Shady Oak Beach is a lifeguarded swimming beach on the shore of Shady Oak Lake at 5200 Shady Oak Road in Minnetonka, just west of Hopkins in the western Twin Cities suburbs. The City of Hopkins owns the property and the City of Minnetonka's Recreation Services runs it, so passes, rentals and shelter bookings all go through Minnetonka. The beach sits inside an 85-acre recreation area with about 76 feet of sand facing the water, a large play area behind it, and a picnic shelter.

Shady Oak Lake covers roughly 91 acres and is split by Shady Oak Road and an old railroad grade into three basins. The Metropolitan Council lists its deepest point at about 11 meters, in the middle basin. The lake is spring fed and drains a small watershed, so it takes in little storm runoff, and the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District rates its clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll as consistently better than state standards. Minnetonka tests the beach water for E. coli once each in June, July and August. The swim area is marked with buoys and has a floating dock, a high dive and lap swimming. An inflatable Wibit obstacle course is usually set out from 1 to 5 p.m. when staffing and weather allow.

This is not a free beach. A one-day pass is $7 per person, or $5 after 6 p.m., and the buyer has to show a photo ID. A 10-visit punch card is $50 and is sold only at the gate. Season passes are $20 for residents of Minnetonka, Hopkins and St. Louis Park and $35 for everyone else, and anyone can buy one. Minnetonka says children under 1 get in free (the Hopkins page says two and under). Kids under 12 must come with an adult, and visitors under 16 need a photo ID or an adult over 18 with them at check-in. Parking is free.

The beach is open only during the summer season. The season runs from early June to mid-August, and swimming ends half an hour before sunset. Staff close the beach on cool or empty days: when the air is 65 degrees F or colder, when fewer than 15 swimmers show up, or when the Air Quality Index stays at 151 or higher. On a doubtful day call the weather line at 952-939-8355 (option 3) or the beach at 952-908-7083. Glass bottles and cans are not allowed on the beach. Life jackets are optional, but lifeguards can require one.

In winter the city runs an aerator near the floating dock, which keeps open water and thin ice around it all season, so stay well away from that part of the lake once it freezes. Outside the guarded summer season there are no lifeguards on duty, so check with Minnetonka Recreation Services (952-939-8203) before planning a swim in late August or September.

Rentals are first come, first served at the beach: canoes and single kayaks are $12 an hour, and tandem kayaks and paddleboards are $15 an hour. Life jackets, paddle jumpers and sand volleyball gear are loaned free with a driver's license. There are also a concession stand, a first-aid station, family and single-sex changing rooms, a foot rinse, and a shaded patio. The Minnesota River Bluffs LRT Regional Trail crosses the lake on the old rail line, and the DNR notes about 100 yards of shore fishing along that grade for bluegill, crappie, northern pike, largemouth bass and bullhead.