Top 20 Lakes around Edina

The lakes around Edina offer a wide range of activities. You can enjoy walking, biking, jogging, and inline skating on paved paths around lakes like Lake Nokomis and Lake of the Isles. Fishing is popular at Lake Cornelia and Centennial Lakes Park. In summer, Centennial Lakes Park offers paddleboat rentals, putting courses, and bocce ball, while winter brings ice skating and sledding. Many parks also feature picnic areas, playgrounds, and sports facilities.

Yes, several lakes are very family-friendly. Cedar Lake features three distinct beach areas and picnic spots. Lake Cornelia, surrounded by Rosland Park, offers an inclusive Universal Playground, baseball diamonds, and the Edina Aquatic Center. Centennial Lakes Park is also excellent for families, with paddleboats, putting courses, and a variety of year-round events. Riley Lake Park also has a sandy beach and playground.

For walking and hiking, Lake Nokomis has a 7.3-mile paved path, while Cedar Lake offers a walking path around its perimeter. Lake Cornelia features a 1.1-mile paved trail, and Centennial Lakes Park has 1.5 miles of paved paths. Staring Lake is known for its beautiful forested trails, most of which are paved. You can find more easy hiking routes in the area, such as the Rosland Park Loop or Centennial Lakes Park loop, by checking the Easy hikes around Edina guide.

Yes, fishing is a popular activity. Lake Cornelia is stocked annually with bluegills for its Kids Fishing Program and also has species like black crappie and largemouth bass. Centennial Lakes Park is considered an excellent family fishing destination, with bluegill, black crappie, and northern pike. Cedar Lake and Lake of the Isles also have fishing piers.

Yes, Lake Nokomis is wheelchair accessible, with a 7.3-mile paved path. Centennial Lakes Park also has paved paths and is designed with accessibility in mind. Rosland Park, adjacent to Lake Cornelia, features an inclusive Universal Playground.

Centennial Lakes Park transforms into a winter wonderland, offering 10 acres of ice for free open skating and ice sledding, complete with skate and sled rentals and a warming house. Lake of the Isles also features ice skating rinks, and Cedar Lake has a cross-country ski trail.

Centennial Lakes Park is a 24-acre urban oasis known for its beautifully designed landscape, interconnected ponds, and a wide array of year-round activities. It features paved walking paths, paddleboat rentals, two 18-hole putting courses, and bocce ball in summer. In winter, its ponds become a large ice skating rink. It also hosts a farmers market and events at the Maetzold Amphitheater. More information can be found on the City of Edina website.

Lake Cornelia is a nearly 58-acre shallow lake surrounded by Rosland Park. It offers a 1.1-mile paved hiking and biking trail, a fishing pier, and opportunities for wildlife observation. Rosland Park significantly enhances the experience with picnic areas, a large gazebo, an inclusive Universal Playground, baseball diamonds, disc golf, pickleball, tennis, volleyball, and the Edina Aquatic Center.

Yes, many lakes have paved paths suitable for cycling. For more extensive cycling, you can explore routes like the Nine Mile Creek and Bloomington Ferry Trail Loop or the Hopkins Water Tower – Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail loop. These and other routes can be found in the Cycling around Edina guide.

While Centennial Lakes Park and Lake Cornelia offer excellent recreational opportunities, some other lakes like Lake Edina and Arrowhead Lake currently face challenges with water quality, including high phosphorus and chlorophyll-a levels. Projects are underway to improve their conditions.

The lakes provide opportunities to observe various natural features and wildlife. Lake Cornelia's trail loops through wetland areas, offering chances to see local birds and other wildlife. Centennial Lakes Park features immaculate landscaping with seasonal flowers and mature trees. Many lakes, including Staring Lake, are surrounded by forested trails, providing a natural habitat for local fauna.

While Centennial Lakes Park and Lake Cornelia are popular, for a potentially quieter experience, you might explore the less-developed areas around lakes like Staring Lake, which offers secluded wooded areas and benches to appreciate the natural splendor. The variety of lakes means you can often find a peaceful spot away from the busiest areas.