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We enhance the quality of life in Milwaukee County through great public service.
Milwaukee County is home to over 950,000 people living in one of 19 communities, which range in size from the City of Milwaukee, with 595,000 residents, to the Village of River Hills, with roughly 1,600 residents.
Still a manufacturing stronghold, the region features 16 Fortune 1000 companies and thousands of others in the financial services, medical device, hospitality and retailing industries.
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The Oak Leaf Trail is a multi-use trail system with over 125 miles of trail for cycling, roller blading, walking, birding and running around Milwaukee County. Nearly a quarter of the trail hugs the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan. The trail system is mostly smooth asphalt, with dozens of easily accessed connections that take you just about anywhere in the Milwaukee metro area. Portions of the trail are on Milwaukee County parkways, shared with traffic, and some sections use municipal streets.
Oak Leaf Trail Map
The Oak Leaf Trail is divided into seven main 'branch lines', as well as two scenic loops and two east-west connectors.
Starting from Dretzka Park in the northwest corner of the County, the Menomonee branch follows the Little Menomonee River Parkway and the Menomonee River Parkway. The trail passes through Currie Park and Hoyt Park before reaching downtown Wauwatosa.
Dretzka Park - Doyne Park. Approx. 14.75mi
This east-west section connects Wauwatosa with downtown Milwaukee. The trail passes through Jackson Park and McCarty Park following the Kinnickinnc River Parkway, and uses sections of the Honey Creek Parkway to connect with the Menomonee Line in Wauwatosa.
Honey Creek Parkway - Veterans Park. Approx. 15mi
The south western section of the Oak Leaf Trail travels from Hansen Park in Wauwatosa down to the Milwaukee County Sports Complex in Franklin. The trail connects with the Hank Aaron State Trail on Underwood Creek Parkway and the New Berlin Trail in Greenfield Park. The trail follows the Root River parkway for much of the trail.
Hansen Park - Milwaukee County Sports Complex. Approx. 19mi
The south eastern section of the trail connects the southern edge of the Root River Parkway with the Oak Creek Parkway via an old railroad track (the North Shore Right of Way). The trail connects with the South Shore Line.
Root River Parkway South - Drexel Ave. Approx. 8 mi
The South Shore Line tracks the shoreline of Lake Michigan from Cupertino Park in Bay View, down through South Shore Park, Warnimont Park, Sheridan Park, and Grant Park. The trail then follows the Oak Creek Parkway before taking a new section of trail back to the lakefront in Bender Park.
Cupertino Park - Bender Park. Approx. 16 mi
This section of trail begins in downtown Milwaukee along the lakefront, travels through the city on a section known as the Eastside Trail before connecting with the Milwaukee River and tracking the river north through Estabrook Park, Lincoln Park, Kletzsch Park and on to Brown Deer Park.
Juneau Park - Brown Deer Park. Approx. 14mi
This section of trail branches off of the Milwaukee River Line and provides a direct, traffic-free connection from Estabrook Park to Brown Deer Park by following an old rail line. The line is named for bicycling advocate Harold "Zip" Morgan, who first conceived and laid out a 64-mile trail in 1939.
Estabrook Park - Brown Deer Park. Approx. 6mi Brown Deer Park - Kohl Park. Approx. 3mi
Bradley Avenue in the north and Drexel Aevenue in the south provide east-west connections between trail lines. Portions of these connectors are on-street, with traffic.
Bradley Connector. Approx. 3.3mi Drexel Connector. Approx. 4.5mi
The Lake Loop branches off of the Milwaukee River line to take trail users along the Lake Michigan shoreline and through the historic Lake Park. The Whitnall Loop branches off of the Root River Line for a scenic ride through Whitnall Park.
Lake Loop. Approx. 8mi Whitnall Loop. Approx. 3.5mi
Use our Park Explorer Map to discover the county parks, mountain bike trails and connecting parks and trails you can access from the Oak Leaf Trail!
View the Park Explorer Map
A section of the Zip Line (purple line) between Silver Spring and Bender Road is now closed for the foreseeable future, due to a growing sink hole. Follow the on-street detour shown here. This sink hole is caused by a collapsing stone culvert, built over 100 years ago, beneath the trail. This sink hole is dangerous and is now barricaded for the safety of all trail users, so please stay away. Milwaukee County Parks is focusing on maintaining safety and actively seeking funding to repair the underlying problem. Parks has applied for grants to make the approximately $600,000 repair.
Milwaukee County Parks has received a grant to move a section of trail on the Menomonee Line to address a flooding issue. The new alignment is being designed in 2020 and will be constructed in 2021. Sporadic flooding may make the trail impassable. Use signed detour when necessary.
Use our system map for planning a trip on the Oak Leaf Trail. Look for our wayfinding kiosks throughout the trail system for more detailed maps too.
View the System Map
The Oak Leaf Trail is designed as a multi-use recreational trail. Enjoy your ride, walk, bike or roll by following these simple rules for sharing the trail:
Trail contact: (414) 257-7275. In an emergency call 911.
9480 W. Watertown Plank Road Wauwatosa, WI 53226 (414) 257-PARK (7275)