A shoreline corridor extends from Thompson's West End Park to the Athletic Field Complex. The parkway weaves among the beaches and bluffs of the lakefront. The trail consists of a walking path of limestone screenings with benches occasionally placed along the route.
The western portion of the trail has been made ADA accessible with the assistance of a Coastal Management Grant from the Wisconsin Department of Administration. The grant provided for widening of the path and the bridging of several ravines. Users of the eastern portion of the trail will encounter steps to traverse the remaining ravines and descend the lakeside bluff to the marina.
Visitors to the trail will be taken on a trip into Washburn's past with numerous informational signs describing the community's former waterfront industries and activities. Access to the trail may be obtained and parking is available at the trail ends, along 6th Avenue West, at the foot of Washington Avenue, Marina Drive and Central Avenue.
The City collaborated with the Wisconsin Historical Society in a Maritime Trails program. This resulted in additional signage placed along the pathway describing the City's association with maritime industries. In 2019, City Council designated the Lakeshore Walking Trail a historical site.
The Parks Committee updated the management plan for Lakeshore Parkway and Walking Trail addressing invasive plants and improving the ecological conditions of the area. The City is removing invasive species and restoring habitats once these invasive plants are under control. This project will take several years, with the goal of returning the area to native plants which is important for wildlife and pollinators.