If you’re looking to enjoy the summer with some amazing swimming, check out some of the best swimming holes in Minnesota. Take a break from the crowded metro beaches and head to these fun, Minnesota summer destinations. Nothing fancy here — just some beautiful places in nature to cool off from the hot sun. From rivers to mine pits, these aren’t just any old Minnesota lakes, they are the best Minnesota swimming holes.

  1. Lester Park has multiple swimming holes that are fan favorites, and they are all spectacular. The river is located in Lester Park, and is a popular swimming area for families, especially the big pool off of Superior Street.

Matthew Neal/AllTrails This swimming hole features porta-potties, parking spots, picnic tables, and play equipment in the park. Lakeside/Lester Park, Duluth, MN 55804, USA

  1. Portsmouth Mine Pit Lake has a great beach and you can scuba dive, but any of the lakes in the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area will do! This lake, is the deepest — over 450 feet — completely sitting inside of Minnesota. This former iron mining pit is an artificial lake in the Cuyuna Range.

I, Elkman, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Here is a view from the west shore near a campground. The lake is within Crosby city limits. Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area, 307 3rd St, Ironton, MN 56455, USA

  1. Quarry Park & Nature Preserve in St. Cloud is great for jumping and swimming alike. You can also scuba dive here. Two quarries are designated for swimming: Quarry #2, a 116- foot-deep space with high rock formations; and Quarry #11 is 40 feet deep, offering a sandy beach.

Flickr/RLEVANS The vast Quarry Park and Nature Preserve holds 683 acres, the largest in the Stearns County Parks system. Quarry Park and Nature Preserve, 1802 Co Rd 137, Waite Park, MN 56387, USA

  1. The Gooseberry River is the perfect place to cool off, whether you’re below the falls or further down. The waterfalls cascade near its mouth in Gooseberry Falls State Park.

Flickr/Jeff Achen This 23-mile stream drains into Lake Superior. Gooseberry River, Minnesota 55616, USA

  1. The St. Croix River has a few awesome spots for swimming, especially near Franconia!

Flickr/Greg Gjerdingen This recreational space offers a picnic area along the river, which sits about a half-mile walk from the parking area, offering a shelter, grills, and fire rings. It is also popular for fishing. Town Square Park, 163-2202820140041, Afton, MN 55001, USA

Lake Minnetonka Swim Pond is a 1.75-acre swimming pond with a 6-feet maximum depth. And for your convenience, it is completely surrounded by sand.

Molly L./FourSquare The pond is located in the Minnetonka Regional Park. The pond features filtered, chlorinated water, a changing shelter, concessions, and large beach umbrellas for shade. Lake Minnetonka Regional Park, 4610 County Rd 44, Minnetrista, MN 55364, USA

  1. Another classic Duluth spot is Lake Twin Ponds off Skyline. Located just east of Enger Park, the ponds have a history, created in the 1890s by damming Buckingham Creek.

duluthmn.gov Originally called “Gem Lakes” this was a popular picnic spot for spectators to enjoy horse-and-carriage rides along Duluth’s Rogers Boulevard, which is now Skyline Parkway. Twin Ponds, Duluth, MN, USA

  1. Chester Woods Park, east of Rochester, is an awesome spot to catch some rays and go swimming.

Olmstedcounty.gov The Swimming Beach offers a beach house with showers. Chester Woods Park, 8378 14 Highway Southeast, Eyota, MN 55934, USA

While there are many Minnesota swimming holes, as one can see, these are some of the best swimming holes in Minnesota. They are definitely worth a visit, or even two! Where else do you love to swim in Minnesota? And when you are in The North Star State, don’t miss out on some other Minnesota summer destinations.

Matthew Neal/AllTrails

This swimming hole features porta-potties, parking spots, picnic tables, and play equipment in the park.

Lakeside/Lester Park, Duluth, MN 55804, USA

I, Elkman, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Here is a view from the west shore near a campground. The lake is within Crosby city limits.

Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area, 307 3rd St, Ironton, MN 56455, USA

Flickr/RLEVANS

The vast Quarry Park and Nature Preserve holds 683 acres, the largest in the Stearns County Parks system.

Quarry Park and Nature Preserve, 1802 Co Rd 137, Waite Park, MN 56387, USA

Flickr/Jeff Achen

This 23-mile stream drains into Lake Superior.

Gooseberry River, Minnesota 55616, USA

Flickr/Greg Gjerdingen

This recreational space offers a picnic area along the river, which sits about a half-mile walk from the parking area, offering a shelter, grills, and fire rings. It is also popular for fishing.

Town Square Park, 163-2202820140041, Afton, MN 55001, USA

Molly L./FourSquare

The pond is located in the Minnetonka Regional Park. The pond features filtered, chlorinated water, a changing shelter, concessions, and large beach umbrellas for shade.

Lake Minnetonka Regional Park, 4610 County Rd 44, Minnetrista, MN 55364, USA

duluthmn.gov

Originally called “Gem Lakes” this was a popular picnic spot for spectators to enjoy horse-and-carriage rides along Duluth’s Rogers Boulevard, which is now Skyline Parkway.

Twin Ponds, Duluth, MN, USA

Olmstedcounty.gov

The Swimming Beach offers a beach house with showers.

Chester Woods Park, 8378 14 Highway Southeast, Eyota, MN 55934, USA

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The OIYS Visitor Center

best swimming holes in minnesota May 19, 2022 Carolyn Harmon Where are more of the best summer destinations in Minnesota? See the Mississippi Headwaters at Itasca State Park, in Park Rapids, and walk across them! As Minnesota’s oldest state park, and the second-oldest state park in the U.S., it’s been drawing visitors since 1891. Offering 100 lakes across its nearly 33,000 acres, this is a great place for canoeing, fishing or simply relaxing. You also might want to visit Bunker Beach Water Park, in Coon Rapids, where many people cool off by enjoying the pools, the lazy river and the slides. Where are some other Minnesota swimming spots? Deer Lake is located in Itasca County, about 200 miles north of the Twin Cities. Taking up over 4,000 acres, with 22 miles of shoreline, makes this one of Minnesota’s largest lakes. Another Minnesota swimming hole is Sand-Bottom Swimming Pond at Flandrau State Park, in New Ulm. The soft, sand surrounds this chlorinated sand-bottom pool. Or try another sandy-bottom swimming hole that is spring-fed at Camden State Park, located in southwestern Lynd, Minnesota. What are two of the best hiking trails in Camden State Park? Camden State Park, located on the Redwood River in southwestern Minnesota, offers two trails ranging from 239 to 262 feet in elevation gain. The moderately rated Dakota Hiking Trail is 2.2 miles long, and one of Minnesota’s Hiking Club trails. And the Redwood River Loop is a 3.4-mile trail that is also rated as moderate. After the hiking, be sure to cool off in the swimming hole!

 

The OIYS Visitor Center

best swimming holes in minnesota

May 19, 2022

Carolyn Harmon

Where are more of the best summer destinations in Minnesota? See the Mississippi Headwaters at Itasca State Park, in Park Rapids, and walk across them! As Minnesota’s oldest state park, and the second-oldest state park in the U.S., it’s been drawing visitors since 1891. Offering 100 lakes across its nearly 33,000 acres, this is a great place for canoeing, fishing or simply relaxing. You also might want to visit Bunker Beach Water Park, in Coon Rapids, where many people cool off by enjoying the pools, the lazy river and the slides. Where are some other Minnesota swimming spots? Deer Lake is located in Itasca County, about 200 miles north of the Twin Cities. Taking up over 4,000 acres, with 22 miles of shoreline, makes this one of Minnesota’s largest lakes. Another Minnesota swimming hole is Sand-Bottom Swimming Pond at Flandrau State Park, in New Ulm. The soft, sand surrounds this chlorinated sand-bottom pool. Or try another sandy-bottom swimming hole that is spring-fed at Camden State Park, located in southwestern Lynd, Minnesota. What are two of the best hiking trails in Camden State Park? Camden State Park, located on the Redwood River in southwestern Minnesota, offers two trails ranging from 239 to 262 feet in elevation gain. The moderately rated Dakota Hiking Trail is 2.2 miles long, and one of Minnesota’s Hiking Club trails. And the Redwood River Loop is a 3.4-mile trail that is also rated as moderate. After the hiking, be sure to cool off in the swimming hole!

 

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center