Loved gawking here I actually had the best gawk of my life on this walk, talk, and gawk trail. Hope to bring my family out here to gawk with me one day!! read more

This was right up our alley. You have the opportunity to walk the shoreline on this unique path. Each home has their own spin on the path and some embrace while others pretend it isn't there. Wear comfortable shoes, even better if they are waterproof - our Vessi's were perfect! Terrain is anywhere from easy to mild and potentially mud ridden like ours was today. Beautiful and fun! read more

See all

This is a great perk to visiting Lake Geneva! It's a 21-mile path around the lake & we walked about 10 miles of it over 4 days. You get wonderful views of the lake & those lovely homes along the lake. A few things to know to prepare yourself: -Bring bug spray -Use the restroom beforehand because there won't be a place to go unless you walk a VERY long distance to get to the next public beach area with restrooms (and I do mean a VERY long distance). -We were told the residents with lakefront property are to maintain a 3-foot path of some sort, but sometimes it's only like a foot or wide or so and it can be quite uneven and filled with tree roots, so this is not a path for someone who has difficulty walking. Also, they don't have to keep a paved path, just a path, so in some areas it's simply grass and/or dirt (mud, if it's rained recently). -There are next to NO benches available either so keep that in mind & wear comfortable walking shoes. read more

Wow!!! What a fantastic experience it was to walk the shoreline path of Lake Geneva from Williams Bay to the Riviera Marina. Spectacular views of manicured landscapes, uplifting beauty of nature doubled with an architectural paradise!! My Husband I were in town for a three day weekend to attend to an Engagement Party. It was our first time visiting in Lake Geneva and besides spending time with family we were looking forward to the highly recommended full lake Boat Tour, which did not disappoint. Our Tour Guide was excellent and his presentation was colorful, informative with the histories of each magnificent mansion, private marinas, and never-the-less we heard about the 22 Miles long Lakeshore Path. We waited until the rain stopped on Sunday Morning and around 9A drove to Williams Bay, our starting point, having made arrangements with our Hotel Concierge to be picked up later at the Riviera Marina. Our walk was amazing as sunshine was breaking through between the trees... took beautiful pictures along the way. We had drinks and some snacks with us and from time to time we took mini breaks just to admire the scenery. It took less than 3 hours to complete the 7.1 Mile path and we were back at the Hotel way before our extended time for check out. We cannot wait for our next visit back when we would like to walk the entire length around the lake!! Yes, all the 22 Miles! We highly recommend to anyone who enjoys walking and wanting a closer look at the Lake & the historic and beautiful mansions along the shore. read more

See all

OMG what a beautiful path to do in Lake Geneva -- if you live in the area, or if you are on vacation, I highly recommend walking on this path (you don't have to do the whole thing and if you do, you need some essentials) --bring water, snacks, band aids --take breaks, there are plenty of benches around so you can stretch and rub your feet if necessary --wear good shoes, socks, etc (and if its been wet lately, bring another pair of socks to change) --stop in Fontana for some grub --bring your camera (there are some GORGEOUS houses and just about any view of the lake is great) The only thing our group was kind of annoyed with is that there are not many mile markers on the walk, so you are constantly wondering how far you have walked or how much more you have left. I will say that the whole walk took us about 10 hours and we stopped for lunch. I am pretty fit, and was never out of breath, but my feet were SUPER sore at the end of the day and we were all hurting. I had to put on "Eye of the Tiger" to get us to the finish line ;) It is a great experience and really can't wait to do it again! read more

The Geneva Lake Shore Path is definitely something to do before you trip to Lake Geneva is over. We bought our Walk, Talk, and Gawk pamphlet at the Cornerstore in downtown Lake Geneva. The pamphlet is really great in separating the Path out into smaller hikes. They give great details like how many miles individual paths are (so you can plan accordingly and still have some gas left in your tank to get back to your car!), where you can park while hiking (and if there is a fee to park), if the terrain is more steep or even, and even what type of path the majority of the walking area has. For example, we chose a path that was mostly even, and had mostly man made paths, instead a of a more steep hike over just grass and mud. Our hike started in Williams Bay (free parking near the beach) and we headed out about 5 miles past the bay. A few tips before you begin your hike: 1. Definitely carry water. There aren't any bathrooms/water fountains along the way. 2. If you bring snacks, bring ones that are pretty easy to eat while walking. You can't really stop anywhere, as most of the path is through private backyards. 3. If you do need to rest, stop when you can. As mentioned above, the paths are just small easements through home owners' backyards on the lake. Some people really keep up the path on their property using concrete, pavers, or other easily walked terrain. Some people have nothing more than a path of dead grass and mud. There were some benches along the way that people put out for hikers to use, so we stopped there when necessary. We went early, before it got too hot. By the time we headed home, I was ready to jump in the lake because it was really warm. The paths are pet friendly, we brought our dog, but you will definitely need a leash. read more

Your annual update for the walking path. Has it lost its soul? It was a hot and buggy day the weekend we went. The bushes along the entry portion of the path are really getting tall. Eventually they will block the view of the lake and house in that area (could be intentional). The bell is still gone from the Miracle House. I'm guessing the original owner took it with her, but to the new owner who must have no soul...it's just a bell, but it's a fun feature that's missing. Maybe the neighbors got annoyed from the constant ringing? There was also a lot of people walking the path. There are people jogging (don't do it...the path is really uneven and you could trip), dog walkers, and people in bunches. My first walk of the year was hot and chaotic with kids who were just ready to go back to the car. We didn't walk the entire path this time, but almost all of it. Honestly, I just wasn't that into it. We'll come another time to explore on a cooler day...perhaps during the week when it's quieter. Regardless, the path is a must for anyone visiting Lake Geneva. You can still expect to see beautiful houses and catch a lake view here and there. Please watch your step and take note of others though, which can make it hard to just stop and take it all in. My advice for anyone. Go to the bathroom first, come prepared with water, bug spray, patience, and with kids who don't mind random bunches of gnats ;-) Final word: Will someone please purchase the property that has the cement block wall that's about to bust through to the other side? It needs care immediately. read more

There's almost no better way to see the beautiful houses on the lake than walking right in front of them. With a dedicated path along the entire shoreline this has to be one of the most unique experiences in the southeast Wisconsin region. Bring your water bottles, snacks and camera and enjoy the variety of house styles and luscious landscape. Beware though of how much you drink as there are no public restrooms along the route. You need to make it to a town with amenities so plan accordingly. Buy the walking path map at the local town shops or Gage Boats to get the specific maps of the different parts of the lake. It's worth a small investment to choose your route and be prepared. Remember it's 23 miles around the lake so do what you can and enjoy the memories. read more

Walk, Talk & Gawk - Sunset spectacular - Hiking Near Me - Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

See all

I am giving 5 stars to one of the activities in the Lake Geneva area: THE GENEVA LAKE SHORE PATH. My wife and I learned of this the first time we visited Lake Geneva. Now we just completed (in two days) the 21 mile circuit of Lake Geneva called The Geneva Lake Shore Path. Check out their web site: http://www.walktalkgawk.com/ The walk is interesting for a number of reasons: architecture, geography, history of the area (intertwined with the history of Chicago fat cats), sociology (saw a lot of Hispanic workers), geology, class differences, exercise, search for bathrooms, etc. read more

For me, the path is pretty much THE Reason to come to Lake Geneva. The path snakes the entire length of Lake Geneva - I want to say for something like 22 miles or something around it. We usually only do two to six miles at a time though. The path is narrow, well marked and unbelievably meanders through peoples back yards. Not sure how I would feel about that if I owned property there - a bunch of randoms wandering through my yard - but no one seems bothered by it as everyone stays on the path - I have never seen anyone stray from it. If your kid ever wondered "Hmmm...should I go to college?"....bring them here - a walk along the path in the shadow of some truly amazing properties, commercial grade wharfs and insane boats and water toys will solidify a bit of ambition in them. Everyone you meet along the path seems very nice, friendly and normal. I am not sure if most of the people are from Wisconsin or Illinois...probably a bit of both. There are two sections of the path that we generally walk. From LG Town, you can walk west along the northern shore....we generally walk until we hit what I call "The U-Boat Pens" (trust me, you will know them when you see them), though have gone a ways beyond that. In recent years, we have been hiking the south side of the lake, almost directly across the water from the U Boat Pens....both walks have their pro's and cons, but mostly just pros...hard to fault anything about lake Geneva - apart from the crazy rough water at the weekend if you happen to be on the water (we rented a speed boat once and it was awful - too rough)...we often will eat at Geneva Inn on the south side and then do the hike - it is a great day out on a nice spring or summer day. I have heard the lake is pretty lively in the winter as well, but have never been there for it - I imagine the path is totally snowed over. read more

Beautiful path along the lake with million-dollar views (houses and waterfront). Nice leg starts at Campbell St (just down from the Chamber of Commerce). Free street parking on Campbell. read more

Walk, Talk & Gawk - Hiking Near Me - Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

A great trail at the lake with many wonderful views to include older house and the lake.

Walked this bad boy over the long weekend & loved it. We started in Fontana where we were staying & it took us around 10 hours with a small lunch break before the golf course & an ice cream break @ Kilwins. I highly suggest this on cool days & to go stroller free (if you plan on doing the whole loop). The majority of the trail really has no trail, you go up hill, through forest & brush, and down slanty bridges. If you are elderly &/or have any trouble with body parts or have small kids I would suggest doing a more mild part of the trail about a mile out from LG in both directions. I also highly suggest to start this in the early morning & not at 11 am like we did! (We didnt finish until a very dark 9 pm). Night walking can be kind of dangerous especially so close to the water & in the foresty bits with a very uneven trail. DO NOT do alone. Bring a cell phone, water bottles, a backpack, an interesting companion, comfy shoes, flashlight & a band aids and you'll be set. Good luck! Definitely plan on coming up next weekend to do a shorter version of the trail to see some more fall colours. read more

Okay, I'm sure many of you know about the walking path around Lake Geneva. I didn't. The hubs had the day off today and suggested we take a ride up here to check it out. First off, the weather couldn't have been better. The path is so beautiful, lined with gorgeous flowers and manicured lawns. It's cool because the path is along the water and you're basically walking through people's yards. A lot of it is shady, but there are also sunny spots. I thought it would have been a good idea to bring our 3 year old grandson with us in a stroller, but some of the paths are pretty narrow. I think he and our 10 year old grandson would have loved seeing the big snapping turtles sunning themselves on logs and the ducklings that aren't afraid of humans. It was such a relaxing little walk, and fun to pick out which home I'd want to own (if we won the lottery)! Check it out one weekday, if you can. I have no idea how crazy it might be during a weekend! read more

i love the geneva lakeshore path! its a great way to exercise without even knowing it! you get to walk along the lake through peoples yards and see their houses and boats. make sure to wear comfy clothes and shoes, bring water and a small first aid kit in case you trip because there are parts of the path that are slightly dangerous. it's a great experience you must try if you're in the area! read more