Silver Lake Park
Columbia Heights
Canoe, Hike, Kayak, and Swim
Silver Lake Park, which the City of Columbia Heights also refers to as Silver Lake Beach Park, is a small city park at 4305 Stinson Blvd NE run by the Columbia Heights Recreation Department. It is the only park in Columbia Heights with a swimming beach. The beach sits in the northwest corner of Silver Lake, a lake of roughly 70 acres that lies mostly inside St. Anthony, with the Columbia Heights shoreline on its west side. Silverwood Park, a larger Three Rivers Park District property, wraps around the north shore right next door.
The park is on the east side of Stinson Boulevard NE, less than a mile north of 37th Avenue NE, where Columbia Heights, St. Anthony and Minneapolis meet. Parking is in a small paved lot inside the park, close to the playground and picnic shelter, and there is a marked accessible stall. From the lot it is a walk of about a minute across the grass to the sand. The city's primitive boat landing is a separate spot farther south along the west shore, with only a handful of parking spaces.
The swim area is a short strip of sand facing south onto the lake, set between the volleyball court and the water. There is no lifeguard on duty at any time, and the city says so on its park page, so children need an adult watching them in the water. Silver Lake reaches about 47 feet at its deepest point, so the bottom does not stay shallow everywhere; stay near the beach rather than swimming out into the basin. The city does not post a swim season, but like other Twin Cities lakes the water is usually only comfortable from late June into August.
There is no admission charge and no parking fee, and the beach is open to anyone, not only Columbia Heights residents. The picnic shelter is first come, first served. Only the city's enclosed park buildings elsewhere in town take paid reservations. The city does not list beach hours online, so call the Recreation Department at 763-706-3730 if you plan to arrive early or stay late. Dogs are not allowed on the public beach or in any city park waters, even on a leash.
Water quality is the main thing to know before you go. The Minnesota DNR describes Silver Lake as having poor water quality, and it suffered winterkills until an aeration system went in during the late 1990s. Columbia Heights runs that aerator each winter, which leaves open water and thin ice on the lake, so stay off the ice near it. St. Anthony added an underground treatment system in 2015 to cut the phosphorus washing into the lake from Silver Lake Village. Skip swimming after heavy rain or if the water looks green or scummy.
Beyond the beach, the park has a playground, a sand volleyball court, a picnic shelter with three tables and one grill, and a portable toilet near the shelter. A walking trail runs east into Silverwood Park, where Three Rivers rents canoes and kayaks in summer and has two accessible fishing piers, sculpture along the trails and a visitor center. The DNR also points shore anglers to the city beach, and it stocks the lake with walleye fry every year.
More Information
Columbia Heights, MN
The park buildings at Huset Park East, Ramsdell Park, Keyes Park, and McKenna Park are available for rentals. Reservations are made through the Recreation office. Call (763) 706-3730, or visit John P. Murzyn Hall at 530 Mill St NE to make a reservation.
https://www.columbiaheightsmn.gov/parks/index.phpColumbia Heights, MN
This is the only park in the City with a swimming beach. There is no lifeguard on duty. The picnic shelter is available to use on a first-come, first-served basis. The walking trail connects to Silverwood Park in the Three Rivers Park District, which offers a fishing pier, community programs, and additional walking trails.
https://www.columbiaheightsmn.gov/parks/silver_lake_park.phpSalo Pond/Silver Lake Stormwater Treatment System | St Anthony Village, MN
Learn more about the Silver Lake Stormwater Treatment System project.
https://www.savmn.com/301/Salo-PondSilver-Lake-Stormwater-TreatmenSilver Lake | Minnesota DNR
Information on Silver Lake in Columbia Heights, Ramsey and Anoka Counties, Mn.
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/areas/fisheries/eastmetro/lakes/silverNB.htmlSilverwood Park | Three Rivers Park District
Silverwood Park strives to promote a creative interaction between people and the environment through features like art education, performances, and more.
https://www.threeriversparks.org/location/silverwood-parkBe courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read More
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Columbia Heights
- Head north on 13th St NW toward Irving St NW (0.6 mi)
- Turn left onto Spring Rd NW (0.4 mi)
- Turn right onto 16th St NWEntering Maryland(3.8 mi)
- At the traffic circle, take the 3rd exit onto 16th St (1.1 mi)
- Turn left onto Georgia Ave (0.6 mi)
- Slight right onto the I-495 W/
Beltway ramp to N Virginia (0.1 mi) - Merge onto I-495 W (4.0 mi)
- Take exit 35 for I-270 N toward Frederick (0.2 mi)
- Continue onto I-270 N (31.7 mi)
- Take exit 32 to merge onto I-70 W toward HagerstownEntering Pennsylvania(76.7 mi)
- Take the US-30 E exit toward I-70 W/
Harrisburg/ McConnellsburg/ New Stanton/ Pennsylvania Turnpike (312 ft) - Turn right onto US-30 E/
S Main St (0.2 mi) - Turn right onto the I-70 ramp to Harrisburg/
New Stanton/ I-76 Toll road(397 ft) - Continue onto I-70 WToll road(1.5 mi)
- Take the exit onto I-70 W/
I-76 W toward Pittsburgh Continue to follow I-76 WToll roadEntering Ohio(184 mi) - Continue onto I-80 WToll road(215 mi)
- Keep left to continue on I-90 WToll roadEntering Indiana(160 mi)
- Keep left to stay on I-90 WToll roadEntering Illinois(7.8 mi)
- Take the I-94 W/
I-90 W exit on the left toward Ryan Expy Toll road(0.3 mi) - Merge onto I-90Exp W/
I-94Exp W (4.8 mi) - Merge onto I-90 W/
I-94 W (10.7 mi) - Keep left to continue on I-90 W, follow signs for Kennedy Expwy/
O'Hare/ Rockford (4.7 mi) - Keep left to stay on I-90 WToll road(2.8 mi)
- Continue straight to stay on I-90 WToll road(23.1 mi)
- Keep left to stay on I-90 WToll roadEntering Wisconsin(196 mi)
- Keep right to continue on I-94 WEntering Minnesota(156 mi)
- Take exit 249 for I-694 S (0.7 mi)
- Merge onto I-694 N (11.5 mi)
- Slight right onto I-694 W (3.7 mi)
- Continue straight onto I-694 (3.2 mi)
- Take exit 39 for Silver Lake Rd (0.2 mi)
- Turn left onto Silver Lake Rd NW (1.1 mi)
- Turn right onto County Rd E (0.4 mi)
- Turn left onto Stinson Blvd NEDestination will be on the left(0.2 mi)
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