Lone Lake Park
Lone Lake Park is a stand-alone park, although its proximity to Shady Oak Beach expands the recreational opportunities for this area, as well as the community in general.
Located in the southeast corner of Minnetonka, Lone Lake Park’s 146 acres serve as a community park with tennis and basketball courts, athletic fields, horseshoes, picnic shelters and play areas, as well as a natural open space. Park features include views of Lone Lake from the shore and dock; expansive open space; and nearly two miles of formal trails, including a 1.2-mile loop from the lower main parking lot that offers scenic views of the various ecological areas in the park, including wetlands, woodlands and prairies.
Lone Lake’s history
Among the early settlers homesteading what is now Lone Lake Park were the Dvoraks, who owned a dairy farm and raised fruits and vegetables. The cabin they purchased in 1888 remained in the park until 1989, many years after the city’s 1973 purchase of the land for a park. Park construction began in 1977 with a grant from the Nine Mile Watershed District and the state of Minnesota.
Lone Lake’s trails
Lone Lake’s 1.6 miles of trails are covered with crushed limestone, although trails in the hilly areas are paved with asphalt to prevent erosion. During the winter season, trails are not plowed to facilitate snowshoeing.
- The Big Hill/Lake Trail (1.2 miles)
- Just off the lower parking lot is access to the 1.2-mile Big Hill/Lake Trail that starts by the dock at the lake, travels along the south side of the lake to the northwest corner of the park, up and down the hills, then returns to the lake. The south segment from the Bren Road parking lot joins this loop after a 0.7-mile trail along the lake or 0.5 mile back to the parking area. This trail includes several steep segments.
- The South Segment (0.2 miles)
- The trail segment accessible from the Bren Road parking area travels 0.2 miles north to the Big Hill Loop, then continues to the southeast for 1.5 miles to Bryant Lake Regional Park, operated by Three Rivers Park District.
- The North Segment (0.2 miles)
- Just west of the athletic field parking lot, the north trail segment heads south to the lake and to the lower parking area that connects the athletic field and the lake. This trail provides access to the restrooms, play equipment and the Big Hill/Lake Trail.
- Access to other parks and trails
- Aside from the 1.5-mile trail access to Bryant Lake Regional Park to the south, trails from Lone Lake park head north to Shady Oak Beach along Shady Oak Road (0.75 miles) and also west along Rowland Road from the south parking lot to the Three Rivers Parks Minnesota River Bluffs LRT Trail (0.6 miles).
If you go
- Park is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- The park is accessible by car from Shady Oak Road (main entrance) or from Bren Road (southwest access).
- A park building with restrooms (seasonal) and a drinking fountain is located near the lower parking lot by the lake. Picnic spots abound near the lake.
- Dogs must be on a leash (no longer than 6 feet) on the trails, in the formal areas of the park and in the parking lot.
- Please pick up after your pet. Mutt Mitt dispensers are available along the trail.
- The play area at the lower parking lot was just completed as part of the Minnetonka Park Renewal program. New play equipment, seating area, basketball courts and paths were part of the park renewal process.
Archived parks renewal information
Please note: This information is part of an archived record of the parks renewal process. Some items, such as concept plans, may not reflect the final plans and current state of the park.
Planning meetings for Lone Lake park were held in July 2007.
Aerial view: Click on thumbnail above for larger aerial view.
