Outdoors Nokomis, Minnehaha Falls
Lake Nokomis
An outdoor spot in Nokomis, Minnehaha Falls, free to visit and worth about an hour. Best time to go: Afternoon.
Why go
Lake on the Grand Rounds with a 2.7-mile loop path, popular for winter walks and ice fishing.
It is one of 6 curated places we feature in Minnehaha Falls, alongside 3 outdoor spots, 1 place to eat and 1 sight. The closest of our other picks is Minnehaha Falls, 1.6 mi away as the crow flies.
- Type
- Outdoors · Nature
- Neighborhood
- Nokomis
- Price
- Free
- Time needed
- 1 hr
- Best time
- Afternoon
Nearby
Our closest curated picks, including 2 beyond Minnehaha Falls. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.
- 1Minnehaha Falls
53-foot waterfall in a city park with creek trails to the Mississippi.
Outdoors · Minneapolis · 1.6 mi straight-line - 2Minnehaha Falls
53-foot waterfall in Minnehaha Regional Park that freezes into columns of blue ice most winters.
Outdoors · 1.6 mi straight-line - 3Matt's Bar
Corner tavern claiming the original 'Jucy Lucy' cheese-stuffed burger.
Food · Minneapolis · 2.1 mi straight-line - 4Mississippi Gorge Regional Park
Wooded bluffs along West River Parkway north of Minnehaha, the only true gorge on the Mississippi.
Outdoors · 2.7 mi straight-line - 5Hi-Lo Diner
Diner in a restored 1957 dining car on East Lake Street, known for hi-top doughnuts and big breakfasts.
Food · 3.0 mi straight-line - 6Fort Snelling State Park
Park at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers, with trails on Pike Island and through river-bottom woods.
Outdoors · 3.5 mi straight-line
On these curated routes
Lake Nokomis is a stop on our Minneapolis New Year's Eve route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More to do in Minnehaha Falls
Lake Nokomis is our only outdoors pick in Minnehaha Falls; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Minnehaha Falls guide.
When to go: weather by month, based on Minneapolis
Our climate figures for Minnehaha Falls come from nearby Minneapolis. Average daily highs in Minneapolis run from 22°F in January to 84°F in July; June is usually the wettest month. For Lake Nokomis itself, we suggest: Afternoon.
Modelled monthly averages for Minneapolis from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Minneapolis weather by month (covers Minnehaha Falls).
Getting there
Map links open a live search for Lake Nokomis, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Coordinates
- 44.90944, -93.24222
- Destination
- Minnehaha Falls, Minnesota
Lake Nokomis: quick answers
How much time do you need at Lake Nokomis?
Plan on about an hour at Lake Nokomis. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit Lake Nokomis?
Our pick: Afternoon. Insider tip: The path is plowed; walk the loop in the afternoon sun.
Is Lake Nokomis free?
Yes, we list Lake Nokomis as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.
Which TripsCircle routes include Lake Nokomis?
Lake Nokomis appears on Minneapolis New Year's Eve, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add Lake Nokomis to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Minnehaha Falls.
Plan Minnehaha Falls
- Minnehaha Falls travel guide 6 places
- Minneapolis weather (covers Minnehaha Falls) weather by month
- Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront to Minnehaha Falls 5.0 mi straight-line
Lists & regions
Also in Minnehaha Falls
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.