A neighbor's guide to Twin Cities lake living
Twin Cities East Metro
Your Guide to Twin Cities Lake Living
Melissa A Johnson is a Realtor with Pemberton Realty, licensed in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and she serves home buyers and sellers across Mahtomedi, White Bear Lake, and the surrounding Twin Cities lake communities. She also writes Twin Cities East Metro as a neighborly community guide to lake living in the east metro, from Mahtomedi and White Bear Lake to Stillwater, the St. Croix Valley, and the lake communities in between. The site covers lake guides, neighborhood profiles, seasonal notes, local events, and the resident-level information that is genuinely hard to find anywhere else.
11,842+
Lakes in Minnesota
~2,400
Acres of White Bear Lake
9
Communities Profiled
This Week
Things to Do Around the Lakes
Fresh ideas for getting out and enjoying lake country this week.
Courthouse by Candlelight
Family-friendly candlelit Halloween tours of the 1867 courthouse, 7-9 PM, $10 per person with registration required.
Flashlight Pumpkin Hunt
A free Halloween twist on the classic pumpkin hunt for kids 10 and under, run after dark, 7-8:30 PM. Books up fast.
Halloween Candy Crawl
Free trick-or-treating at participating downtown businesses, 10 AM-1 PM, costumes encouraged.
Scare in White Bear Halloween 5K
A torch-lit, costumed 5K along Lake Avenue with trick-or-treating and a photo booth, 6-8 PM.
Wild Wanderers: Costume Hike
A free, family-friendly Halloween hike through the woods, 5-7 PM, presented by Wild Rivers Conservancy with Eventbrite registration.
Trick or Treating on Main Street
50+ downtown businesses hand out treats to costumed kids, 11 AM-2 PM, the last Sunday of October tradition.
Afton Apple Orchard Fall Days
Pick-your-own apples, the 15-acre corn maze, hayrides, and the petting farm continue daily 10 AM-6 PM through Halloween, no festival admission needed.
Stillwater Farmers Market: Final Saturday
The area's largest farmers market closes its 2026 season this Saturday, 7:30 AM-noon. Stock up on apples, squash, and honey.
Boating & Sailing
Public launches on White Bear Lake, Forest Lake, and the St. Croix River stay open until freeze-up, and the water has never been quieter. The River Boats wrapped their season October 18, and the DNR's low-water warning means some shallow ramps are still trickier this year, so scout the launch first.
Lake access guideFishing
Walleye, bass, and panfish are biting. Early morning and evening are best this time of year.
White Bear Lake fishingApple Orchards & Harvest
The final week of pick-your-own is here: Pine Tree's corn maze and pumpkin patch both close October 25, and Aamodt's in Stillwater and Afton Apple stay open daily through Halloween. Grab the last of the season.
Harvest eventsFall Colors & Park Walks
The metro's peak window landed in mid-October per the DNR's forecast, and the show is settling into late-season amber. The oak bluffs along the St. Croix and the park reserves still hold good color into the month's end.
Fall color guideThe Towns
What's It Like to Live Here?
The resident's answer to the question everyone asks first: what is it really like to live in a Twin Cities lake community? Start with the big-picture guide, then meet the towns.
The Big Guide
Living in Twin Cities Lake Communities
At a glance: Mahtomedi, White Bear Lake, and Grant compared, from lakes and schools to commutes and costs.
Community Guide
Mahtomedi
The classic lake town: Long Lake at its heart, a beach on White Bear Lake, and ISD 832 schools.
Community Guide
Grant
Rural acreage, horses, and quiet township roads between Mahtomedi and Stillwater.
Community Guide
Stillwater
Historic river town on the St. Croix: walkable downtown, bluffs, and waterfront dining.
Community Guide
Hudson, WI
River town across the St. Croix: historic downtown, bluff-top views, and St. Paul half an hour away.
Community Guide
White Bear Lake
A 2,428-acre lake with a walkable downtown, sailing culture, and a year-round social scene.
Community Guide
Lake Elmo
Open spaces, hobby farms, and a growing foodie scene. Space to breathe with a metro commute.
Community Guide
Forest Lake
A 2,271-acre lake, well-regarded schools, and genuine small-town character.
Stories
Latest Local Stories
Events, seasonal guides, and the little moments that make lake life worth living.
September 14, 2026
Fall 2026 on the Lakes: A Neighbor's Week-by-Week Guide
Corn mazes, pumpkin patches, fall festivals, and the DNR's color forecast: the neighborly rundown of autumn in the Twin Cities lake communities.
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August 31, 2026
What's Hiding Under the Paddle Board? The Late-Summer Life of Frogs
Late August finds frogs around Minnesota lakes doing something perfectly sensible: looking for shade. Sometimes, that shade is underneath your paddle board.
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July 31, 2026
St. Croix Valley Boat Club: A Community Hub for Boating Enthusiasts
A community-driven boating hub on the St. Croix River that brings together sailors, powerboaters, and everyone who loves time on the water.
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July 20, 2026
Lake Weed & Vegetation Removal in Minnesota Lakes: A Homeowner's Guide
A practical guide for lakefront homeowners dealing with aquatic vegetation. What's legal, what works, and when to call a pro.
Read moreExplore
Where Are the Best Lake Communities in Minnesota?
Every lake and town around here has its own personality. Whether you are drawn to a bustling downtown or a quiet wooded lot on the water, here is what makes each one worth knowing.
Community
Mahtomedi
The quintessential lake town. Great schools, tight community, and Long Lake at its heart.
Community
White Bear Lake
Walkable downtown, 2,400-acre lake, and a year-round social scene.
Community
Forest Lake
Family-friendly, multiple lakes, great schools, and genuine small-town character.
Community
Stillwater
Historic river town on the St. Croix with shops, restaurants, and bluff-top views.
Community
Lake Elmo
Open spaces, hobby farms, and a growing foodie scene. Space to breathe.
Lake Guide
Square Lake
Exceptional water clarity. One of the clearest lakes in the metro area.
Community
Dellwood
Quiet, wooded lots with a rural feel, minutes from White Bear Lake.
Lake Guide
Big Marine Lake
Popular recreation lake near Marine on St. Croix, known for good fishing and a quieter pace.
Lake Guide
Bald Eagle Lake
Excellent fishing, relaxed atmosphere, and less crowded than the big lakes.
How Far Are These Lakes from Minneapolis and St. Paul?
Closer than most people expect. White Bear Lake is about 14 straight-line miles from downtown Minneapolis (roughly 18 by road, about 25 minutes) and about 10 miles from downtown St. Paul (roughly 13 by road, 15 to 20 minutes). Stillwater sits about 20 miles up the St. Croix from downtown St. Paul, a 30 to 35 minute drive. Mahtomedi anchors the east shore of White Bear Lake, so its commutes run close to White Bear's own. Put together, these numbers matter: people live on a lake here and still get to a Twins game or a downtown theater in half an hour.
The St. Croix River runs 169 miles from its northern headwaters to the Mississippi, and its lower 125 miles form the Minnesota and Wisconsin border. That is why river towns like Stillwater, Hudson, and Marine on St. Croix all sit within an easy drive of the metro while still feeling like the North Country.
From the Editor
A Few Words from Long Lake
"What makes lake life work is not the water by itself, it is everything on shore: the town beaches, the festivals, the seasons, and neighbors who show up for each other. That is the whole case for this corner of the metro, and it never gets old."
Melissa A Johnson, Minnesota & Wisconsin Realtor
Melissa writes Twin Cities East Metro out of her experience across the east metro. Her real estate practice is at missyjorealestate.com.
Resources
Useful Local Resources
Municipal programs, lake management, boating rules, and other practical information. Explained clearly, without the government jargon.
Mahtomedi Sewer Service Line Repair Grant
The City of Mahtomedi reimburses homeowners up to 50% of the cost of repairing, relining, or replacing a private sanitary sewer service line, up to $5,000. Work must be approved in advance and completed by the end of 2026.
Learn more 02White Bear Lake Water Level & Restoration
After years of declining water levels, the community-led restoration effort has made real progress. Water levels have recovered, and the lake's ecosystem is healthier than it has been in decades.
Learn more 03Washington County Parks & Lake Access
Washington County manages several public boat launches, swimming beaches, and park reserves around the lakes. Seasonal permits and daily passes available.
Learn more 04Mahtomedi Area Farmers Market
Saturdays, 8 AM-noon at Veterans Memorial Park. Local produce, baked goods, and handmade items. The 2026 season wrapped up September 26; watch for the market's return next June.
Learn more 05Minnesota DNR Lake Finder
The official DNR tool for water quality data, fish surveys, lake depth maps, and public access information for every lake in the state.
Learn more 06Minnesota Boating Regulations
What you need to know about life jackets, speed limits, invasive species prevention, and alcohol laws on Minnesota waters.
Learn more