Milwaukee County, WI

Jun 10

Milwaukee County has several state-managed preserves and one actual State Park. But it's the county parks and preserves that really shine. County-managed resources vary quite a bit from one region to another. Milwaukee County has done a tremendous job in creating and managing a well organized, super informative website that's easy to navigate and helps to lay out and explore all the beautiful nature places this area has to offer. This would be where I'd begin my explorations on your initial foray into the natural wonders of Milwaukee County.

Milwaukee County, WI: nature, bikes and beer!

State Parks & Nature Areas

State Park: Lakeshore. Jutting out into Lake Michigan on a curvy spit of land, Lakeshore SP is the only urban state park in Wisconsin. It's urban location links it conveniently to other lakefront parks, the Hank Aaron State Bike Trail, and all the attractions in Downtown Milwaukee. However, is also creates calm and scenic respite from city life, where street noises become muffled, and visitors can enjoy a quiet escape and beautiful city views along the grass prairie paths.
Cudahy Nature Preserve. Oddly, it's location under the flight path of the Milwaukee Airport has left this area relatively undeveloped. Though you will undoubtedly hear some air traffic overhead, the preserve itself offers a robust shelter of hardwoods hardwood forests that covered most of this region before European settlement. A small stream trickles through the middle of the park separating the two trail loops. In early, you may be able to see a carpet of lowers, including a profusion of trout lily and march marigold. In the fall the mature red and sugar maples above and the diverse understory of shrubs and young trees below put on an astonishing spectacle of color.
Once the site of the Milwaukee County House of Corrections and a U.S. Army base, today Havenwoods is Wisconsin's only urban State Forest. Its trails, which span about six miles, offer ample opportunities for birdwatching, viewing wildlife, and enjoying wildflowers, which are especially lovely in late summer when the prairie is in bloom. Though it's a popular spot with visitors, if you go on a weekday you may have the entire park to yourself. You can pick up info on the history of this land, as well as guides to help you identify plant and animal species, at the Environmental Awareness Center on site.
Warnimont Park and Warnimont Fens. Located just south of Milwaukee in Cudahy, this 248-acre park features dramatic views from steep bluffs overlooking Lake Michigan. The trails wind through the woods, shrubland and deep ravines along the top of the bluff. For those traveling by bike, the Oak Leaf Trail is a good connection between the other area parks overlooking Lake Michigan. This park contains the state protected Warnimont Bluff Fens State Natural Area. Though it is not open to visitors due to its extreme fragility, it is noteworthy as a highly unusual alkaline wetlands along 100-foot high clay banks along the shoreline. Groundwater rivulets run down the bluffs and into Lake Michigan and some have carved micro gorges into the bluff. Seeping with moisture, these bluffs support a variety of fen uncommon and rare plants, which can be viewed from the bluff top above and the beach below.

County Parks

As mentioned, the website for Milwaukee County Parks website is a comprehensive and well-organized resource for anyone, whether local or visitor, to plan a nature-centered visit to the area.
- For a bird's-eye view, and to filter options by your area of interest, use the interactive map tool.
- A listing of nature trails in the "Forked Aster" system highlight areas with options for scenic hikes ranging from under a mile to several miles, as well as sensitive protected areas, and a map of especially good birding trails.
- For off-road biking enthusiasts, there's a compilation of county trails maintained in partnership with Milwaukee Metro Mountain Bikers.
- In addition, there's a wealth of information about urban water trails, winter activities, wild areas, and --of course-- beer gardens.
The centerpiece Grant Park is Milwaukee County's oldest park with almost 400 acres situated along Lake Michigan’s shoreline in South Milwaukee. It offers a blend of the usual recreational facilities and rugged natural landscapes, including the Seven Bridges Trail, highlighted below. It's stone's throw away from Milwaukee, and a reasonable distance from Chicago for anyone seeking an easy escape from urban life into the great outdoors.
At over 600 acres, Whitnall Park is the largest one within the county. The park offers several miles of trails, including 5 miles within the Wehr Nature Center, a protected area within the larger park, and home to five ecologically managed habitats. An easy 1.5 lake loop follows the shoreline fo the pond through some wetland, woods, and skimming the edge of a prairie, with views of a waterfall at the north end at the mouth of Root River. On the more civilized side is the carefully curated Boerner Botanical Gardens which offer a serene and stunning display of cultivated flora. For anyone biking in, Whitnall Park is easily accessible from the Oak Leaf Trail.
County Grounds Park features trails that wind through several diverse habitats over rolling terrain. The 58-acre Sanctuary Woods section, located at the site of former psychiatric hospital offers an intriguing combination of natural, and man-made history for nature lovers and history geeks alike. A genuine old growth forest exists alongside crumbling historic infrastructures. They are highly enigmatic, especially given the lack of any formal signage that would usually provide some historical insights. Fortunately, there's now an interactive map that offers fascinating glimpses into the various artifacts around the park, and their history. All this is situated against the background of ancient oak savannah, and recovering woodlands and wetlands.
Falk Park. Tucked just off I94, this park is a surprise even to some locals. For travelers driving north, it would make a wonderful and convenient roadside alternative to the typical rest stop. You could enjoy a quick snack against the natural background, and maybe even stretch your legs on the quick 2-mile hike. Despite its proximity to the highway, the wooded terrain offers shelter from noise and pollution, the trails are lightly traveled, and wind through the woodland, creeks and even a bit of prairie.

*Milwaukee Rotary Centennial Arboretum.*

Must Do

Bike along Lake Michigan, riverways and parkland. Milwaukee has more bike trails than you can shake a stick at, with a huge portion of trail mileage hugging Lake Michigan shoreline, Milwaukee River, and Little Menomonee River. The trails wind along bluffs overlooking the lake, through charming old neighborhoods, and the sprawling park system. For a longer outing, you can link the Hank Aaron Trail and the lower half of the monster 120-mile Oak Leaf Trail, or head north on its lakefront section, and then meandered along the trails that follow the Milwaukee River Greenway.
Visit a beer garden. As you wander during the warm season, you are sure to run into one of a number of popular Beer Gardens that dot the parks around Milwaukee. You'll be partaking in a rich local history, dating back to the 19th century when German immigrants settled here, bringing with them a strong tradition of beer brewing and outdoor socializing. Likewise today, they serve as a gathering place where people from all walks of life can come together to enjoy cold beer, hearty food and live entertainment. Many of the gardens are vibrant and open spaces surrounded by large parks. If you'd like more low-key, wooded vibe, be sure to check our Hubbard Park right off the Oakleaf Trail in the village of Shorewood on the banks of Milwaukee River (see below).
North Point Lighthouse. Located inside Lake Park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted the North Point Lighthouse and museum is a rich slice of local history set against serene natural surroundings. This 1988 landmark is a must-see, as much for its beautifully restored beacon, as for the lush gardens that surround it and frame the gorgeous lake views. If you take the opportunity to visit the museum and climb to the top of the tower, you'll be treated to an incomparable view of the lake and the surrounding landscape. The museum, of course, offers tours and exhibits on the region’s rich Great Lakes maritime history.
Schlitz Audobon Nature Center. Located north of Milwaukee along Lake Michigan shoreline, this nature center merits a day-long visit. There 6 miles of hiking trails over 185 acres of forests, ponds, prairies, and lakeshore, plus raptor programs featuring 15 different birds of prey. The visitor's center itself is a sustainably designed building that's and exhibit in its own right. Hiking the trails is the best way to explore everything this spot has to offer, and there's really something here for visitors of all ages and abilities.
The Observation Tower provides a sweeping view of the nature preserve and Lake Michigan. An accessible walk along Mystery Lake boardwalk is very scenic, with glimpses of reptile and amphibian life. More paved hiking trails go down to Lake Michigan and the beach. For those seeking a more remote hiking experience, there's a low-traffic Woodland Loop complete with a spot called Solitude Marsh. Another great area for visitors looking for some alone time is the West Meadows Loop. You’ll walk along a few ponds, where you can see Eastern Bluebird houses, prairie flowers in summer, but likely not run into anyone else. Hiking this route will be muddy if it has rained recently.
Seven Bridges Trail. An easy 1 1/2 hour drive from Chicago is a Milwaukee County park with an opportunity for a short but breathtaking hike. No lakefront park in the immediate Chicago area offers anything rivaling the rugged terrain and spectacular lake views. There are about 2 miles of officially designated trail, plus a network of footpaths through dramatic ravines and skirting the edge of a precipitous bluff along Lake Michigan. The trail actually has a total of 10 bridges over a meandering creek at the bottom of the ravine, and takes hikers to a secluded beach area at the mouth of the creek. It is part of the larger Grant Park, which —in warmer weather— offers additional options for picnicking and biking along the mammoth 100 mile Oak Leaf Trail that encircles the city of Milwaukee.

Hidden Gems

Franklin Savanna. This is exceptional example of the oak savanna ecosystem that once flourished across southern Wisconsin, with large bur, white, and black oak trees growing in the the characteristic spreading branching pattern in an otherwise open environment. Getting there takes a bit of sleuthing, as there are NO official park signs or parking to be found. From the road you have to bushwhack through deep grass between to farmed fields to the woods. Further in, there's wider path where you can enter the woods. The trail isn't long, but definitely requires a bit of adventurous spirit, as it winds over several creek crossings. Inside, you'll find yourself surrounded but huge trees, and understory of flowers and even mushrooms.
Mangan Woods. Situated between two popular attractions —Whitnall Park and the Root River Parkway— Mangan Woods is a secret spot of wilderness hidden in plain sight. A beautiful woods smack in the middle of the bustling city of Milwaukee, it offers surprisingly rugged hiking. It’s only tangentially described in the otherwise excellent Milwaukee County Parks directory. (Note that it is not a secret with mountain bikers, and you may have to watch out for them as you hike on the trails). But —if you’re not mountain biking— the real reason to visit this spot is two-fold: first, its rugged topography, shared with the much better known Ice Age Trail and Kettle Moraine; and second, as one of the rare places in the county that has escaped logging, it is home to some of the largest old-growth hardwoods in the county park system.
Hubbard Park Beer Garden. Yes, of course it’s described in Milwaukee’s official beer garden directory, but the way you come upon this perfect spot is delightfully surprising. Unlike some of the other beer gardens, which are sun-drenched, open affairs in the middle of sprawling parks, this one is quite different. Just off the Oak Leaf Trail, accessible through a simple wooden gate and bordered on the other side by the Milwaukee River, it is a cozy and rustic hideaway with views of the river, a log lodge, and plenty of shade, especially welcome (along with a cool quaff of draft beer) on a summertime bike ride along the trail.

Gardens

The Mitchell Park Domes (aka Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory) in the heart of Milwaukee sits alongside a huge rail yard, but offers a unique horticultural experience. Unlike a traditional conservatory, this one is comprised of three domes, each showcasing a different botanical environment: Tropical, Dessert and Floral Show, which presents changing seasonal displays every year.
Boerner Botanical Gardens, located inside Whitnall Park. This beautifully curated facility includes twelve unique garden environments, including traditional offerings such as the rose, herb and rock gardens, but also a bog garden, which is largely left in a natural state and gives shaded sanctuary to wildlife and serenity-seeking humans.
Of the three branches of the Urban Ecology Center, the Riverside Park location is especially lovely. It includes a 15 acre wooded parcel along the riverbank, with trails through natural plantings, and access to Milwaukee Rotary Centennial Arboretum, a 40-acre property featuring a carefully restored natural space along previously degraded stretch of riverbank.

Adjacent Attractions

Ice Age Trail is is a 1,200-mile National Scenic Trail located entirely within Wisconsin. From Interstate State Park on the Minnesota border to Potawatomi State Park on Lake Michigan, the trail follows the edge of the last continental glacier in Wisconsin. Portions of the IAT that run closest to Milwaukee are in Washington and Waukesha Counties, and provide a fantastic, rugged escape from the city, or a lifelong challenge for those who want to complete the entire length of the trail segment by segment.

* Photos by Justyna Frank except where noted.

Justyna Frank