Cedar Lake East Beach — Attraction in Minneapolis

Best beach in the Twin Cities to enjoy a casual beach day. Beautiful people of all walks of life. Definitely a winner. People bring blankets, towels, and really any number of things to layout on the sand. Some folks bring coolers with beverages since there isn't any place anywhere near here to buy any food or drinks so even if your rolling solo, but especially if your bringing young people, your gonna at minimum bring some clean water to keep you hydrated! On any given warm day you might find people throwing a football or frisbee, kicking a soccer ball or hacky sack, and often times someone will bring a slackline and set it up for people to take turns trying to walk across! Lots of people lay out in the sun, or bring lawn chairs, even hammocks! You can bring stuff to throw on the permanent grill that's setup, or bring your own grill like I've seen people do. Lots of people go swimming, and tons of people visit the mud pit, yes you heard me right, the mud pit!!! If your wondering what the heck that is, well its our states very own muddy pit that is completely safe and full of natural minerals that are truely really good for your skin! If you don't believe me, you can verify that with the scientists who researched it years ago when the city had thought to bulldoze over thinking it might just be a bunch of mud, but conservationalists put a quick stop to that when they figured out just how special and unique it really is! Kids and adults alike enjoy the benefits of it day in and day out during the summer and never a problem with it, so if your not scared you should check it out! Oh I almost forgot to ask you to PLEASE take a second to "THUMBS UP" this post and each photo, you can even "SHARE" it on social media or with a friend if you like, the reason I ask is because it let's me know that someone appreciates the time it takes me to post these reviews (and because I sure don't get paid to do them!) Thanks, I hope sharing my experience in review helped to make your choice easier! If my photos haven't made it up yet, just check back sometime because I'll get around to it one of these days! :-) now go have...

grew up as a kid in the sixties going to this beach, as it was only a few blocks from our house. The area in general has had a bit of a neglected history for years, starting with the railroad being built along the east side, to the lowering of Cedar Lake by five feet when the channel was cut between it and Lake of the Isles, to the resulting dried up bay to the southeast of the beach being used as a city dump as late as the 1960's - where we used to ride our bikes - eek! Supposedly it was mostly concrete from the new interstate projects, but who knows what else.

The beach itself has had a seedy reputation for a long long time, one that it cant seem to shake to this day. We swam there a lot in the summer during the daytime but we knew it wasnt a place to go to after dark. It originally attracted an unsavory element ever since the days when the railroad yards, (where we also used to get up to no good), occupied the space where the Kenilworth bike trail now is, which you cross on 21st St. just a block east of the beach. Apparently there were a large number of transients and hobos that used to come and go on the railroad, and the beach was a conveniently close and secluded place for various debauchery. I've occasionally stopped by over the years just to see what its like and am fascinated that it still seems to retain that somewhat subversive atmosphere that it has always had. I think that unless it receives a complete makeover in the form of an developed park area, it is likely to remain that way in the future, for good or bad. If you are looking for raw and unpolished in your beach experience, this is the...

The description of this beach is inaccurate, the east side doesn't have a lifeguard on duty, it doesn't have sand like other beaches, I've only been there a few times & only because police are frequently called to break up fights, people smoke cigarettes & marijuana & do other drugs with no regard for others health risks & within close proximity to children. There is only one porta potty nearby but it isn't maintained or restocked on a regular basis so people are forced to bring their own toiletries or be forced to urinate/deficate in bushes & trees or do their business in the water; one of the times I was there with my girlfriend, we were laying in a hammock & a woman had come within 5ft of us, proceeded to squat down & urinated on one of the trees we had our hammock tied to, I turned my music volume up so we didn't have to hear her urine splashing off the tree, she then went into the water to wash her urine off her feet & legs.

I gave it 3 stars only because it could be a decent spot if all of the above could be improved & the riff raff (trouble makers) removed, it could also increase the value of the homes nearby if the area were to be improved & made into an actual park & beach that is recognized & maintained...