Picnic Point Marsh Loop Hiking Guide
Picnic Point is the walk Madison takes when it doesn't have time to leave Madison. The UW Lakeshore Nature Preserve describes it as a nearly mile-long peninsula on the south shore of Lake Mendota, probably the most popular destination in the preserve. The marsh loop adds the wetlands at its base to the walk out to the tip, for about two flat miles of woods, water and open field.
Out to the Tip and Around the Marsh
Mapping apps list the Picnic Point Marsh Loop at about 2.1 miles with under 100 feet of gain; a straight out-and-back to the tip is about 2 miles. The main path down the peninsula is mostly gravel, with some dirt connecting trails. Back at the base, the loop swings past the marsh beside Lot 130 before returning. Nothing here is steep, which makes it a good winter walk when the Baraboo-area bluffs are iced over.
Parking and the New Visitor Center
Park in UW Lot 130 at 2003 University Bay Drive. UW Transportation lists payment as required Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and gives no paid hours outside that window; the lot closes from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Site work for the Lakeshore Nature Preserve Frautschi Center began the week of September 29, 2026, including realigning University Bay Drive. The preserve says Lot 130 parking will be more limited than usual during construction and some entrances and paths may be temporarily relocated, but the preserve stays open.
Preserve Rules
The preserve is open 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Dogs are welcome on a leash held by their owner, and you must pick up after them. Bicycles are not allowed on the main Picnic Point path or interior trails; bike racks are near Lot 129. Swimming is only permitted at the Memorial Union pier on the other side of campus, not off the point. Fires are allowed only in the designated fire circles.
Fire Circles and Evening Walks
Picnic Point's fire circles can be reserved through the Lakeshore Nature Preserve website, and the preserve supplies firewood free. If you are walking out for the sunset, keep track of time: the preserve closes at 10 p.m., and the tip is about a mile from the lot. Never leave a fire unattended.
Hiking tips for Picnic Point Marsh Loop
- Come after 4:30 p.m. or on a weekend to skip Lot 130's weekday payment hours.
- Expect fewer spaces in Lot 130 while Frautschi Center construction continues.
- Leave the bike at the racks; bikes are banned on the main Picnic Point path.
- Reserve a fire circle online before planning an evening fire on the point.
- Watch for temporarily relocated entrances near University Bay Drive during construction.
Nearby trails to explore
- Stephens' Falls and Lost Canyon Loop
- Gibraltar Rock Trail
- Devil's Lake East Bluff Trail
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Picnic Point is the easiest lakeside walk you can take without leaving Madison. Use TrailMates to find Madison hikers heading to Picnic Point. Download the TrailMates app to connect.