Lake Harriet

This is my favorite of the Minneapolis lakes. It’s so peaceful, with paths enveloped in cozy tree coverage that makes the homes seem set back further and more wildlife present. The smooth, wide paths also make it much easier to loop the lake with a stroller and dog in tow — you can’t realize how frustrating that is on narrow, uneven concrete until you try it. There is plenty of free parking everywhere. Bread and Pickle, an honestly delicious concession style restaurant at the band shelter, serves items like lobster rolls and hamburgers alongside beers and popsicles. A couple small beaches offer a place to lounge in the sunshine. I live in St Paul, so Lake Harriet is not exactly down the road, but I easily see myself hopping over the Mississippi once a week to enjoy a leisurely walk around it this summer.

I’m from California and am visiting my sister. She lives in Menomine and we came here to enjoy some paddle boarding. Unfortunately, it was a sunny and windy day. Because of the wind they couldn’t do any rentals. We did have fun at the beach and ate some ice cream. Unfortunately, there was some miscommunication. We bought four ice cream and only got three. We had to ask for the forth and they told us we didn’t pay for four. They gave us the forth one after we waited briefly. The problem was that they don’t give you your receipt or repeat the order. This contributed to the confusion. The place is lovely here. Busy and you have to watch where you are going but it was nice. $ 1/​hr for parking. We got lucky and got a close parking after waiting for people to leave. Parking is very limited.

Tip: if you can only hit one park while in Minneapolis, the highest rated one is minnehaha. It’s also a great park, and is bigger than lake Harriet, but there were swarms and swarms of very bothersome gnats at minnehaha when we went, and zero bugs at lake Harriet on the same day, so if I could only do one I’d go back to Lake Harriet.
Minneapolis has an abundance of wonderful, free parks! We really loved Lake Harriet park. There are so many wide open green spaces, flowers, trees, and great places to relax! Also, being along the waterfront, you get some really cool views of planes coming in just above all the little sailboats on the water. It’s very peaceful and serene!
It’s also an adorable neighborhood surrounding the park, so it’s a fantastic place to just wander and stroll. Or pack a picnic and stake out a nice quiet area. We even saw people who brought hammocks, and strung them up in between a couple of trees — what a great idea! That and a book would be my idea of a great time!
Dogs are welcome here as well, and we saw many. There is paid parking in the park; I believe it was $ 1/​hr and it does take cards for payment (and coins also, but no cash).
I think this park is well worth a couple of hours!

Great spot to run! (Or bike) The running trail is 2.9 miles — perfect place to crush a quick run and get on your way. There is plenty of parking on streets so you don’t necessarily have to use the pay lot. ($ 1 per hour). It isn’t as busy as Calhoun and there is more shade.
It does smell from time to time so beware…

Undoubtedly one of the best park in MN, Whats not to love about this place? The beautiful lake, the lush green scenery and concerts the are held here during summer. The only thing that irks me is the dog poop that are left by some irresponsible owners.

Lake Harriet is beautiful. The path is very well maintained and seems to be quite popular with runners and walkers alike. I liked that there were real bathrooms in addition to the porta potties by the parking lot. It was cold when we went, but it was apparent that there are tons of warmer weather activities at the lake. Parking in the parking lot costs $ 1/​hour which is why there were so many people parking on the street.

Best lake because it reminds me of the mom from Family Matters™ every time I hear the name Harriet!

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.

This is my favorite park by far. I absolutely love all the movies in the park as well as the music in the park concerts that happen throughout the summer.

This is a beautiful place in south Minneapolis. The walking path is 2.7 mi with great views all the way around. Say hi to the little tree gnome. You’ve also got the bandshell with great events, and snacks next door. There are also 2 beaches with the traditional water, buoys, sand, and a bit of seaweed (but not a lot for the faint of heart). Overall a great staple of the neighborhood,

Beautiful and clean. Minneapolis city bike rentals at good rates, lots available. Will definitely be back soon. Canoe and kayak rentals too. I’m sure there’s more but we were only here about an hour. :)

I would like to rate this place a 1 star — but that is mainly because I do not want it to get too popular ;) The lake is a great place ot go for a walk or run because it has a lot of shade. Be careful though if your biking — you can only go 1 direct around the lake and their is a speed limit of 10 mph. They have great concerts most nights, so grabbing some friend /​family and sitting with a glass of wine and apps that you bring along is a perfect way to end an evening. So many people are just out and about, from painters, guitar players and so much more

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.

I have lived near Isles and Harriet, and frequent the Calhoun area (usually in passing to get to Isles) and I think Harriet it the best of the Chain of Lakes. Harriet is less popular than Calhoun and more active than Isles. The running/​walking paths are scenic and provide great people watching, the beaches are clean and well used (but never too crowded), and who can forget the free music/​events at the Bandshell and the food at Bread & Pickle.
For those of you who prefer the other lakes, great. That just means more space for me around my favorite!

M4W:
You were tying up a sailboat at the dock. I was fanning my fingers, willing the air between them to be the grey strands of your windblown hair. God you make ascots look good. You walk towards your SUV and I wish I could hop in, join you for a delightfully understated risotto at your Linden Hills pad. In the morning I’d…
Oh this is not Missed Connections? Um… yeah cool lake, good water and aquatic life or whatever. Try the swimming.

With my 100^th review its… Lake Harriet!!!
Have lived about 6 blocks away for almost 5 years. I love walking around it, driving around it, walking the dog around it, riding my bike around it, just standing/​sitting and staring at it, eating near it. Great people watching. More chill vibe than Calhoun for some reason. I wish I could afford a place right across the street so I could be closer. Would you donate to a Kickstarter campaign to buy me a house? For a $ 25k donation you can come over and use the john whenever you need… hahahaha
We have a nice park system in Mpls, get out and use it! We are paying for it.

Lake Harriet, I really adore you. I can see you from my apartment, I spend way too many days walking or attempting to run around your peaceful, and calming self. I think this is Minneapolis’ best kept secret, and I almost want to keep it that way– but hey guys, I want you to experience this gorgeous place too (I think you’re all at Calhoun right now, so head on over).
Lake Harriet is surrounded by beautiful houses, and one mysterious elf house. There are concerts almost every night in the summer. You can swim or rent kayaks. You can venture off the bike path to the overly adorable area of Linden Hills, or venture over to the Rose garden.
I am spoiled since I get to hang out around this lake almost every day, and that’s the way I want it to be (forever).

WARNING THIS REVIEW IS GRAPHIC AND SHOULD NOT BE READ WHILST EATING!!!
I love Lake Harriett been coming here for years since the suggestions of an old friend. However besides it being a scenic lake and fun to run (and you see the occasionally hottie jogging whilst checking you out… HNNNNNNNNG!)
This is why I’m giving it 5 stars
I was jogging today (earlier this morning to be exact) and it was 16 degrees out. In the middle of my run, after having ran it one lap already. I had the to go to the bathroom to erm «Scheise» as we would say back in Deutchland. I was half a mile away from my car. But I did not panic I ran another half mile and lo and behold there she was a porterable restroom.
It was the best Scheise I have ever taking, never mind that my testicles where freezing or that I was panting hard from running. The fact that this rest room was there left me overjoyed.
After I was done I rubbed some hand-​sanitizer on my hand and finished my run, it was a great run.

Trees, trees and more trees.
This lake is park-​like with it’s tree lined paths.
I love how on one part of the lake the street is high and set back from the lake so that you can’t even see it. You are alone on the path in the trees by the water.
Adjacent to the lake is a beautiful rose garden.
Mother Nature is here!
****If you are researching which of the three in the chain of lakes to walk, jog or bike around, look no further. I ran around all three in a row today and brain Unilocaled as a distraction.
Of course all three have the sought after view of the water, but they are drastically different in look and feel.
Lake Harriet: Shaded paths, park-​like feel (transported out of the city), skyline view through the trees. Can’t really see houses, just trees, trees, trees… And water.
Lake Calhoun: Touristy, open, busy, beaches, playgrounds, cars going around it on busy streets, and a skyline view.
Lake of the Isles: Quiet like a well kept secret, residential (beautiful homes to look at), curvy path, sunny with 360 gorgeous views (no skyline in sight).
All three lakes have the separate biking (clockwise/​one way) and walking paths and canoe stations that I am guessing you can rent from. Enjoy all three for their uniqueness!

Much more serene than its cool counterpart in Uptown (read: Lake Calhoun), Harriet has a far less touristy feel/​fewer crowds and offers a real retreat from city life. My walks around this tree-​lined lake are much more calming and peaceful than at Calhoun.
Aside from the beautiful lake, Harriet offers some other neat points of interest:
–Bandshell– live music here (maybe up to every night in the summer?); I know they also show movies but I’ve never been
–Roberts Bird Sanctuary-​a wooded nature trail
–Lyndale Park Gardens-​a pretty and relaxing park boasting a rose garden
–Bread & Pickle-​serves up food on the lake front; I’ve never eaten here but think it may receive some mixed reviews
–Quaint Linden Hills neighborhood just steps away, plus you will encounter some spectacular homes around the lake