BIG FOOT BEACH STATE PARK
This 271-acre park on the shore of Geneva Lake Location offers wooded campsites, a sand beach, 6.5 miles of hiking trails, and picnic areas.
A Wisconsin State Park System vehicle admission sticker is required on all motor vehicles stopping in state parks, forests and recreation areas, please visit the
VEHICLE ADMISSION STICKERS web page.
Day-UseFishingyes
Hiking Trailyes
CampingPrimitiveyes
Electric Sitesyes
Campsites in the upper loop have a gravel pad, fire ring and picnic table. Fourteen of the sites have electrical pedestals for recreational vehicles. There are no water hookups. There is a dump station near the contact station. Campers can easily pull in and out to utilize this station. Tent sites in the lower loop are a short walk from your vehicle (30-100 feet). Each has a fire ring and picnic table.
Big Foot Beach State Park has 100 campsites. The campground has showers near site 98, and vault toilets in several locations.
Lake Geneva is known for its clear, clean water. Big Foot Beach has a 100-foot marked swimming area. No lifeguards are on duty.
Canoeing and Kayaking opportunities are available in Ceylon Lagoon and Lake Geneva. Seasonal rentals area available.
There is no boat launch in the park. Two public launches are available just south of the park, in downtown Lake Geneva and in Linn Township. The park's northern shoreline is a good spot to anchor and recreate for the day.
Fishing is available at Ceylon Lagoon. An accessible fishing pier is a short-distance from the disabled parking area. Fishing equipment is loaned free of charge at the office. A fishing license is required of anyone age 16 and over.
Big Foot Beach State Park is located near Burlington, Delavan and Elkhorn
Big Foot Beach State Park offers 40 acres of picnic area with about 250 tables and a limited number of charcoal grills. Playground equipment, volleyball courts, and horseshoe pits are available. Horseshoes and volleyballs are loaned free of charge at the office. Pets are not allowed in the general picnic areas. If you wish to picnic with your pet, please ask at the entrance station for the designated area.
The park has 6.5 miles of hiking trails through forest and open meadow. Most of the trails are relatively short and none are very strenuous.
Blue trail - The 0.9-blue trail takes visitors along a natural soil surface path through the park's western end. Mixed hardwoods open into a small grassland that contains ?horse tail? equiseteum, which is unique in the park. The blue trail is generally level, but does have one area that would be rated moderate for its incline.
Hiking Orange trail - The 0.8-mile orange trail is found in the park's east end along the service road. The surface is mowed grass and winds through a mixture of pines planted by park staff in the 1980s and recently restored prairie. Level terrain, easy walking for visitors.
Hiking Purple trail - The 0.6-mile purple trail is located in the park's northeast section. The trail is mowed grass or natural soil surface and circles through an area of pine tree?s planted by park staff in the 1980s. Level terrain, with one small incline rated as moderate.
Hiking Red trail - The 0.5-mile red trail is located near the middle of the park. It travels through mixed hardwoods along a grass covered surface. Level terrain, with one small incline rated as moderate.
Green trail - The 2.9-mile green trail is the park?s longest trail. It follows along the parks perimeter for most of its length, taking visitors through the parks diverse landscapes. Gentle to rolling terrain, easy walking for most visitors.
Hiking Black trail - The 1.6-mile black trail has a mowed grass surface with a few areas that are bare earth. Hikers will enjoy themselves as the trail travels along our southern border past a recently restored prairie, and then though a patch of conifers planted by park staff in the early 1980s. Gentle to rolling terrain, easy walking for most visitors.
Hiking Yellow trail - The 1.2-mile yellow trail travels along a mixed surface of natural soils and mowed grass in the western half of the property. Visitors following this trail enjoy the park's mixed hardwood landscape and the woodland birds and animals who call it home. Level terrain, easy walking for most visitors.
When winter conditions permit, park staff set a track for traditional cross-country skiing on the trails that traverse the east end of the park. Pets are not allowed on groomed ski trails. Winter Hiking and snowshoeing are allowed anywhere in the park.
Hotels/Motels
You will feel right at home when you reach Carroll County, our corner of beautiful Northwest Illinois. The magnificent Mississippi River and outdoor spaces will refresh your spirit and touch our soul.
93.5 miles from park*
Hotels/Motels
Relax in the rustic beauty and comfort of Starved Rock Lodge, Cabins and Starved Rock Inn. The historic Lodge has 69 guest rooms, which include three bay-window rooms, plus cabins nestled in the woods. Fireplaces can be found in four of the eight sunset cabins near the pool area...
91.4 miles from park*
The park entrance is at 1550 S. Lake Shore Drive, 1 mile south of the city of Lake Geneva.