Geneva Lake Shore Path

Geneva Lake Shore Path

Geneva Lake Shore Path
4.5
About
This lovely 21-mile walking path, around Geneva Lake, takes pedestrians by impressive homes and quiet lakeside neighborhoods. A two-mile swath on the West End offers a manageable stroll, lovely views, and passes landmarks such as the Abbey Resort and Fontana Spa and popular local eateries like Chuck's.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles773 reviews
Excellent
573
Very good
167
Average
29
Poor
2
Terrible
2

Anita C
Waunakee7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Couples
My husband and I started at the George William campus at Williams Bay. In reading other reviews the south side of Geneva Lake is rugged with uneven surface and more steps up/down. We left at 7am and finished at 5:30pm with a lunch picnic and brief stops every 2 hours. We are 58 and 59 and took our dog on a lease. Taking the dog slowed us a bit, however our 15 month dog is full of energy and waded in the lake two times to cool off. I will repeat that the LG country club steers you to Woodland road or drive. The signage for the path is there, however, this half mile or so is NOT on the lakeshore, it is residential and you walk across a bridge and across a driveway. If we did it again, I would hug the lakeshore at this spot. Beautiful day, we used the only official open rest room facility in downtown LG. I downloaded the app from the LG visitor web-site. It was free. The estates and heavily wooded parts of the path were my favorite. We took backpacks with snacks and water. The trail has significant pedestrian traffic the mile before and after LG, Wear good walking shoes! Gnats were everywhere unless there was a breeze.
Written 22 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Taylor B
Chicago, IL8,439 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2021
The Geneva Lake Shore Path in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, is a 21-mile-long lakeside trail created by early settlers of the region that traces a path that was used by several Native American cultures from 2500 BC and continuing up to 1836 AD. The path meanders along the lakeshore, crossing front lawns of historic estates, marinas, beaches and public parks. The easiest place to being the walk is at the Lake Geneva Public Library in downtown Lake Geneva. The path continues at the west end of Library Park, past the public boat slips. The next stop is at Wychwood, a home that was built in 1901, was once used as a wildlife refuge but has been in the Wrigley family since 1960, when it became the summer home of William Wrigley. Next is Glanworth Gardens, or the Driehaus Estate, a massive Georgia Revival mansion built in 1906, one of the most expensive pieces of real estate in the United States. Glen Annie, built in 1892, is noted for the fact that the popular radio series "Amos 'n Andy" was taped here in the 1930s when Freeman "Amos" Gosden and his family summered at the estate. Built in 1894, Alpine Villa, which included 121 acres of land along the northern shore of Geneva Lake, is the current location of Cedar Point Park. Congress Club was established in 1892 by Chicago families looking for a summer retreat. Yerkes Observatory, built in 1897 and once the home of the world's largest refracting telescope, has been closed and sold for development. It was one of two places that Albert Einstein asked to see on his 1921 tour of America. The Echos, a magnificent Queen Anne-style mansion, was built in 1896. Black Point Estate, which was built in 1888 by beer baron Conrad Seipp and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994, is temporarily closed because of COVID. Fairlawn is a Colonial Revival mansion built in 1893 by Chicago industrialist Charles Wacker. Big Foot Beach State Park welcomes campers, swimmers, hikers and picnickers and features a lagoon that is a replica of Geneva Lake. Stone Manor, built in 1899, is the largest of the Gilded Age mansions that surround Geneva Lake. Unfortunately, it currently is privately owned and isn't open for public tours. Finally, Robinswood was built in 1889 and since 1951 has been owned by one family that has preserved the home's original interior details and furniture. Words of advice: Don't try to walk the entire circuit in one day. Instead, walk section by section over a period of two or three days. Enjoy the views. Picnic along the way.
Written 12 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Julie D
Saint Charles, IL26 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
Walking the lakeshore path around Lake Geneva is the best way to experience all of the scenery, beautiful homes, the lake, and gorgeous landscaping. It takes between 9 to 11 hours to hike the whole lake. Be sure to allow extra time if you stop to eat at any of the restaurants along the way. Also to note that bathrooms are limited. The path is different depending on how the individual owners want to create the path in front of their property. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes or hiking boots.

If you don't want to hike the whole lake, you may do sections of it. Please know that some areas have private roads, and you will need to access the path by public areas. Williams Bay is a good place to get on the path as there is free parking across from the beach area.
Written 2 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sana S
Roselle, IL4 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Family
The lake was very small/crowded, hard to find parking... too many people just sitting and staring at the lake. The beach area was very tiny, not sure why there's a hype about this area... there's nothing special here it's very far and very lame and boring ...most people who live here are old white people who are very boring and have nothing fun going on here. They don't have that many restaurants either and their bakeries closed too soon. The boat rides also were booked and closed for the day. The water was dirty and smelly
Written 30 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SkokieTraveler
Skokie, IL33 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022 • Solo
Prior to an all-day business meeting, I walked the Lake Shore Path near Linn for about 40 minutes (20 minutes out and 20 back). I saw only three other people, and two were working on the estates. The water lapping the shore was tranquil, the morning was sunny and the water, a deep blue. The path was clearly marked even as it varied from property to property. I only wished I had had more time! Another trip…
Written 29 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Steamboat50
Waukesha, WI101 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2020
Walking around the entire lake has been on my bucket list for quite some time. Last weekend my girlfriend and I decided to do the walk. It was a beautiful September day, about 70 degrees. We started and 8:45am and finished the walk at 4:30. I was a little nervous as I was hearing anything from 22-28 miles around the lake from different people. Well I am happy to say that it is exactly 21.4 miles. At least that is what I got on my watch. We did it in 7 1/2 hours but we only took two bathroom stops and I will say we walked at a decent pace. The furthest I had ever walked prior to this was nine miles so I was a bit leery that I could even finish this. I am happy to say that it was a very enjoyable walk. It is mainly all flat with a few house steps in between. You are walking right by the water the majority of the walk. At one stretch you went on the road for a very short time. The views are incredible and my friend talked the entire time so the time went by fairly quick. I was afraid to stop for lunch and relax a bit but now that I know what it is like, I would probably stop for a nice lunch next times. There are supposed to be five bathrooms around the lake and we only came across three and used two of them. Make sure to have a good pair of walking shoes on or hiking boots. A good pair of socks is a good idea as well. Dress according to the weather and bring a small backpack with granola bars, fruit and water. Then again if you stop for lunch, you probably would not need that. I enjoyed it so much I am doing it again this weekend. It is a great challenge and an accomplishment to be proud of.
Written 5 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

empt4
Erie, PA9 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2020
PLEASE respect fellow visitors & WEAR a face mask! I started walking this path early this morning and spent an hour on the trail, and NO ONE was wearing a mask! It's easy enough to carry a mask in your hand or pocket and briefly cover your face with it when you see someone approaching you on the trail, then you can remove it. In addition, the majority of the boat docks have been removed from the water in preparation for winter. They are being stored in the small green space between the edge of the lake shore and the path. This drastically decreases the width of path, in many sections only 2 feet wide, making it impossible to social distance. Under normal circumstances, this is beautiful path to walk, I just ask that people be respectful and curiosity of other's safety.
Written 7 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lydia B
37 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022 • Solo
Definitely a must do during your stay in Lake Geneva! It was magical - a light drizzle, cool breeze, crystal clear lake water and overcast skies made for perfect views.

The trail has an interesting history - used by multiple Native Americans cultures (including the Potawatomi tribe) and later, the workers who took care of the estates that built up on the Lake after the Chicago fires in 1871.

The 20 feet leading to the shoreline are preserved as public domain and home owners are responsible for their piece of the path.

The total trail is 26 miles, I did 7. Pick an entry point and explore! You really can’t go wrong.

Here’s a few photos from my evening stroll. Sure hope one day to come back and do the whole loop!
Written 14 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

xxthinkpink223xx
Chicago, IL16 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021 • Solo
People talked a lot about the path that goes behind the lake homes, but the part of the path I liked best was the main area near downtown. I walked about a mile down through the lake house properties, and yes the homes are gorgeous but part of me felt I was invading home owners' privacy, weirdly. Path is narrow and sometimes it right up to a house or backyard. Dogs are allowed on the path so I could see it being a fun adventure for the pups.
Written 17 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ttraveling
USA127 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
It's awesome to be able to walk right along the lake, passing right in front of some truly gorgeous homes. The full trip around would take most of a day, but there are several places to park and just walk as long as you want to go. Wear sturdy shoes, as the terrain changes and can be muddy, narrow, and uneven in spots, but there's not much elevation change so you don't need to be an avid hiker. Plenty of benches along the way if you want to stop and watch the boats on the water.
Written 3 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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GENEVA LAKE SHORE PATH (2025) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) - Tripadvisor

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