The unpronounceable lake- Bde Maka Ska: October 4 2025

We had a hot and breezy early fall day yesterday. I donned my hat with the strap that holds it on in the wind and headed for a lake in Minneapolis called Bde Maka Ska. The area was originally inhabited by the Dakota Indians, and a few years ago the lake was renamed from Lake Calhoun to its current Dakota name, which means “white earth lake.” It is actually pronounceable: Bud-ay Mah-kuh Skah.

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It’s a beautiful area to walk. There’s a trail all the way around the lake, which is nearly four miles around.

Here’s a map created by an app I use called “Map My Ride.” It is intended for cyclists but I use it when walking, cycling, kayaking, etc.

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And here are more scenes from my trip around the lake.

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There was some kind of regatta going on, or perhaps a sailing class. Whoever was running the show had a whistle that sounded like a train whistle.

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There were a lot of other boats on the lake too, as well as windsurfers.

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Here’s a screenshot from a video I took of a guy careening across the lake. The wind was so strong — he was really cooking along!

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As I mentioned, it was very hot. Fortunately, there are trees all around the lake, so I was rarely fully exposed in the hot sun.

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There were a few people fishing from docks. I loved this scene of a dad and his son fishing together.

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I do love the acknowledgements around the lake, that this is Indian land. There are places where the concrete is stamped with words in the Dakota language, as well as artwork and plaques.

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It’s a very diverse lake, with activities all around it, including beaches where there are lifeguards in the summer, plus play areas, benches, etc. And the route along the lake has two paths — one for pedestrians and one for cyclists.

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There are also a few places to rent boats and kayaks, though they are in the process of closing for the season. There was a place where people were eating outside of a little lakeside diner, and there was a little market (seasonal, I believe) where I was able to buy a bottle of water.

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Okay, last picture. Another thing people like to do is string up hammocks between trees. I would think it would be a little hot in there on a day like that!

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Thanks for taking a walk with me around Bde Maka Ska! Until next time….

Photo credits: All of the photos in this post were taken by me and belong to me, unless otherwise noted.

My bio: I am a fiction writer and photographer based in Minnesota. I have had a lifelong love of fiction writing. I am earned my MFA in writing from the University of New Hampshire. My short stories go de have appeared in a range of literary journals and anthologies, and my first short story collection, Somewhere in Minnesota is available on Amazon US as well as international Amazon sites., Barnes & Noble or from the publisher.