Let’s Take a “Long” Hike: Around Geneva Lake (22 miles)

Let’s Take a “Long” Hike: Around Geneva Lake (22 miles)

Date: April 28th
Time: 8:00 am
Meeting Place: Library Park, 900 block of Main Street (Hwy. 50), Lake Geneva, WI

I'll post this early so people have time to get in shape for this. This one of the group's favorite hike that we did last year. As requested, some of us will be camping at Big Foot Beach State Park (http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/parks/specific/bigfoot/) in Lake Geneva on Friday and Saturday Nights. Big Foot Beach State Park is 2 miles outside of Lake Geneva along Geneva Lake.

To RSVP for camping go to: https://www.meetup.com/ChicagoCampers/events/53230842/

Description:

Sometimes a concrete sidewalk, sometimes limestone, sometimes just dirt and grass, the 22-mile Geneva Lake walking path offers vistas of century-old mansions along the shoreline of one of the great blue lakes of the world.

While the Geneva Lake walking path has been compared to the Cliff Walk in Newport, Rhode Island, it's best to forget the comparisons and enjoy it simply for what it is: a remarkable opportunity for the public to have up-close access to a stunning lake of great natural beauty and some of the most lovely mansions of the Midwest.

Created by Native Americans, the path can be walked in its entirety in a day. For us mere mortals, though, circumnavigating Geneva Lake will take 10 to 12 hours, and it's not just a walk in the park, but a hike that's filled with ups and downs and varied terrain. (Note: The North Side of the lake is more populated, while the South Side is less developed and offers access to Big Foot Beach State Park).

This is a 22-mile hike. Lake Geneva is about an 1 1/2 hour drive from Chicago. I am hoping to hike it in 8-10 hours. If you are interested in staying over the weekend, there is camping in Big Foot Beach State Park along the lake. This time of year, reservations are not accepted.

Don't forget comfortable shoes and plenty of water. This is a long hike. If you want to do a shorter hike, you can turn around anytime you like. We will be hiking along the South side first.
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On a mansion-lined footpath, walking is a spectator sport. http://www.midwestweekends.com/plan_a_trip/outdoors_recreations/lake_towns/walking_lake_geneva.html

There are thousands of lakes in the north woods, but the most famous one is a stone's throw from Illinois. Walking-path surfaces range from brick to paving stones to grass.
Lake Geneva has been the favorite retreat of Chicago folks for 150 years, and everybody who was anybody had a place there: the Wrigleys, Maytags and Schwinns, but also cartoonists, actors, brewers and bottle-cap makers.

Geneva will seem citified to people who vacation on woodland lakes. There's a good reason to go there, though: It's entertaining to gawk at extreme wealth, and there's no better place to do it than Lake Geneva.

The rich built fabulous estates along the 20 miles of shoreline — French chateaus, Tudor lodges, turreted Queen Annes and one Buddhist temple, formerly the Ceylon pavilion at the 1893 World's Fair. Many are gone, but many remain, alongside newer homes that are bigger and more resplendent than the originals.

Miraculously, tourists can see the mansions up close from a footpath used by the Potawatomi and honored by early lakefront landowners. Today, the rich and poor alike have the right of way on a 2-foot strip around the lake, and they can ogle all they like.

I hope to see you there,

Kevin