UW-Madison Lakeshore Nature Preserve — Attraction in Madison

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...

This is a beautiful path with a variety of landcapes - trees, lake/beach, prairie! Free parking in lot 130 in the evenings and weekends and paid parking during weekday work hours. If you go on a weekend be prepared for crowds on the weekends and likely a lot of college students talking loudly on their phones. The path to Picnic Point tends to be most popular and crowded. It's a much more serene walk toward Frautschi Point. There are fire pits available as well, so it's easy to...

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...