Lake Harriet is a picturesque lake that is part of the Chain of Lakes

Lake Harriet is a picturesque lake in Minneapolis and is part of the Chain of Lakes. Lake Harriet is located on 67 acres of land and has around 344 acres of water in the lake. The Lake grounds are well known for biking and walking trails and water activities and in the summer season is concerts at the stunning band shell. The Lake and band shell are is a well known location for couples to host their wedding. The configuration of the parks is almost identical to today as it was in the late 1800s.

There are 2.99 miles of trails around the lake that are available for use by bike riders and skaters and 2.75 miles of trails, which can be used for walking and running. Visitors can purchase refreshments at the concessions stand, pump fresh drinking water from the well and enjoy concerts at the band shell from early June until Labor Day. There are two supervised beaches at the lake, North Beach and Southeast Beach. Water crafts are available for rent from Wheel Fun Rentals.

North and Southeast Beach waters are monitored by the park system to ensure that water quality is at a standard for visitors to enjoy. To help keep the beaches clean visitors are asked to ensure that infant's wear swim diapers, dogs are prohibited on the beach or in the water and it is asked that visitors do not feed the ducks and other waterfowl as they will contribute to bacteria growth and phosphorus in the lake water.

The Band Shell is available for rental for wedding ceremonies, concerts and private functions. The band shell is located on the north side of the lake and has a gorgeous backdrop of the lake. The band shell is accessible for disabled visitors, permanent seating is located on the brick pavement, optional amplification rental is available from Approved Party Rental Vendor.

Wheel Fun Rentals is the nation's premier recreational rental outlets located in parks, beaches, hotels and resorts all over the US. Water vehicles available for rent include pedal boats, kayaks and canoes.

The Chain of Lakes is made up of five Minneapolis city lakes - Cedar Lake, Brownie Lake, Lake of the Isles, Lake Calhoun and Lake Harriet. The lakes are all surrounded by parkland and provide an area for visitors to bike, walk, ski or participate in other water activities. Amenities available at the Chain of Lakes include fishing docks, restrooms, gardens and walking trails.

Lake Harriet was named after Harriet Lovejoy who was the wife of Colonel Henry Leavenworth. The lake was known as a boating and concert lake rather then a biking area. When riding bikes became popular in the 1890's a bicycle path was built around the lake. The park had a hockey league that was played on a lit rink on the lake from 1914 and a speed skating track was moved from Powderhorn Lake to Lake Harriet in the early 1960's, which allowed the United States Olympic speed skating trials to be held at the lake in 1963. The track has now been moved to Lake Nokomis.