Lake Hiawatha

The shoreline offers up a view almost completely unspoiled by it's urban surroundings

This is a beautiful little lake located just north of Lake Nokomis off of Minnehaha Parkway, Hiawatha's shoreline has been carefully restored with a nice variety of indigenous aquatic flora. And, with the exception of a few man made features, anyone on the water can't help but notice that you can truly be "away from it all," even in the middle of the city.

There is no launch ramp here. Forget about putting in your day sailer or your fourteen foot Alumacraft and trolling motor. Whatever you have, you have to carry it down to the little beach on the east side. It's a bit of a hike, too, a good seventy five yards from the street IF you can find a parking spot close by. This is a lake for light watercraft.

A launcher is often handy, but  absolutely necessary for Hiawatha and other lakes where you must walk down to the shore

A roof rack or a pickup truck saves the need for a trailer and makes parking easier. Note the ramp under the launcher.

It was good to see three kayaks and a canoe on the water. At this time of the year, I seldom see more than one or two on the same lake at the same time. I was the only row boat, of course, and as usual, I was stopped by a few people asking questions and offering up some nice compliments. I took one well wisher for a ride.

 Minnehaha Creek flows from Lake Nokomis into Hiawatha then on to Minnehaha Falls

Hiawatha is part of a water shed connected by Minnehaha creek which enters and exits on the south end. Other features include a golf course on the Northwest side and a small playground and recreation center. 

An interesting sculpture titled, "the Listening Vessel" by creator Craig Davis is located at the center. It is a concave parabola carved into sizable piece of granite which was designed to amplify the natural sounds of the wind and waves and shorebirds.
 

 A little bit of the golf course can be seen on the north side 

Originally the area was a 52 acre swamp until the city purchased it, dredged it into a thirty three foot deep lake, and stocked it with fish. Look for black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin, carp, golden shiner, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkin seed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead and yellow perch. Some fish consumption guidelines have been placed on the bluegill and northern pike. Check with the DNR for details.

I did not notice any signage about invasive species, but I would expect that since Hiawatha is connected to Nokomis which has eurasian milfoil and mussels, the warning should be present. I cleaned my boat anyway.

Lake Nokomis

The main beach on the west side

At 210 acres, Lake Nokomis is large enough to be one of three sailing lakes in the city of Minneapolis. The beach fronts and surrounding parks add up to another 195 acres which makes for scenic shoreline and plenty of space to picnic, hike, or just relax.

The Cedar Street Bridge

Nokomis is a major part of the area water system. Minnehaha Creek, enters on the north end and  also exits nearby on its way to Lake Hiawatha, then to Minnehaha Falls, ultimately into the Mississippi. The Cedar Street bridge, found on the southwestern end, creates an artificial boundary with a corner called West Lake Nokomis.

I put in on a day with twelve mile per hour headwinds gusting up to fifteen or twenty.  Time for a little math: Most people can row a light craft at a speed of somewhere between seven and twelve miles per hour. Given the wind speed, I spent a lot of my time rowing hard and standing still! Somehow or another, I got about halfway across the lake and decided to call it a day. 

I had a good time, of course. I will return some time soon, probably when the weather is better.

Sailboats are moored at the launch ramp and pier several hundred yards south of the beach

You can launch on the concrete slab at the west side where the sailboats are moored, just off of Cedar Street. If you're like me and don't like concrete, the adjacent shoreline is sandy. The main beach, just a few hundred yards north, offers canoe rentals. You could probably launch your own boat there too. 

History

Originally named Lake Amelia after Captain George Gooding's daughter in 1819, the property was purchased by the city and converted to a park in 1907. At that time, it was only five feet deep and mostly marshland until it was dredged and renamed in 1910. Nokomis was the grandmother of the Indian hero in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's epic poem, The Song of Hiawatha. With Minnehaha Falls and Lake Hiawatha connecting, the new name seemed more appropriate. Today the shoreline has been partially restored to it's native flora and the lake ecology seems to be pretty much balanced.

Fishing

Expect a good range of the usual Minnesota species, and in good numbers: bluegill, black crappie, bass, bowfin, carp, golden shiner, hybrid sunfish, pumpkinseed, tiger muskie, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, black bullhead, and yellow perch. Some restrictions have been placed on consumption. Check with the DNR for details.

Invasive Species Warning

You must wash your boat and trailer to remove Eurasian Milfoil and mussels before you drive away.

Round Lake

Round Lake is located right next to the north and west corner of Lake Phalen, probably at least part of the city of Maplewood. It is the last of a chain of other lakes (Keller and Gervais) which flow into Phalen.

This lake seems to be a complete misnomer. On one hand, it's not round. On the other, it's not much of a lake. At thirty acres in area and only eight feet deep, it's more like a pond. I expected this to be a fifteen minute adventure and nothing more.

My hope was to put in at the boat landing found on the north side of lake Phalen, then cross through a culvert/bridge into Round Lake, then take the narrow channel upstream to Keller Lake. As it turned out, this was more than I bargained for. There was a swift current as well as a good northerly wind which forced me to change my plans.

 The culvert/bridge to Round Lake: I "walked" the boat hand-over-hand on the ceiling to get through

The launch went alright, but immediately after that the culvert/bridge proved to more of an obstacle than a passageway. It is just barely wide enough to row through, especially in a straight line and especially against the current. The headwind also proved formidable as it funneled through. I got about half way and gave up on the oars. I reached up and planted my hands on the ceiling and propelled the Prodigal forward by walking it hand over hand. Whatever works, I guess!

Hindsight being what it is, it would have been easier to park in the same location, ignore the loading ramp on Phalen, and launch directly into Round Lake. There is no ramp there but the grass leads right down to the shore. At any rate, the hand-over-hand trick was kind of fun. I will probably do it again next time!

 The first footbridge in the channel

Next I did a quick spin around Round Lake and then headed north into the channel leading to Keller Lake. A few trees have fallen into the channel, but they were no problem, just a good place for turtles to sun themselves.

Three turtles sun themselves on a log in the channel

I passed first under a foot bridge, then a pair of beautifully arched limestone bridges supporting Frost Street in Maplewood. No problem! If anything the towering architecture, grand but forgotten, felt a little like a scene from Lord of the Rings. Maybe that's going a bit too far, but after all, it's my adventure!

 The stone bridges that support Frost Street

Next was another footbridge supported with two concrete slabs spaced about ten feet apart. This created a pinch point and the current was pretty swift. A little footnote here: the Prodigal is a little less than four feet wide. The oars are each six feet long, creating width greater than the opening. It was just not possible pass through using a conventional oar stroke. I tried shortening my "wing span" by sliding the oars inboard as far as possible in the oarlocks and then pulling hard short strokes.  The trouble was that the inside of my little boat was all elbows, knees, and oars. I tried 3 times, each with precisely the same results. I would get about half way, then the wind and the current would propel me backwards. That was it.I had to give up. End of trip!

 The boat just could not row through this passage. How frustrating!

I had to head for home with my tail between my legs, totally beaten. I suppose I could try this again, perhaps a little later in the season when the current might be a little more gentle. Better yet, I could bring a friend and a couple of canoe paddles. One thing for sure: I am glad that I chose to travel against the current first. Otherwise, I could have passed through the channel without being able to return. So little Round Lake may have been a misnomer but it turned out to be an adventure after all. It was a challenge I won't forget for a long time!

The Launch point for Round Lake can be found on the northern end of Lake Phalen where East Shore Drive comes to a dead end.

Fishing is good here. Expect the usual bluegill, crappie, and smaller pan fish. Round Lake is also contaminated with Eurasian milfoil. Wash off your boat, oars, paddles, and trailer before leaving the launch area. This may sound a little odd, especially if you are new to boating, but  it is important. DNR officials issue fines to those who don't. I carry along a sponge and a spray bottle mixed with water and vinegar.

Lake Phalen

Mooring Points and the Saint Paul Sailing Club can be seen on this distant shore

Located on the North side of Saint Paul near Larpenteur and Highway 61, this is the largest lake in the city. The northernmost tip extends into Maplewood and connects to Round Lake and a series of smaller bodies of water that makes boating a pleasant  little adventure. I will write more about the chain later.

The Prodigal moored on the beach. The water is crystal clear.

There is a launch near the norther tip which can be reached by East Shore Drive where it comes to a dead end. I didn't bother. I parked near the beach and walked the boat down to the swimming area on my little wooden carrier. There's something very special about the water quality at Phalen. It's crystal clear. Sometimes you can see all the way to the bottom. Speaking of which, there are also two spots where the depth is around 100 feet.

  The launch ramp can be approached from East Shore Drive where Round Lake borders with Phalen

Fishing is excellent. The lake is regularly stocked. Look for tiger muskies, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, and the usual smaller bluegills and crappie. Phalen is also home to a rare species known as a rainbow darter.

 It was a quiet day so I left the carrier right on the beach

I did see two other boats with electric  trolling motors. Otherwise I had the lake all to myself.

The Saint Paul Sailing Club is quartered in the Park and has a number of mooring points available at a very reasonable rate. They also have a number of boats which are loaners. This seems to be a great way for new sailers to get connected.

A special note: Eurasian milfoil has invaded Phalen and all of the other lakes which connect to it. In order to protect other waterways, make sure to wash any vegetation off of your boat when you leave the water.


                                                                 

Rowing as Excercise

I have always thought of rowing as a pleasant and quiet way to get around the lake. I have never really thought of it as exercise. I suppose that if I did, I would never have taken it up. Truth be known, rowing is one of the best ways to work out.

Rowing requires the use of the whole body: arms, back, and legs at the same time, allowing for a very efficient way to burn fat and build muscle.  Rowing is also good aerobic training too, improving heart health and the cardiovascular system, raising basal metabolism, and increasing calorie consumption. You can expect to burn somewhere between somewhere between 50 and 150 calories every ten minutes!  

Finally, rowing is no impact. There is no stress to the joints at all.  But, because you encounter resistance as you row, you build bone density,

You can buy a rowing machine, of course. A good gym will have a number of rowing machines available. But why not get a boat? I can't think of a better way to have a little fun. You will barely notice the exercise!

Lake Como

Located in Como Park, Near Lexington Parkway and Como Avenue on the north Side of Saint Paul, this is one of the most popular bodies of water in the Twin Cities. Hundreds of bicyclers, joggers, and dog walkers take to the pathways circumventing it almost every day.Oddly enough, almost no one actually puts into the water. There is a large pavilion on the west side which occasionally rents out one or two paddle boats. I saw someone paddling a kayak once. Otherwise you can expect to have the lake all to yourself. Oddly enough, people  have stopped me each time I've launched. They've mentioned that light watercraft is a great idea. 

The Prodigal beached near the fishing pier

At 68 acres, Lake Como is rather small. You can row or paddle all the way across and back within an hour. It's a bit of a workout anyway, especially for your first time out. The best place to launch is on the south side next to the fishing pier just off Gateway Drive. There is a small parking lot there too. Trailer parking is not allowed. Once you are under way, you can head for the  dock at the pavilion. There are rest rooms there and a little restaurant. Each summer the park hosts a number of concerts there. You will be assured of the best "seats" if you drop anchor nearby. You can use this url to obtain the concert schedule:

http://www.stpaul.gov/DocumentView.aspx?DID=12736

Launch next to the fishing pier on the south side

History

Lake Como has been a city park for over a century. In 1848 a local farmer Charles Perry named it after the famous lake in Italy. Other than the word, these two have nothing in common. Another unusual story connects to  Jesse James and the failed bank robbery in Northfield Minnesota way back in 1876. Gang member Charlie Pitts was killed. His remains were shipped up here. Doctor Henry Hoyt submerged it in the lake to study the effects of decomposition. People have reported seeing his ghost on the lake.

Fishing

Look for black crappie, black bullhead, bluegill, golden shiner, green sunfish, northern pike, pumpkin seed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, and yellow perch. The average depth is nine feet and it is pretty weedy. The DNR has posted some restrictions on consumption due to contamination: www.dnr.state.mn.us

Ducks on Como: A mallard paddles across my bow to get a better look at me

 A mother and her ducklings swim away from the launch area. Ducks like to "launch" in the same places we do!

The Maiden Voyage of the Prodigal

I launched The Prodigal this morning on Lake Como. Quite frankly, this was one of the best days that I can remember.Everything went without a hitch. The lake was a cold 46 degrees but I didn't even notice once I got rowing.

I know, this is a little boat, but still a lot could have gone wrong. I thought about the construction and design for over 5 months, actually worried about how it would behave in the water.Much to my surprise, The Prodigal has excellent handling characteristics. The squared nose pram design made for an easy launch. And that first step into a boat is made easier by coming straight on. Most importantly, the stem floats about 2 inches off the water, preventing any plowing when moving forward.

The stem and the chine edges stay out of the water

The forward edges also stand proud from the water, thus avoiding any unnecessary resistance. Most importantly, I was absolutely delighted with rowing. It's has a real light feeling.,much easier than a canoe, no doubt faster too! Finally, The Prodigal has good glide characteristics. It continues to move forward between strokes and allows me to generate a little speed.

Splash one little dinghy!