Eleven Gables Inn in downtown Lake Geneva

In Downtown Lake Geneva

Very dog friendly

Dogs are Cool!

Private pier at Eleven Gables Inn

Awesome pier

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Cheers!

Summer 2026 we strart booking in april.

We are located on the lake shore path

Want to go on a hike?

The Path Around the Lake: A Walk Through History
From the Innkeeper at Eleven Gables

There's something I love telling guests about Geneva Lake that almost always stops them mid-sip of their morning coffee: you can walk all the way around it.
Not just part of it. All of it. Every inch of the 22-mile shoreline is open to the public — and has been for longer than Wisconsin has been a state.
The path exists because of a treaty. When white settlers arrived in the early 1800s, the Potawatomi people who called this lake home negotiated the right to continue hunting and fishing along its shores. That promise was written into an easement that has never been extinguished. Today it runs continuously around the entire lake, threading between the water's edge and the properties of some of the most valuable real estate in the Midwest.
Which means on any given morning, you might find yourself walking a quiet dirt path — the same one worn smooth by generations of Potawatomi feet — with a ten-thousand-square-foot lakefront estate just a few yards to your left and open water to your right. It's an unusual feeling. A good one.
The path changes character as you go. Some sections have been improved by homeowners over the years, with handsome cobblestone or brick pavers and thoughtful landscaping. Others remain exactly as they've always been: a narrow earthen trail hugging the shoreline, roots and all. Those stretches, honestly, are my favorite. There's something grounding about walking a path that old.
The full 22 miles takes most people a full day, and it's worth planning accordingly — good shoes, water, and a willingness to linger. But the path is equally wonderful in shorter stretches. The section near our inn offers some of the loveliest views on the lake, particularly in the early morning when the water is still and the light comes low across the surface.
If you're a guest at Eleven Gables, ask us before you head out. We're happy to point you toward the best stretches for your pace and interests — whether you're looking for a short sunrise walk, a half-day exploration, or the full circumnavigation. Dogs are welcome on the path and, of course, welcome here.
Some places you visit, you see the sights. At Geneva Lake, you walk through the history. There's a difference, and it's worth your time.

Eleven Gables is a boutique inn on the shores of Geneva Lake in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. We welcome guests and their dogs year-round.

Lake shore path in fall
Historic Indian Trail marker on Lake Geneva
Lake shore path in fall
A home around Lake Geneva
Lake shore path by Stoned Manor.

Insider's Guide to Lake Geneva or how to book a room and not get ripped off

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From the Innkeeper

Lake Geneva Guide