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Beaver Lake County Park is a popular family destination to enjoy nature, a variety of outdoor recreation activities, and family-friendly fun in the Saint Paul / Maplewood area. Managed by Ramsey County Park & Recreation Department, this small county park has a compact playground near the parking lot. The play area is not too far from the fishing pier and close enough to keep an eye on from the picnic shelter – perfect for a family day of fishing, picnicking and play.

Related Articles:

• Best Places for Fishing With Kids in the Twin Cities
• Twin Cities Birthday Parties for Kids: Party in the Park
• Kid-Friendly Hikes: 10 Twin Cities Hiking Trails That Are One Mile or Less

5 Ideas for Family Fun at Beaver Lake Park

1. Pack a picnic. Barbeque grills near the small shelter are available for visitors to use, so visitors can bring burgers or hotdogs for a family cookout-style picnic.
2. Play on the playground. It is small but in good condition.
3. Take a family walk around the lake. The whole loop is only about 1 mile long, perfect for the smallest hikes. Benches along the trail allow families with small kids to stop to rest and enjoy the scenery.
4. Bring a playground ball. The playfield is less of a baseball diamond than a public open space. However it would still be a great space for a game of kickball or dodgeball. There is also a volleyball court where you can use that ball.
5. Go Fishing. The fishing pier is near the playground and another shore structure is north of the pier.

Fishing Beaver Lake

The 83-acre lake is the focus of the park. The Minnesota DNR tells us that Beaver Lake has Bluegill, Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Bullhead and is an excellent fishing lake.

Birthday Parties at Beaver Lake County Park

The picnic shelter is reservable for a very affordable daily fee. The shelter only holds 30 people and the park itself is pretty small. This would be ideal for an intimate family birthday party where you just want a space to cook out and let the kids play.

Upcoming Redevelopment Plans

Ramsey Count began preparing a new redevelopment plan for Beaver Lake County Park in 2020, beginning with seeking community input and feedback. An initial design was created in 2022 and the county is now seeking funding to complete these plans. A final concept plan has not yet been developed (as of the summer of 2023), but updates under consideration include trail widening, lighting and upgrades, added fishing and kayak areas, a larger picnic shelter, an updated playground facilities with both a toddler area and features for kids 6-12 years, new restrooms (currently this park has portable toilets), and community gardens and native plantings.

More Family Fun in the Twin Cities Metro Area:

• Family Fun at Lock and Dam No. 1 on the Mississippi River
• Maplewood Nature Center, Maplewood
• FFTCs Guide to Mini Golf Courses in the Twin Cities
• Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton
• Como Regional Park, St Paul
• Round Lake Park, Eden Prairie
• Island Lake County Park, Shoreview
• Tamarack Nature Center, White Bear Township

Useful Links:

• Minnesota DNR Webpage for Beaver Lake Fishing
• Reserve a Ramsey County Picnic Shelter
• See the Master Plan for most recent updates to the park