Lake Phalen

What? Lake Calhoun and Lake of the Isles have review pages and not Lake Phalen?
Well let’s fix that, shall we?
Lake Phalen is –hands down– my favorite running lake. Want to know why?
–It’s a great 3.12 miles around the main lake.
–It has a little «bumper» .94 mile Round Lake that you can add on to your run.
–It has a variety of hills (though none too steep), valleys, wooded stretches, lake stretches, etc.
–It has well maintained, separate bike and walking-​or-​running paths.
–You don’t have to play dodge-​person or get-​out-​of-​the-​way-​of-​the-​faster/​slower-​runner person or dodge-​bike or dodge-​dog CONSTANTLY, like you do around the busier lakes. Phalen is *really* quiet most of the time, with a few families/​lone runners/​couples strolling around.
–Additionally: no crossing of car/​bike paths while running around the lake itself.
–Phalen is pretension-​free. You don’t feel like you have to be in the best shape and put on the spankin’ new running clothes that are mostly for show anyway and slap on makeup and do your hair before you go for a jog. It’s full of normal people who are pretty darn friendly (smiles and nods all around as you go).
Other non-​running reasons why Lake Phalen is awesome:
–Dragonboat festival in the summer.
–Walk with cops on Wednesday nights.
–Holiday light display around the lake November/​December.
–Clean, friendly playground and shelter area.
–NEW bathroom area around Round Lake.
–Near-​constant smell of grilling food from picnicking families during the summer evenings.
–Awesome sunsets over the lake.
–Super-​clear water with decent fishing.
–Nice for canoeing.
–Part of a great bike trail system.
–Plenty of space for frisbee/​volleyball/​catch.
–Decent beach with a lifeguard stand where my husband proposed to me. (Okay, maybe that’s not applicable to everyone.)
–Plenty of parking.
–Golf course close by.
This is *such* an underrated, uncrowded lake. I love it to bits.
A few years back there were some troubles with 2 – 3 isolated attacks on joggers. However: There haven’t been any since, there is definitely a strong police presence around the lake as well as community action volunteers and increased lighting at night. I’ve been running around Lake Phalen every weeknight in the summer for –it’ll be 5– years now, and I have *never* once felt unsafe, threatened, etc. It’s always good to be prepared and aware, of course, but Phalen is as safe as a public space can be.
It is truly a gem among the Twin Cities lakes.