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Lake Byllesby Regional Park is a Dakota County park in Cannon Falls with family-friendly amenities that include a beach and splash pad, campground, hiking and play areas.

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• • Splash Happy Guide to Twin Cities Beaches, Pools, Water Parks & Splash Pads

10 Ideas for Family Fun at Lake Byllesby Regional Park

1. Book a campsite for camping near the Twin Cities. Just a half hour south of St. Paul, campsites can be booked for tents and campers.
2. Swim at the Beach or Splash at the Splash Pad. The unguarded beach is open daily from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Check ahead before heading out, we’ve been disappointed by a closed beach. During the summer, Lake Byllesby Reservoir is subject to algae issues. However, the splash pad was still available even when the beach was closed. The splash pad is open daily 9am-8pm during swimming season
3. Pack a Picnic. Spread a blanket or enjoy a picnic in the Lakeside Picnic Shelter
4. Go Fishing. According to the Minnesota DNR, there is a large selection of fish species in the lake.
5. Try Geocaching. Dakota county encourages visitors to use the Geocaching app to search for caches in the park. Some areas of the park are off limits, so check the park’s off-limits map before getting started.
6. Bring a Hammock and just “hang out”
7. Hike or Bike the Cannon Valley Trail. Hiking is free, but biking requires a wheel pass ($7/day or $30/year). This 20-mile paved trail provides scenic views of the Cannon River.
8. Play Horseshoes
9. Roast marshmallows on a bonfire. Bonfire rings are available for public use near the beach.
10. ​Play on the playgrounds. There is a fun nature-style playground attached to the splash pad and another playground near the campsites

Lake Byllesby Campground

This is not so much a campground as a place to park your RV and landing pad for other adventures. We found it very tight quarters — even though we had, by far, the smallest camping vehicle and a two-person tent. The beach was closed due to algae, which is apparently a regular thing, so there wasn’t much to do besides play at the playgrounds. However, Lake Byllsby is close to Northfield, which is a fun city to visit and we spent most of our weekend touring the town, hitting the weekend market and visiting boutique shops.

A Note About Parking

On hot days, the park often faces full lots at Lake Byllesby Swimming beaches and the nearby motorized boat launch at Lake Byllesby. If parking spaces are full, Dakota County asks that you visit another time. Parking is not permitted along the entrance roads, on grass or on sidewalks.

Useful Links:

• Learn More About Fishing Lake Byllesby on the Minnesota DNR Website.
• Get the Geocaching App and the Park’s Off-Limits Map.