When I was living in Chicago one of my favorite things to do in the summers was take a quick day trip up to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. This city boasts a quaint downtown area filled with shops and restaurants, a lake, and a nearly 26-mile trail that will lead you right through the backyards of some impressively fancy houses. For a day trip, I would focus your time on the Lake Geneva Shore Path. If you are staying for a weekend, you could easily plan all the activities mentioned below.
The Lake Geneva Shore Path
For me, the pièce de résistance and most appealing reason to visit Lake Geneva is the Lake Shore Path. The path is nearly 26 miles and leads you along the shores of the lake through the backyards of stunning estates. If you like to gawk at fancy houses, the Lake Shore path is for you.
Many of the houses you will pass are historic summer homes built by wealthy Chicagoans after the 1871 Chicago Fire (think the Wrigley family). Many of these historic estates are massive but you will also see smaller, more modern houses. Each property is responsible for maintaining their own section of the public Shore Path and some property owners put their own special touch on their part of the path. It makes for a very unique hiking experience!
Planning your Lake Geneva Shore Path Hike
If you are like me, 26 miles is an ambitious amount of walking for a day trip, so I choose a certain section of the path to focus on each visit. Please note, since the walking path takes you through private property you can only enter and exit at certain points. I highly recommend downloading the “Visit Lake Geneva” app from your phone’s app store. Within the app, you can click on “Historic Shore Path Tour” and “Historic Shore Path Segments” to see entry and exit points and plan your route in advance. You can also click on the names of points of interest to learn more about the houses you are strolling past.
Any section of the Lake Shore Path is worth checking out, but my favorite is the stretch from Lake Geneva downtown to Williams Bay. If done all at once, this is about a 7.25-mile stretch. There is an exit point approximately halfway if you want to break your hike into shorter distances.
It’s important to wear good hiking shoes during your Lake Geneva Shore Path hike as the terrain can be uneven. It can be hot in the summer so bring water, a snack, and anything else you would normally bring on a hike in the woods. The Lake Shore path is dog friendly so feel free to bring your pooch on a leash.
Public parking is available in Lake Geneva, Williams Bay, Fontana, and Big Foot Beach State Park. Ubers are available in the area so if you exit the path a distance from your car, you can easily get a ride back to your starting point.
Other Activities
What if hiking along the Lake Shore Path isn’t for you? Fear not, there are other less strenuous activities in Lake Geneva. Here are a few ideas:
Go shopping: Downtown Lake Geneva is small and easily walkable. There are some cute shops to check out. You will mostly want to wander down Main St. or about 1 block off on any of the side streets (Wrigley St, Broad St, or Center St.)
Take a boat ride: Book any of the Lake Geneva Cruise Line tours to get out on the lake. They have a variety of options including Bay tours, cocktail cruises, or lunch/dinner cruises.
Enjoy the water: Enjoy Lake Geneva by spending the day at the beach, swimming in the lake, or renting some watercraft gear.
Getting here
Lake Geneva is an easy drive from several Midwest cities. It is approximately 1.5 hours from Chicago, IL an hour from Milwaukee WI, and 1.5 hours from Madison, WI.
When to visit
Lake Geneva can be visited any time of year. The Lake Shore path is open year-round, but may not be as accessible in the winter months due to snow. If you want to hike the Lake Shore path, I recommend planning your visit during Spring, Summer, or Fall. Make sure you plan your hike for daylight hours.
Whatever activities you choose, you are bound to spend a perfect summer day in Lake Geneva!