Dust off those paddles and grease up your bike chains, its finally time to enjoy the great outdoors! Luckily, Walworth County is packed with great biking trails and kayaking spots where you can not only be active but spend some time in the fresh air. Read on to learn about some of our favorite spots to explore Walworth County by land or water:
Pedal
Adventure Center at Grand Geneva Resort
Spend an afternoon in the great outdoors at the Adventure Center Grand Geneva. With trail distances ranging from .5 to 5 miles, these trails are perfect for every level of cyclist.
Trail Distance: .5 – 5 miles
Alpine Valley Mountain Bike Trail
Even the most seasoned cyclists will be challenged by the Mountain Bike Trail at Alpine Valley Resort! From the start, the trail is an ascending, leg-burning climb in the trees up the side of the ski hill. After you go around the excavation pit, miles of twists, turns, punchy climbs, and fast descents await.
Trail Distance: 8.1 miles
Big Foot Beach State Park
Featuring six gentle trails, Big Foot Beach State Park offers a variety of scenery through open meadow, forest, and stream. State Park Vehicle Admission Sticker or Trail Pass required.
Trail Distance: .5 – 6.5 miles
Fontana-Sharon Cycling Loop
Starting off in Sharon, explore Walworth County by bike along the Fontana Cycling Loop. This 23.3 mile stretch of highway riding will take you past country farms and the glimmering lake shore.
Trail Distance: 23.3 miles
Bike Trails at Lake Geneva Ziplines & Adventures
Pick up the pace on miles mountain biking of trails offering beginner, intermediate and expert levels. The trails wind through the forest and feature obstacles on the intermediate and expert level routes include ladder bridges, jumps and switchbacks that make it a regional favorite.
Trail Distance: .9 – 3.25 miles
Swan Creek Trail
This graveled pedestrian and bike path current connects Lange Arboretum, Veteran’s Park, Terrace Park, Rudy Lange Sledding Hill, Lower Springs Park and Upper Springs Park.
Trail Distance: 1 mile
Kettle Moraine State Forrest – Southern Unit
From the youngest beginner to the most avid professional, 30 miles of trail offers some of the best off-road biking in the Midwest. State Park Trail Pass required.
Trail Distance: .4 miles – 12 miles
White River State Trail
This 19-mile trail follows a former rail corridor as it travels between Elkhorn in Walworth County and Dover in Racine County, with a short gap in Burlington. The level grade and smooth limestone surface make this 19-mile trail suitable for bicyclists, walkers and joggers. State Park Trail Pass required.
Trail Distance: 19 miles
Paddle
Big Foot Beach State Park
With direct access to the crystal clear waters of Geneva Lake, Big Foot Beach State Park is a very popular paddling spot. Visitors can also paddle the Ceylon Lagoon within the State Park boundaries. Visitors must have State Park Admission Pass.
Booth Lake – East Troy
Spend a day on the water at Booth Lake in East Troy. Situated just a few minutes off of Highway 43, you’ll find a kayker’s oasis on this secluded lake.
Edgewater Park – Williams Bay
Nothing beats paddling the shores of the Bay! With kayak and canoe launches located in Edgewater Park, lake access is a breeze. While you’re out on the water, enjoy the scenic shoreline featuring iconic Walworth County institutions including the Yerkes Observatory and George Williams College!
Honey Creek Streambank Protection Area
Just south of East Troy, Honey Creek Streambank Protection Area runs through northeastern Walworth County.
Lake Comus – Delavan
Lake Comus is a hidden gem for kayakers and canoers alike! This 114 acre lake, on Delavan’s North Side, is a popular place for fishing and floating.
Turtle Creek Wildlife Area
If you’re a fan of rare wildlife and gently rolling creeks, Turtle Creek Wildlife Area is a great spot for paddling. Here you’ll paddle under covered bridges, through Wisconsin farmland, and historic forrests.
White River
Meandering, twisty, narrow, fast, rocky, and remote; these are commonly used words when describing the float down the White River. Running between Elkhorn and Burlington, This is a fantastic stretch of waterway is perfect for whitewater enthusiasts. Most of the final seven miles are nearly continuous riffles, class 1 and class 2 rapids.
Whitewater Lake
The hidden gem of Walworth County, Whitewater Lake offers kayakers the opportunity to paddle into the great Wisconsin Wilderness. Whitewater Lake is part of the Kettle Moraine State Forest Southern Unit
For more information on Sports and Recreation areas in Walworth County, head over
to our website at VisitWalworthCounty.com. Happy exploring!
**State Trail Passes are available for purchase at the Travel Information Center in Delavan, Monday through Friday 8:30am-4:30pm.
