Bde Maka Ska North Beach temporarily closed on Tuesday, July 22, 2025; Lake Hiawatha Beach closed on July 1, 2025, and remains closed.
Both lakes are closed because routine monitoring for lake water quality found that E. coli bacteria levels exceed state-specified guidelines.
There are no reports of any illness from swimmers at the beach; however, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) proactively closes beaches if bacteria levels exceed state guidelines.
All other MPRB public beaches are open and have acceptable bacteria levels.
MPRB water quality staff monitor the beaches regularly and when the bacteria levels are within state guidelines, the beaches will re-open.
Get up-to-date information on results from lake water quality testing online at the MPRB’s Lake Water Quality map.
Swim Healthy
- Don’t swim if you or your child have diarrhea or are sick
- Be careful to not get lake water in your mouth
- Wash your hands before eating and after changing a diaper
- Avoid swimming after a rainfall: high bacterial levels in lakes generally return to normal levels within 48 hours of a rainfall
- Towel dry immediately after exiting the water to prevent Swimmer’s Itch
- When it doubt, stay out. Do not swim or play in blue-green algae.