Even though Milwaukee is Wisconsin’s largest city, it has no shortage of places to enjoy the outdoors. We have enlisted the help of Chelsey Knuth – a Wisconsin native, outdoor enthusiast and founder of The Wisconsinista – to share some of her favorite places to hike. Read on for five of the best places to hike in and around Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Lakeshore State Park
Wisconsin’s only urban state park is located in the heart of downtown Milwaukee and is completely free to access. The park spans over 22 acres and includes beautiful prairie as well as incredible lake views! The multi-use trails run throughout the park and connect to the Oak Leaf Trail and Hank Aaron State Trail if you want to extend your walk into a longer hike.
Grant Park / Seven Bridges Trail
The second largest in the Milwaukee County Parks system, Grant Park spans 381 acres across Milwaukee’s southeastern suburbs of Cudahy, St. Francis, and South Milwaukee. Its claim to fame is the beautiful Seven Bridges Trail, which visitors enter through a beautiful covered bridge, that winds through tall trees and offers outlooks of Lake Michigan along the way.
Glacier Hills County Park
Head northwest into Washington County and you’ll find the scenery transform from coastal plains to rolling hills and forest, thanks to ancient glaciers. In fact, Glacier Hills County Park is located on what is known as an interlobate moraine and offers hilly hiking trails alongside unique glacial formations that end at the beautiful Friess Lake.
Harrington Beach State Park
Located in Ozaukee County, Milwaukee County’s northern neighbor, Harrington Beach State Park offers a more rustic escape if you want to enjoy a lakeside hike. You can walk along the beach, through the woods, around a quarry lake, or even across the prairie! You’ll want to visit during peak color in the fall for some extra beautiful views.
Oak Leaf Trail
This extensive trail system runs throughout Milwaukee, so you can never be too far from one of its entry points. It spans over 125 miles and has over 10 multi-use trail lines that wind through some of Milwaukee’s most picturesque spots. While the lake views are beautiful, you’ll want to take advantage of the places where the trail runs right along some of the city’s most beautiful rivers, including the Milwaukee, Menomonee, and Kinnickinnic!