Polk County Forest
Nature preserve
3,568 acres7.8 mi of trail
Ice Age Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
–Not graded
Outdoors in Lorain
Few parks or trails are on the map in Lorain
The biggest trail networks: Polk County Forest (7.8 mi), McKenzie Creek Wildlife Area (2.1 mi). 25% of Lorain’s land is conserved, about 5,931 acres. 5,987 acres are parks and preserves, 21,460 per 1,000 residents.
Conserved land
25%
5,931 acres · of 36.7 sq mi of land
Trails
14 mi
0.4 per sq mi of land
Park land
5,987 ac
21,460 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
55%
of residents within ½ mile
Lakes & rivers
3
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Polk County Forest, with 7.8 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
McKenzie Creek Wildlife Area
Managed by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
1,479 acres2.1 mi of trail
Ice Age Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Who protects it
5,931 conserved acres
25% of Lorain’s land. Who manages Lorain’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
County3,562 ac
State natural resources2,563 ac
Local Conservation Area · 3,562 acState Recreation Area · 2,368 acState Park · 194 ac
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County Forest Local Conservation Area | County | 3,562 | Open |
| Mckenzie Creek Wildlife Area State Recreation Area | State natural resources | 1,479 | Open |
| Sand Creek Fishery Area-Polk State Recreation Area | State natural resources | 695 | Open |
| Ice Age Trail - Nw State Park | State natural resources | 194 | Open |
| Ice Age Trail State Recreation Area | State natural resources | 194 | Open |
Trails & water
1 named trail and 3 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Unpaved · 9.3 mi
Ice Age Trail9.3 mi
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
When to get out
The walking year in Lorain
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.1 | 10.3 | 11.8 | 13.5 | 14.9 | 15.7 | 15.4 | 14.1 | 12.5 | 10.8 | 9.4 | 8.7 |
| High (°F) | 21 | 27 | 40 | 54 | 67 | 76 | 80 | 78 | 70 | 56 | 40 | 26 |
| Rain (in) | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 2.7 | 3.9 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 3.6 | 3.1 | 1.8 | 1.2 |
January is the driest month (0.9 in) and July the warmest (highs of 80 °F). 4.3 inches fall in July, the wettest month. The climate in Lorain →
Next door
Lorain and its neighbors
Lorain has the most mapped trails of the 5 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lorain | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| McKinley | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Clam Falls | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Roosevelt | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Dewey | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Lorain
Where can I hike in Lorain?
The longest trail networks: Polk County Forest, 7.8 miles; McKenzie Creek Wildlife Area, 2.1 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Lorain’s trails?
Polk County Forest and McKenzie Creek Wildlife Area don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Lorain?
27,592 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Lorain or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 5,987 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Lorain neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →