PRIESTS BAY
Location Highlights:
Priests Bay is just between Cooks Bay and Halstead Bay on the western side of Upper Lake Minnetonka. Homes on the bay are located in Mound and Minnetrista in the Mound Westonka School District. The bay was named after the farmer, J.D. Priest, who had a farm near this area in the late 1800s. Notable real estate on Priests Bay is Hardscrabble Point, known for its beautiful and expensive lakeshore homes. The residents of Hardscrabble Point reside on the bay’s south end.
Water Quality:
The maximum water depth in Priests Bay is 46 feet below the surface and has a C rating water quality by the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District. Meaning the bay is desirable for swimming and boating later in the season.
Boating Restrictions:
None
Lake Access:
There are no boat launches or marinas on Priests Bay, but there is a boat launch in the neighboring Cooks Bay. Cooks Bay is home to the Surfside Boat Launch, which allows boaters to effortlessly ease boats and jetskis in and out of Lake Minnetonka. The launch offers a free on-site parking lot; boaters can utilize on-street parking along Bartlett Boulevard once that is full.
Amenities:
With just over two miles of shoreline, Priests Bay is a high-traffic area on the lake, but it remains a popular fishing destination. Various fish, including Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, and Bluegill, are caught in the bay. The shoreline of Priests Bay is mainly residential, but nearby in Cooks Bay, and boaters have access to the public docks at Surfside Beach, which offers amenities like a playground, picnic tables, and barbeque grills. If you’re looking for a bite to eat around Priests Bay, Al & Almas Supper Club is just across the bay, with boat slips and dock-side takeout available to customers.
Source MN DNR®
Source Minnehaha Watershed District®
Priests Bay
SEARCH BY BAY
Location Highlights:
Priests Bay is just between Cooks Bay and Halstead Bay on the western side of Upper Lake Minnetonka. Homes on the bay are located in Mound and Minnetrista in the Mound Westonka School District. The bay was named after the farmer, J.D. Priest, who had a farm near this area in the late 1800s. Notable real estate on Priests Bay is Hardscrabble Point, known for its beautiful and expensive lakeshore homes. The residents of Hardscrabble Point reside on the bay’s south end.
Water Quality:
The maximum water depth in Priests Bay is 46 feet below the surface and has a C rating water quality by the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District. Meaning the bay is desirable for swimming and boating later in the season.
Boating Restrictions:
None
Lake Access:
There are no boat launches or marinas on Priests Bay, but there is a boat launch in the neighboring Cooks Bay. Cooks Bay is home to the Surfside Boat Launch, which allows boaters to effortlessly ease boats and jetskis in and out of Lake Minnetonka. The launch offers a free on-site parking lot; boaters can utilize on-street parking along Bartlett Boulevard once that is full.
Amenities:
With just over two miles of shoreline, Priests Bay is a high-traffic area on the lake, but it remains a popular fishing destination. Various fish, including Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, and Bluegill, are caught in the bay. The shoreline of Priests Bay is mainly residential, but nearby in Cooks Bay, and boaters have access to the public docks at Surfside Beach, which offers amenities like a playground, picnic tables, and barbeque grills. If you’re looking for a bite to eat around Priests Bay, Al & Almas Supper Club is just across the bay, with boat slips and dock-side takeout available to customers.
Source MN DNR®
Source Minnehaha Watershed District®
