Chain of Lakes050

Families throughout the metro area come to the Chain of Lakes, on the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway, to enjoy skating and strolling, swimming and boating, concerts and events, and just about every other kind of outdoor fun, regardless of the season. Meandering along its 13 miles of paths, it's easy to forget you're in a major city.

The Chain of Lakes is maintained by the Park Board, which oversees its events, beaches, skating, and facilities. Lake Harriet and Lake Calhoun, the southernmost lakes in the chain, offer a wealth of family activities.

A short canal connects Calhoun to Lake of the Isles, which offers more than 2.5 miles of biking and walking paths, canoeing, ice skating, wetlands, and a fishing platform. Rent a canoe or paddleboat at Lake Calhoun, then paddle through the canal to tool around the islands that dot this lake and give it its name.

Next up is Cedar Lake, where there are several beaches, a fishing dock, picnic area, and 1.7 miles of biking and walking paths (which also offer access to the Kenilworth and Cedar Lake trails). At this point, the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway passes by Brownie Lake - the smallest and northernmost in the chain - which is circled by unpaved paths. The byway then continues north into Theodore Wirth Park.