July 30, 2009: Lake of the Isles Hike (Minneapolis)

June 30, 2011: Lake of the Isles Hike (Minneapolis)

Join Larry Martin for a hike around the convoluted trails of lovely Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis. The Lake of the Isles was named for its islands (now two, but formerly four, as mapped in the Andreas Atlas, 1874.) The one to the north is called Mike's Island, and the one to the south is Raspberry Island. The other two were located in a marshy area that has now been filled in, so that they are now part of the mainland. They were jointly called Maple Islands. The lake was originally a large wetland. Extensive dredging occurred from 1889-1911 to create the lake. The access to Lake Calhoun was created in 1911. The lake covers 102 acres, with 2.86 miles of shoreline. The maximum depth of the lake is 54 feet. Nearby Lake Calhoun was originally known as “Mde Mdoza” or Lake of the Loons. It was renamed after John Caldwell Calhoun, who was Vice-President of the United States from 1825 to 1832. The Kenwood section of Minneapolis, in which Lake of the Isles is located, was originally a suburb and today is one of the most affluent neighborhoods in the city. Some interesting examples of Prairie Style architecture and the designs of architect William Gray Purcell also are located on Lake of the Isles Parkway and on nearby streets. An 1874 city map indicates that only six people owned the property around Lake of the Isles, with John Green owning the land on the north end of the lake, Reed and Goodrich owning the land on the northeast portion of the lake, R. P. Purcell owning the land on the southeast portion of the lake, Thomas Haleran owning the land on the west portion of the lake, Barber owning the land on the northwest portion of the lake, and S. H. Smith owning the land on the north northwestern portion of the lake.

If Driving: From I-94, take the Hennepin Avenue/Lyndale Avenue exit and go south on Hennepin Avenue three or four blocks to West 22nd Street. Turn west (right) onto West 22nd Street and proceed about seven blocks to East Lake of the Isles Parkway. Turn north (right) onto East Lake of the Isles Parkway and proceed on the parkway around the north arm of the lake to the west side of the lake. We will meet at the fountain/monument at the junction of Kenwood Parkway and West Lake of the Isles Parkway. Parking is on the street west of the monument.

If coming by public transit: Take Metro Transit route(s): 25. The closest bus service point appears to be along Sheridan Avenue. Applicable Metro Transit Map / Bus Schedule information

Interested hikers will reassemble for dessert or dinner after the hike at a nearby restaurant (Punch Pizza, 3226 W. Lake Street, Minneapolis.)

Map to hike start point: 2380 W Lake of the Isles Parkway

Another map to hike start point: West Lake of the Isles Parkway and Kenwood Parkway

Lake of the Isles Architectural Hike Route Directions

Lake of the Isles Architectural Notes, Part 1

Lake of the Isles Architectural Notes, Part 2

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This webpage was last updated on May 20, 2011.