Raymer's Cove

It was such a nice place to visit! This was my first time visiting, and i really enjoyed the whole experience. When i got there at the beach, there was nobody around, so i was sitting in peaceful silence. But there are people who pass and stay on the beach, so it’s a social beach, but they come and go. Everyone is nice and won’t bother you for being on the beach. I wouldn’t recommend coming when it’s raining because the paths are really muddy. There was a bunch of little paths you can go on and explore, and overall it was enjoyable!

Great nature hike. Hidden away gem right in the middle of Madison. Small parking lot but we still found a spot. We hiked late afternoon and finished at dusk late fall so we didn’t have to worry about mosquitoes as other reviews mentioned. Beautiful lake views. A little bit of rough ground and stairs to climb, keep that in mind if you’re going with small children or need handicap accessible hike. For our family it t was perfect though.

There is only space for 5 or 6 cars to park at this spot, but we got there before 10 a.m. and found one. We hiked from Raymer's Cove to Picnic Point and back for a total of 5 km. The trail is a little uneven with lots of roots in the first third. Then it turns sandy when it is right next to the water and eventually is hard-packed fine gravel on the peninsula to the point. Wonderful views throughout, and not too busy even on a holiday weekend.

Beautiful spot. Hidden gem close to picnic point. Lots of hiking and trails right by lake Mendota in the forrest. We had a really nice view of the lake during the hike the whole way. Highly recommend, especially if you live close to campus! I went around 6:45 in the morning and there were only a couple runners but very quiet and not many people which was very nice. Parking area was small, only 5-6 cars can fit. Luckily no one else was there parked so wasn’t hard to find a spot.

Definitely a hidden gem near campus. So many trails following the water, some with entrances down to the lake. I hiked a good two miles and barely touched the many places to go over here. It's beautiful and quiet even though the city is bustling just beyond the tree line. I'd recommend this place to hike if you're a beginner, don't want to drive super far, want to take in the outdoors, and spot some fun birds.