it rose the forest. According to the poem, From the full moon fell Nokomis/Fell the beautiful Nokomis. She bears a daughter, Wenonah. Despite Nokomis' warnings, Wenonah allows herself to be seduced by the West-Wind, Mudjekeewis,Till she bore a son in sorrow/Bore a son of love and sorrow/Thus was born my Hiawatha. Abandoned by the heartless Mudjekeewis, Wenonah dies in childbirth, leaving Hiawatha to be raised by Nokomis. The wrinkled old Nokomis/Nursed the little Hiawatha and educates him. In the Ojibwe language, nookomis means "my grandmother," thus portraying Nokomis of the poem and the aadizookaan (Ojibwe traditional stories) from a more personal point of view, akin to the traditional Ojibwa narrative styles.

    What they say about Mount Nokomis is true, during the FANS 24 Hour Race!
    Hideki K.

    Lake Nokomis is a nice lake with beaches on both sides. There is a 2.4217mile jogging / bike path that goes around most of the lake (a part of it cuts through over a bridge). Earlier this month, I ran the annual FANS 24 Hour Race there (in its 22nd year) for 24 hours, so I know the path very well. I ran 40+ laps in that 24 hour span, so you can say that I became too familiar with it. http://www.fans24hour.org http://ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?did=12866

    A Grey Egret (I think) in contemplative respite.
    John S.

    Years ago when I discovered the quiet walking path and beach of Lake Nokomis I felt I found another Twin Cities secret gems. Soon after the location was "discovered" by fund raising groups. During the months of May through October I make regular visits during the weekday as usually every weekend the park is booked with a running event for more charities than you ever heard of. Of course it's still open for anyone to walk or jog but the roads are closed and there is no parking in the neighborhood for many blocks. It's crowded with runners and the women wearing bright pink vests tend to give a glare for an "outsider" to be walking while they have their organized activity. There are separate paths for walkers/joggers and bicyclists and a beautiful roadway with scattered expanded parking lanes. There is paid parking at the North end. It's a joy to live in the city with this many lakes and parkways as this is my favorite year round place, (snow is cleared on the path) to view the season changes and see wildlife I wouldn't expect to see in the metro.

    Minneapolis Skyline from one of the lakeshore benches at Lake Nokomis

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    22 days ago

    Love walking around this lake. Cool beach fronts and nice open fields with playgrounds.

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    2 years ago

    Great place for family and friends! There's pickle ball, playground, and a beach on the stretch that I walked. Great for anyone!

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Lake Nokomis

    Review Highlights - Lake Nokomis

    I love this lake its my favorite one in the area because Calhoun is always too crowded for my taste.

    Mentioned in 9 reviews

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    Loring Park - The park are this morning while setting up for pride

    Loring Park

    4.2(86 reviews)
    4.8 miLoring Park

    This is a huge park that has a little of everything. This park has a fine mix of modern amenities…read moreand rustic appeal. It is a little piece of calm just outside the busy city. It spans 34 acres and is named after Charles Loring, an American businessman, miller and publicist who was the first Minneapolis Park Board and considered the "Father of the Park System" in Minneapolis. The park has an astounding flower garden. It was very pretty. You will also find a very nice lake/wetland here. It has seating and is very soothing. The lake is home to many animals. Fishing is welcome at the lake. They even have a fishing pier. The park has a full basketball court and a half-court basketball court that are in great shape. The park's horseshoe pits could use some TLC, though. The park is home to about 10 pits. If you are a pickleball player, then the park has a couple of nice courts to play on. Other park amenities include tennis courts, shuffleboard, and two playground areas on wood-chip beds. One area is fenced in and is for smaller children. This area has a bank of swings, a saucer swing, slides, a modern merry-go-round, a bebble bridge, and a jungle gym. The other playground area, for older kids, has a climbing net, balance beam, slides, pebble bridge, and rock climbing wall. This area is not fenced in. I have seen a lot of parks, and this is a nice one. They host events such as movie screenings, ice skating, and lunchtime concerts. You can easily spend half a day here. I really enjoyed my time here and am sure that you will too.

    After a wonderful dinner at Gai Noi, colleagues and I took a stroll of Loring Park. It's a pretty…read morepark with a lake, walking pathways, and nature all around. We also encountered a variety of birds, and I saw one of the cutest and chubbiest squirrels I've ever seen.

    Photos
    Loring Park - Holidazzle set up

    Holidazzle set up

    Loring Park - Cute buildings with interesting histories

    Cute buildings with interesting histories

    Loring Park

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    Theodore Wirth Park - Trails

    Theodore Wirth Park

    4.4(48 reviews)
    6.7 mi

    Come out and visit the Trail Head at Theodore Wirth!…read more It has a fantastic community space and outdoor recreation center. Totally makes winter in Minnesota even better. I'm new to discovering The Trailhead at Theodore Wirth Regional Park, but believe me when I say I'll be back many more time. In the winter, they offer cross-country skiing and lessons. (You can rent a full set of gear for about $30- no need to have your own to experience skiing! They also have à la carte options for cheaper if you only need poles or boots, etc.) Besides skiing, outdoor winter activities also include snow tubing, snowboarding, snowshoeing.... You name it. (I haven't been in fall or summer yet, but I also hear great things about their mountain biking and trail running options.) Inside The Trailhead, there's food and drink concessions, ample seating, lockers, bathrooms, and even rooms for rent. The last time I was there, a family was hosting a young child's birthday party in the multi-purpose room. Altogether, there is an amazing assortment of services here to come and check out. Can't wait for next ski season!

    HIDDEN GEM IN THE CITY…read more I've lived on this parkway for 3 years now and I don't think I've shut up about how amazing Theo Wirth is since! The City Chain of Lakes get all the hype, but you know what's even closer to downtown, in the heart of the city, with: a lake xc ski trails fat bike / mountain bike trails endless walking paths beach with volleyball courts public golf course and so much more?! Yeah, that's right - my neighborhood park! You can do about every outdoor activity you can think of here. Plus, the Trailhead is the main hub for all of it, with a restaurant, tons of indoor seating, gear rentals year-round, and an amazing nature space in the heart of the city. This is the perfect park to embrace any season in Minne!

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    Theodore Wirth Park
    Theodore Wirth Park - Fall Leaves

    Fall Leaves

    Theodore Wirth Park - Trail

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    Centennial Lakes Park - Swing benches along path

    Centennial Lakes Park

    4.6(81 reviews)
    4.9 mi

    I have such a nice time at this park. I go here to study. To relax. To take in the scenery…read more It is a bit crowded but that's because it's such a nice environment. I enjoy finding quiet nooks at the park

    Urban Oasis for a Peaceful Stroll! Centennial Lakes is a…read moregreat outing, earning five stars from me. I wanted a nice place to stretch my legs, and this park was just right. The paved paths make for an easy and accessible walk, suitable for a quick escape or a leisurely stroll. What really stood out to me was how quiet it felt. Even with buildings in the background, the park feels remarkably peaceful. The gentle sound of water, the rustling of leaves, and the overall calm let you forget you're in a busy area. It's a fantastic bubble of serenity. The scenery mixes urban sophistication with natural beauty. Modern buildings create a sleek backdrop for the beautifully designed waterways and landscaped grounds. Even without full bloom, you can see a real commitment to diverse plants here. I can't wait for a return visit in the spring! I can only imagine how bright and colorful it gets when everything is in full bloom. If you want a peaceful place to clear your mind, enjoy some fresh air, and take a nice walk, Centennial Lakes is a must-visit. Whether you have 15 minutes or an hour, it's the perfect spot. I left feeling refreshed and energized. I can't wait to see it come to life in the spring!

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    Centennial Lakes Park
    Centennial Lakes Park
    Centennial Lakes Park - Seating

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    Seating

    Lake Nokomis - lakes - Updated May 2026

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