Everyone Always Goes to Bde Maka Ska in Minnesota: Go Here Instead

With as many lakes and rivers as there are in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, we have no shortage of beautiful beaches—even in the Twin Cities metro area. On hot summer days, it seems like most of the folks who live in the Cities head to Metro lakes to cool off. With a handful of strands to choose from, including Thomas and 32nd Street Beaches, Bde Maka Ska, the largest lake in Minneapolis or St. Paul, is one of the most popular destinations for Twin Cities beachgoers. With such popularity, though, come the challenges of crowds, traffic, and parking. If you're willing to travel 8 miles farther west, though, you'll find Shady Oak Beach, which I think is one of the best hidden beaches in Minnesota.

Why Bde Maka Ska Beaches Get So Crowded

The reason behind the crowds at Bde Maka Ska's beaches—apart from being very nice beaches—is their accessibility. The lake is adjacent to the densely populated Uptown neighborhood in Minneapolis, the state's most populated city. The beaches are within easy walking and biking distance from even more neighborhoods, with the Chain of Lakes Trail and Midtown Greenway running right past. Bde Maka Ska also offers limited off-street parking and sits along several public transportation routes, bringing its beaches within reach of the entire city. All this is great, of course, unless you're hoping to park and find a little elbow room without jostling for position.

The Beach You Should Visit Instead

There is a less crowded beach in Minnesota that offers an excellent alternative to Bde Maka Ska, and it's not too far away. If you follow Excelsior Boulevard west from Bde Maka Ska, hang a left on Shady Oak Road when you get to Hopkins, and head south a few blocks, you'll come to Shady Oak Beach. The beach is adjacent to Shady Oak Park, which is home to trails, a canoe launch, and picnic areas. It technically lies within Minnetonka's borders, but the cities of Hopkins and Minnetonka jointly operate the beach.

What Makes This Beach Better

Shady Oak is not exactly a secret beach in Minnesota, as it's pretty well known in the southwest Metro, but I'd be willing to wager that many folks from Minneapolis and St. Paul have never heard of it. The lake water is clean and spring-fed, and the beach is tidy, well-groomed, and has plenty of amenities, including play areas, restrooms, a concession stand, and a swim-out diving platform. In fact, I'd consider it one of the best beaches in Minnesota. You won't find most of these things adjacent to the beaches at Bde Maka Ska.

What To Expect When You Visit Shady Oak Beach

Another key difference is that, although visiting the park is free, there is a $7 fee to enter the beach area ($5 after 6 p.m.). You can also buy punch cards and season passes, which offer discounted admission. Lifeguards are on duty when the beach is open, and there's an on-site first aid station in case it's needed. If you're not feeling like going into the water, kayak, canoe, and paddleboard rentals are available.

You'll find a large parking lot at the park, with overflow parking, if needed, available across Shady Oak Road, along K-Tel Drive. You can also access the beach via the Minnesota River Bluffs Regional Trail, which passes right through the park.

Tips for Visiting This Hidden Gem

I'm not saying this beach doesn't get crowded—just show up on a sunny Saturday in the middle of July, and you'll see what I mean—but this hidden gem in Minnesota just doesn't see the amount of traffic that you'll find at the busy Bde Maka Ska beaches, which makes Shady Oak an excellent alternative. It's even pretty easy to reach from the west side of Minneapolis. With lights and traffic, for example, it's less than 20 minutes by car or less than an hour on the 38G bus from Bde Maka Ska. In 2027, the southwest Green Line will make it accessible by light rail, as well.

Is It Worth Skipping Bde Maka Ska?

If you're willing to make the trip and spend the cost of a coffee for access, then I'd say Shady Oak Beach is definitely worth skipping Bde Maka Ska. I don't love the fact that there's a paywall for a municipal beach, which I think is a check in favor of Bde Maka Ska, but the amenities that the admission fee supports make it worth it. It may not be one of the best beaches in the U.S., but I'd certainly rank Shady Oak among the top in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.