Review
Intro
As you’d expect from a park with the word “beach” in its title, the Big Foot Beach State Park in Lake Geneva Wisconsin is known for its activities in the summer than the winter. Located on the far-east side of Lake Geneva, the park is about a mile south of downtown and features that beach that draws lots of visitors in warm weather months. There’s also camping, boating, fishing and hiking. And as you’d also probably expect with Lake Geneva in the summer, you get lots of crowds.
What Makes It Great
Not so in the winter, where the six miles of groomed classic trails offer a different way to enjoy the park in a much more quiet and tranquil way.
While if you’re traveling from Chicago just for the cross-country skiing, it might make more sense to go to the nearby Kettle Moraine State Forest, which offers more trails and also grooms for skate skiing. But if you enjoy spending time in Lake Geneva, this trail system is close to downtown and offers a scenic and relatively flat alternative to the trail system at Kettle Moraine.
Lake Geneva also has additional groomed trails at the Grand Geneva Resort, which has about eight miles of trails accessible with a trail pass that’s $8/day. And of course there’s downhill skiing at the Grand Geneva Resort as well, if you’d like to get a bit of adrenaline rush as well.
But back to the Big Foot Beach State Park, you can choose from seven different trails to explore the 271-acre park. The park is also a good place for snowshoeing, and you also have restrooms in water available. The 2.9-mile green trail is the longest in the park. It’s a gently rolling path that follows the perimeter of the park, and a good trail for skiers of any ability. The 1.6-mile black trail is another with some easy rollers that’s good for beginners.
Who is Going to Love It
Recreational cross-country skiers and winter sports enthusiasts.
Directions, Parking, & Regulations
The park is located at 1550 S. Lake Shore Drive, Lake Geneva, WI.
The preserve is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. all year.
Parking is easy, but you’ll need to purchase a Wisconsin vehicle admission sticker, which is $10/day or $35 for the year.
