Cedar Lake (Minnesota)

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A look at Cedar Lake from the west shore in early spring of 2006. The shoreline is lined with Eastern Red Cedar trees that give the lake its name, and the IDS Center is visible in the background.

Cedar Lake is a lake on the west side of Minneapolis, north of Lake Calhoun and west of Lake of the Isles. The lake is surrounded by parkland on the west side, while the east side borders the Kenwood residential area. The north side is bordered by the Cedar Lake Trail and the BNSF Railway. The lake has an area of 169 acres.

Cedar Lake is part of the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway, connecting with Theodore Wirth Park on the north end and Lake Calhoun and Lake of the Isles on the south end via the parkway system. The Cedar Lake Trail, on the north shore of the lake, serves as both a recreational trail and a link for non-motorized commuters to reach downtown Minneapolis. It has three separate paths: one for pedestrians, one for westbound bicyclists and skaters, and another for eastbound bicyclists and skaters. Other trails around the lake include separate bicycle and pedestrian trails on the west side of the lake, and the Kenilworth Trail a short distance off the east side of the lake. Cedar Lake is also popular for canoeing and swimming, with two official swimming beaches. A third unofficial beach, known as "Hidden Beach", is located on the northeast side of the lake, and remains the most popular swimming and sun bathing area on Cedar lake.