It’s hot, the sun is shining, and it’s a beautiful day! Is there any better way to enjoy this unbeatable Minnesota summer than to splash around at the beach? Swimming is a great, low-impact way to exercise your whole body. Better yet, it’s fun for the whole family! At Three Rivers, we have swimming areas located near play areas, trails, visitor centers, campgrounds, and more so you can make a day of it!
Beach Water Quality
In order to ensure a safe swimming experience for park guests, our E. coli bacteria tolerance standards are more restrictive than the state guidelines. Action is taken to identify and eliminate the bacteria source whenever a single E. coli sample exceeds 126 colonies per 100 mL. The beach will close if counts above this level persist for two weeks or more.
Swimming Beaches
Our swimming beaches are unguarded and free. Most are situated along beautiful Minnesota lakes for scenic views while you make a splash. Please visit the individual swimming facility page for information on hours, water quality updates and more.
Swimming Ponds
For the perfect mix of a pool and lake, try the swimming ponds featuring giant beach umbrellas and filtered, chlorinated water. Swimming ponds can be found at Lake Minnetonka Regional Park and Elm Creek Park Reserve. Passes are required. Please visit the individual swimming facility page for information on fees, hours, guard times and more.
Where to find it
Infants and Children
Children not toilet trained are required to wear swim diapers while in the beach and pond areas.
Beach Accessibility
For people who use wheelchairs we offer, at no cost, the use of floating beach wheelchairs, which are designed to allow accessibility to areas otherwise inaccessible. They can be used on sand and in the water, and are available at the Lake Minnetonka and Elm Creek swim ponds.
