Lake Minnetonka Regional Park

Lake Minnetonka Regional Park is nestled on the shores of scenic Lake Minnetonka. A perfect spot for a family outing, the park offers a large, nautical-themed play area and a chlorinated, sandy-bottom swimming pond. You'll also find picnic spots, a three-hole disc golf practice area, a fishing pier, biking and hiking trails and a boat launch and access point.

Interactive Map of Lake Minnetonka Regional Park

Lake Minnetonka PDF Maps

Summer | Winter

Find yourself in the parks with the Avenza app! Learn more.

Historic Schmid Farmhouse stabilization

The historic Schmid Farmhouse ruins located in Lake Minnetonka Regional Park are being permanently stabilized to become a self-guided interpretive feature of the park.

The project will include structurally stabilizing the remaining walls with metal beams, mortar repair of loose fieldstone walls, site accessibility improvements and interpretation panels. Work is expected to be complete in summer 2024.

The preservation of the historic Joseph Schmid Farmhouse Ruins (c. 1876) was made possible by a generous gift from Joseph Schmid's great-grandson, Douglas Florian Schmid.

Things To Do

Bike Trail

Biking

Groups of kids on paved bike trail

3.2 miles of trails

Get rolling on the three miles of paved trail that connects separate areas of the park, and provides connections to community trails.

Boat Launch

Boating

Family on boat

14,100 acres of water

The park provides one of the very few public boat launches onto the lake - a boat trailer parking pass is required. Parking for 55 vehicles with boat trailers is provided at the top of the hill that leads to the launch. Facilities at the launch ramp include a boathouse/toilet building and a pier for boat access.

Disc Golf

Disc Golf

Disc golf basket and hillside

Three holes

Lake Minnetonka Regional Park has a three-hole disc golf practice area near the picnic and play areas. A disc golf pass is not required.

Dog Trails - On Leash

Dog Trails

Couple walking dog on wooded trail

3.2 miles of trails

Dogs on a six-foot non-retractable leash are allowed on all paved and turf trails except where posted otherwise. Owners must pick-up after their dogs.

Fishing / Fishing Pier

Fishing

Two men with fish on dock

14,100 acres of water

Lake Minnetonka Regional Park provides one of very few public accesses to the lake. At the boat launch there is an accessible fishing pier, shore fishing and a boathouse/toilet building. Limited parking is available near by.

Geocaching

Geocaching

GPS units on table

Geocaching is a family-friendly, high-tech treasure hunt that combines respect for the environment with a sense of adventure. This activity involves placing or looking for a cache using global positioning system (GPS) equipment. Equipment not provided.

Hiking

Hiking

Wooded hiking trail

3.5 miles of trails

Stretch those legs and take a walk at your own pace. Paved trail connect separate areas of the park, and provide connections to community trails. In the winter, there is nearly one mile of plowed trail for walking.

Paddling

Paddling

Kayakers on lake

14,100 acres of water

Get out and explore the many bays of the big water. The park provides one of very few public boat launches onto the lake. Parking for 55 vehicles with boat trailers is provided at the top of the hill that leads to the launch. A boat trailer daily or annual pass is required. Facilities at the launch ramp include a boathouse/toilet building and a pier for boat access.

Picnic Area

Picnic Areas

Groups of people picnicking

Tables and grills are located throughout the park and are available to visitors on a first-come, first-served basis. There is also a reservable picnic shelter for your special event.

Play Area

Play Areas

Child on playarea

Open

The 20,000-square-foot, multi-level, nautically themed play area includes a cargo hold, climbing nets, structures and numerous slides. It is accessible to children of all ages and abilities.

Snowmobile Trail

Snowmobiling

Snowmobilers on a wooded trail

A one mile trail through the park connects the shore of Lake Minnetonka with the Grants-in-Aid snowmobile trail along Highway 7.

Swimming

Swimming

Lifeguards observing swim pond

Open

The swim pond has a maximum depth of six feet and is completely surrounded by sand. The filtered and chlorinated water comes from the lake. Changing rooms and a concession stand serve beach-goers, and umbrellas provide respite from the sun. A daily or season pass is required for the swim pond.

Swimming Lessons

Three Rivers offers four levels of swimming lessons at Lake Minnetonka Regional Park from an introduction to water skills to swimming for fitness. Students and their family members receive $3 off season swim pond wristbands. 

See all programs and events at Lake Minnetonka Regional Park!

Rental Spaces

Looking for a unique setting for your next meeting? The rental facility offers rooms that can be rented for meetings and other events. Lake Minnetonka's picnic area can also be reserved to take your event outside.

Swimming Lessons

Learn to swim at Lake Minnetonka Regional Park!

Public swimming lesson registration opens February 28.

All instructors are lifeguards certified through the American Red Cross to teach swimming lessons. Four levels are available for ages 3 and up:

  • Preschool Swimmers
  • Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills
  • Level 2: Fundamentals of Aquatic Skills
  • Level 3: Stroke Development

Students and their family members receive a $3 discount on season swim pond wristbands.

Lake Minnetonka Islands

Three Rivers Park District owns parkland on three islands on Lake Minnetonka: Wild Goose Chase Island, Wawatasso Island and a portion of Big Island. All of these areas are undeveloped and do not have drinking water or toilets available. Picnicking and fishing are allowed. Camping or overnight use is not permitted on any of the islands. The Park District does not provide transportation to or from the islands.

Wawatasso Island

Wawatasso Island is located on Lake Minnetonka south of Enchanted Island and north of Smithtown Bay. It consists of about 34 acres and has long been a favorite beaching spot for boaters, and there are informal hiking trails.

Wild Goose Chase Island

This island, also known as Goose Island, is located just outside Spring Park Bay. The island is three acres in size.

Big Island

The Park District owns a portion of Big Island, which is a protected area known as the Arthur Allen Wildlife Sanctuary with no facilities for the public. The remainder of the island, including the Big Island Veterans Camp, is not part of Three Rivers Park District.

Rules

Park District rules are posted on Wawatasso Island and Wild Goose Chase Island:

  • Use designated sites only.
  • Site use on first-come, first-served basis.
  • No overnight use.
  • Campfires in fire rings only.
  • Users must bring their own certified firewood.
  • Collecting of wood prohibited.
  • Grills are allowed.
  • No motor vehicles.
  • Pack out trash.

Three Rivers Park District Public Safety officers work in coordination with the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Water Patrol to provide an enforcement presence on the islands. Overnight campers will be ticketed.

#threeriversparks

Related Blog Posts

February 06, 2024

Join us throughout the year to learn more about the insect world and what makes these creatures fascinating and awe-inspiring.

January 08, 2024

Park enthusiast and artist Brittany Johnson turned photos of French Regional Park into felted landscape art, documenting the seasons and sights of the park in 2023. Learn more about her artistic process and how nature inspires her.

August 15, 2023

A historical interpreter walks us through his favorite part of one of his favorite parks, uncovering some unwritten history.

Similar Areas

Cleary Lake Regional Park

18106 Texas Avenue
Prior Lake, MN 55372
763-694-7777

Bryant Lake Regional Park

6800 Rowland Road
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
763-694-7764

Lake Minnetonka Swim Pond

4610 County Road 44
Minnetrista, MN 55331
763-694-7754