Park outing
Monsters packed already
Local edition · Minneapolis
Lake of the Isles Nature Detective
Lake of the Isles Park, southwest Minneapolis — parkway loop, walking path, and islands you look at from the path.
A family outdoor hunt for noticing water, parkway trees, and islands you look at from the path. Play the premade sheet as-is, or put your kids’ names on a private family sheet.
Based on Nature Scavenger Hunt by QuestHunt. Works at Lake of the Isles Park (parkway loop / walking path). The original still lives at Nature Scavenger Hunt.
Outing snapshot for parents
Setting
Outdoor
A city lake, a parkway loop, and islands you look at from the path.
How long
A park visit
About an hour, or until the snacks run out.
Neighbourhood
Lake of the Isles
Southwest Minneapolis. The parkway loop is the outing — East Isles, Kenwood, and the path around the water.
Age band
5–12
A recommendation, not a gate. Little kids can point; bigger kids can write.
On foot
Walking
Stay on the walking path. Watch for bikes. You don’t have to finish the loop.
The outing (very short)
What you’ll actually do
- 01
Show up on the parkway
Meet on the walking path at East Lake of the Isles Parkway. Pick a direction. This is a walk, not a timed tour.
- 02
Play the place hints
Use the hint sheet on this page. The lake, the parkway loop, islands you look at from the path. This is Isles, not Harriet, not Nokomis. Leave plants. Stay on the path. Skip anything that doesn’t fit today.
- 03
Make it yours
Use Personalize for my family to put the kids’ names on a private sheet. The premade hints here still work as-is.
Where you’re going
Start on East Lake of the Isles Parkway
One static orientation map so you can see the place. This is not a live GPS tour and there is no routed path — the hunt works on the walking path around Lake of the Isles. The islands are look-only from the path.
Start · East Lake of the Isles Parkway
Starting point · East Lake of the Isles Parkway
2500 Lake of the Isles Parkway E, Minneapolis, MN 55405
Place notes
A city lake with islands you look at from the path
- Lake of the Isles Park sits in southwest Minneapolis as part of the Chain of Lakes. The official park is Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board Lake of the Isles. A walking path loops the lake. Mike’s Island and Raspberry Island are look-only from the path. This is Isles — not Harriet, not Nokomis.
- The park is outdoor and generally free to enter. Hours, parking, and seasonal conditions change. Check the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board before you go. Last checked August 2026.
- This edition names a place so parents can see where to stand. It is not a trail map. More Minneapolis outings live on the city hub. The original still works at any wooded park.
Bring this outside
Hints that only work here
Each box is something you can notice at this park, plus a short true thing about the place. Kid voice is on the sheet. The anywhere clues still live on Nature Scavenger Hunt. Nothing is uploaded. Refreshing the page clears the checks.
Park photo slot — empty until we add a mixed-media still of this place.
I started on the parkway. This is Lake of the Isles — not Harriet, not Nokomis. Look at the islands from the path. Leave the plants.
Place hint sheet
Check things off as you go. Nothing is uploaded. Refreshing the page clears the checks.
0 / 10 found
More Minneapolis outings on the city hub.
Looking for something closer to home? Things to do with kids near me.
What kids notice at the lake can become a bigger project in Kubrio.
Open the original game