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WALKING IN HISTORY’S FOOTSTEPS
It’s a great time to enjoy the lake path. Geneva Lake was formed some 10,000 years ago because of glacial action. Geneva Lake took its present shape with the “Late Wisconsin” glacial period, when the sedimentary deposits of the “Delavan Lobe” divided Geneva and Delavan. Second sedimentary deposits separated Geneva and Como. Geneva Lake spreads across 5,400 acres of spring-fed water.
The Potawatomi people called it Kishwauketoe, meaning “clear water,” and it lives up to the name. The lake bottom is about 95 percent sand, so the water stays clear enough to be seen deep below the surface. It stretches 7.6 miles long and 2.1 miles wide, dropping to a maximum depth of about 135 feet, making it the second deepest spring-fed lake in the state. Chief Big Foot, also known as Maungeezik, led the local band and traveled a lakeshore trail connecting villages at present-day Fontana, Williams Bay, and Lake Geneva.
Following the extension of the railroad in 1871, the area saw a massive influx of wealthy Chicago families who sought refuge after the Great Chicago Fire. They built opulent summer estates along the water, earning Lake Geneva the nickname “The Newport of the West”. A 21-mile path circles the entire lake, and you can walk every inch of it. The Potawatomi created it as a trail between their lakeside villages, and early settlers made a rule that the 20 feet closest to the shoreline would stay public. That rule still holds today.
It is the best way to get a closer look at all the marvelous mansions that line the lakefront. You cross the front lawns of private lakefront estates, and each homeowner keeps their section maintained for you. The terrain shifts from grass and dirt to brick and concrete. More than 100 historic homes still line the lakeshore. The Wrigley family once owned six properties here, claiming more lakefrontage than anyone else on Geneva Lake. You can see them all from the Shore Path, everything from Victorian originals to modern estates. After the Chicago Fire, families like the Wrigleys, Schwinn’s, and Maytag’s put up lavish summer retreats along the water.
One of the most popular traditions since 1916 is that homes along Geneva Lake have gotten their summer mail by boat, the only marine mail delivery of its kind in the country. Each jumper makes 45 to 60 leaps per route, and yes, they sometimes miss and end up in the lake. The tradition runs mid-June through mid-September, and you can ride along the mailboat to watch the whole thing. The complete 21-mile loop takes about 8 to 10 hours to walk in its entirety, though many visitors choose to tackle shorter, targeted segments. Bikes and motorized vehicles are strictly prohibited. Leashed dogs are welcome, but you must clean up after them.
Begin near the Lake Geneva Public Library or The Riviera for paved, accessible paths suitable for short 1- to 2-mile strolls. Access via Edgewater Park, offering restrooms, picnic areas, and great vantage points. Access via Reid Park on the west end of the lake, featuring beach access and parking. Big Foot Beach State Park, located on the east end, is a great spot to jump on the trail, though it requires a state park fee.
