Minneapolis, MN · lake · best for beginners
Bde Maka Ska
Minneapolis's biggest lake and the heart of the Chain of Lakes. Calm urban flatwater with skyline views, rentals on site, and connections to Lake of the Isles through the channels.
Weather comparison · not a safety rating
Mixed weather
Weather score out of 100
Weather only. River flow, dam releases, water temperature and local hazards are not included in this number. Check the local guidance below.
Weather observation: Sun, 08 Nov 2026 15:30:00 GMT.
Page checked: Sun, 08 Nov 2026 15:52:45 GMT. Readings older than one hour are not used for the current score.
Wind
10 mph
gusting to 22 mph
Air temp
47°F
0% chance of rain
Weather outlook
Tuesday · 97
Sun
75
52°
Mon
66
54°
Tue
97
58°
Best
Wed
72
51°
Thu
53
39°
Fri
71
41°
Sat
75
45°
Compares forecast wind, air temperature and rain. Does not assess river flow, swell, currents, water temperature or launch access. All times are local to this location.
Wind, next 12 hours
mph| Hour | Wind (mph) | Gusts (mph) |
|---|---|---|
| 9a | 9 | 22 |
| 10a | 10 | 20 |
| 11a | 10 | 19 |
| 12p | 10 | 18 |
| 1p | 10 | 18 |
| 2p | 10 | 17 |
| 3p | 9 | 17 |
| 4p | 7 | 18 |
| 5p | 4 | 10 |
| 6p | 5 | 10 |
| 7p | 5 | 10 |
| 8p | 4 | 11 |
Why this score
- Wind — 10 mph — moderate wind at the forecast location-8
- Gusts — Gusting to 22 mph — 12 mph over sustained-5
- Cold — 47°F air temperature — cool weather; water temperature is not measured-20
Launch notes
Launch from the northeast beach by the pavilion. Busy on summer weekends — arrive before 10am for easy parking.
Do your own homework
We show you live conditions. For local knowledge — where to put in, what the hazards are, whether it's worth the drive — here's where paddlers actually talk about this water. We don't vet these sources; check the dates and judge for yourself.
- Paddler discussion on Reddit
Trip reports and local warnings, straight from the source
- Search American Whitewater
Rapid classifications and gauge-linked run descriptions
- Satellite view and access roads
Check parking, put-ins, and what the banks actually look like
- Video from this water
The fastest way to see the character of a run before you drive