Autumn Adventures in Milwaukee’s Public Parks

Rolling and Strolling through Fall Landscapes  

The Oak Leaf Trail makes up 135 miles of almost entirely paved trails loved by locals and visitors. The route is a perfect window into the city’s daily life. Here you cross paths with visitors looking for something unique, commuters trying to be green, fans beating the traffic to Bucks or Brewers games and local families doing something fun together. A few sections are standouts for fall foliage: 

Menomonee River Trail: This section winds along the river and through hardwood forests that burst with color each autumn. Along the way, be sure to stop at Wauwatosa’s Hoyt Park, a county jewel. The park’s paths invite pleasant detours on foot. The Hoyt Park Bridge is also one of those perfect backdrops to capture romantic couple or family photos.  

South Shore Line: This section rides high above Lake Michigan along Milwaukee’s bluffy southern shoreline. Mature groves of oaks and sugar maples with brilliant oranges and reds vividly contrast panoramic lake views. Sheridan Park is a nice highlight; take a short detour on its shoreline path that ends with a secluded beach. It’s easily missed by the more casual visitors and ready for an afternoon of catching up with your companions or goofing off with your dogs.   

Hank Aaron Trail: Though there’s a surprising amount of wilderness in Milwaukee, the urban skyline looks just as pretty along the Hank Aaron Trail. It serves as a major east–west artery, threading together stadiums, museums, historic industry and neighborhoods of Menomonee Valley. An abundance of public art along the way makes you feel like you’re riding through a free open air museum.  First time in Milwaukee? This trail gives you a real feel for the city’s past and present.  

Bublr, Milwaukee’s nonprofit bikeshare, has a strong presence along both the Hank Aaron Trail and the urban core of the Oak Leaf Trail. It makes it effortless for your crew to hit the major landmarks or wander off on a side trail, just to see what you come across.  

Classic Hiking at Grant Park  

South Milwaukee’s Grant Park delivers more than you’d expect from a region already known for conservation. This century-old park holds a thriving old-growth forest minutes from city streets. It's a laid-back kind of place where you and your companions immerse yourselves in the scenery rather than a touchscreen.  

Make time for the park’s Seven Bridges Trail to your fall must-do list. This classic trail is less than 2 miles but packs in rambling creeks, steep ravines and towering lakeshore bluffs. It's all the wilderness and seclusion of a national park, right on the city’s doorstep. Grant Park’s beach is accessed near the trail’s midpoint and stands as a remarkably undeveloped and unspoiled stretch of shoreline. Bring a picnic or thermos of cider and stay awhile.