About Half An Hour From Minneapolis Is A Scenic Lake Park With Fishing, Swimming, Camping, And Boating

It comes as no surprise that the Land of 10,000 Lakes offers endless lakeside recreation. About half an hour from the bustling travel hub of Minneapolis, one scenic lake park provides outdoor fun for the whole family, including furry friends. Cleary Lake Regional Park offers a wide range of outdoor activities, from golfing to geocaching. The 137-acre Cleary Lake is an ideal spot for boaters and paddlers to explore its serene waters. Visitors can cool off at the swim beach during the summer swimming season, while anglers can enjoy freshwater fishing for local species. Hikers can explore 5.9 miles of lakeside and forest trails. In winter, the park has 3.8 miles of fat-tire mountain biking and six miles of cross-country ski trails. 

"A beautiful park with both paved and grassy trails," a visitor raved. "We enjoyed hiking in the woods and saw wildlife and birds in the wetlands. The park is well maintained and has clean bathrooms and plenty to do for all ages. You can purchase snacks, rent games, kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards. The children's playground had a variety of play equipment." 

Cleary Lake Regional Park is open daily and year-round from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Its convenient location makes it a feasible stop for anyone visiting the Twin Cities region. Those traveling from out of state can fly into Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) half an hour north. While plenty of comfortable, affordable lodging options are nearby, many visitors opt for one of the park's many camping options for overnight stays. The park is dog-friendly, with 5.3 miles of trails where leashed dogs are allowed and a 28-acre fenced off-leash area with a wetland pond where dogs can swim, play, and socialize. In winter, activities include skijoring and dog sledding, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing. 

Cleary Lake provides plenty of room for water recreation. The swim beach is free and open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, so visitors can take a dip to cool off in the warmer months. "We went to swim and have a BBQ. The park was great, it was very clean. My grandson had a blast on the beach," one Google reviewer said. While no lifeguards are on duty, the park regularly monitors water quality to ensure it is safe to enter. For another Minneapolis-area lake day, nearby Lake Harriet Regional Park also offers sandy swim beaches and fishing.

Boaters should keep in mind that Cleary Lake is a no-wake lake that does not allow gas motors. The boat launch is located on the south end of the lake for those who bring their own equipment. Kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards are also available to rent from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Visitors can reserve rental equipment online ahead of time, and small watercraft racks can also be reserved online. Boaters may find the lake's calm blue waters make for a peaceful paddle. "Great location for kayaking! We were able to go partially up a stream and saw a bald eagle while it was flying and hunting," one boater said.

Fishing is another popular activity on Cleary Lake, which has an accessible fishing pier to support anglers. Anglers may encounter bass, walleye, sunfish, catfish, crappie, and more. "Did a little fishing on cleary lake, and managed to reel in quite a few sunfish, a crappie, and a few bullheads. Overall, it made for a really nice weekend, and I would love to go back to visit," one angler shared. Most anglers need a valid Minnesota fishing license before fishing in the park.

Those looking for an extended stay in Cleary Lake Regional Park have a range of camping options. The campground includes tent and RV sites, along with three group sites to accommodate large family retreats, groups, or organizations. Basswood has full RV hookups and several tent sites, while White Pine has drive-in sites with no electricity. Cleary Point, Oak Grove, and Norway Ridge are the three group campsites, which support 40 to 80 people. "This is an awesome campground. Basswood had the perfect spots for my tensile tent. 6, 9, 10 are by far the best. Staff is great and everything is well maintained," one camper noted. Campers can reserve a campsite ahead of time online. If you cannot find the reservation or campsite you want, check out other regional park camping options in the Minneapolis area, like Lebanon Hills Regional Park, with more trails, swimming, and camping.

After getting a good night's rest at your campsite, Cleary Lake Regional Park has plenty of scenic trails to explore. The 3.4-mile Cleary Lake Trail loop is the park's top-rated hike on AllTrails, taking hikers around the entire circumference of Cleary Lake. "Lots of lake and marsh views. Start and end at the 9 hole golf course, so plenty of parking. Also many benches, water fountains and some bathrooms on the trail," one hiker shared. For a more woodland path, the 3-mile Lakeside and Ironwood Loop trail offers another option for birdwatching and spotting local wildlife like beavers and bald eagles. After your trails and outdoor adventure in Cleary Lake Regional Park, don't miss America's largest mall for indoor fun and shopping less than half an hour away.