UW-Madison Lakeshore Nature Preserve

Beautiful 2 mile hike to and from picnic point. A bit over grown in some places but still worth the hike. You can see the city of Madison from the trail.

Fantastic spot to bird watch. The trail leading up to the picnic point is fantastic with lots of different types of wildlife. Along the trail are multiple areas with access to the lake that offer unique opportunities to explore the area further. I was able to observe 22 species when I visited in May at a time not even optimal for bird watching (early afternoon)!

My Monday night class met up here yesterday. We had to write a paper and the walk was so relaxing! This was my first time here. The view was gorgeous! They had a nice spot where you could sit and take in the view.

There are so many features to the preserve besides the Lakeshore Path between the dorms and Memorial Union. Between the dorms and Bakke Recreation Center, there's a Native American Effigy Mound and a ring of the Ho-Chunk Clans. There's also walking past both the UW Marching Band practice field in August before fall classes start to watch prospective band members try out and the Porter Boathouse where the Crews train, Picnic Point, firepits, Grennie's tombstone, Big Oak Trail, an outdoor archeology pit laboratory, an outdoor wood-fired ceramics kiln, Biocore prairie and so much more that it's hard to imagine ever getting tired of the trails.

Great walking and jogging paths with lots of fire pits and picnic spaces. Beautiful wildflower fields and lake views. Great place to see a sunset. Paid parking during work hours. About 1.9 miles round trip unless you take one of spurs.