Behind the Scenes

About us

Bde Maka Ska is the largest lake in Minneapolis. It joins the Lake of the Isles through a long channel and is the biggest lake of five that make up the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes. Surrounded by city park land and circled by bike and walking trails, it is popular for many outdoor activities like canoeing, fishing, wind surging, swimming, sailing, and of course, biking.

Back to All News Mpls St Paul Magazine

Where to Rent Kayaks and Canoes Near the Twin Cities

Where to Rent Kayaks and Canoes Near the Twin Cities by Madison Bloomquist for Mpls St Paul Magazine

No Minnesota summer feels complete without a few Saturdays on the water. There’s something meditative about perching in a tiny watercraft and slicing a paddle through clear lakes and rivers. That is, until you find yourself within a paddle’s reach of a dozen other folks who happened to have the same idea (some of whom steer better than others).

Renting kayaks and canoes through the city lakes (Bde Maka Ska, Harriet, and Nokomis) makes for a lovely, if sometimes crowded, afternoon. (Note: Wheel Fun Rentals, the local parks concession, is open this summer.) But why not take your paddling upstream and head to a river instead? The St. Croix River, a fur-trade route with a canoeing history spanning some 350 years, still offers scenic and serene paddling opportunities … Read Full Article>