Little Menomonee River Parkway
Managed by Milwaukee County Parks
862 acres5.3 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trailhead
Photo: Bfkenney · CC BY-SA 4.0A−Outdoors
Outdoors in Milwaukee
9% of Milwaukee’s land is conserved, and virtually every resident lives within a half mile of a park
Virtually every resident lives within a half mile of a park. 87 miles of mapped trail cross Milwaukee, 0.9 per square mile of land. The biggest trail networks: Little Menomonee River Parkway (5.3 mi), Brown Deer Park (4.1 mi), Jackson Park (2.6 mi).
Ahead of 84% of U.S. towns · #87 of 362 in Wisconsin. What drives it
Conserved land
9%
5,240 acres · of 96.2 sq mi of land
Trails
87 mi
0.9 per sq mi of land
Park land
5,758 ac
10 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
99%+
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
329 mi
246 mi lanes · 63 mi paths
Lakes & rivers
13
6 beaches · 22 boat launches
What kind of outdoors town is Milwaukee?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Milwaukee have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Milwaukee is ahead of 84% of U.S. towns, #87 of 362 in Wisconsin. The share of residents near a park holds the grade up; park acres per resident pull it down.
A−
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Milwaukee’s overall grade.
Conserved land9% of the land · typical WI town 4% · U.S. 4%B+Trails0.9 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (87 mi) · WI 0.4 · U.S. 0.4A−Park land10 acres of park per 1,000 residents (5,758 acres) · WI 31 · U.S. 13B−Parks close to homeVirtually all residents within a half mile of a park · WI 90% · U.S. 72%A
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 84%
LessMore
Wisconsin towns of 2,500+ (362)Ahead of 76%
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Milwaukee ranks #153 on Outdoors.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would range from B+ to A. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
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 Little Menomonee River Parkway, with 5.3 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Brown Deer Park
Managed by Milwaukee County Parks
361 acres4.1 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Wilson Park
Managed by Milwaukee County Parks
74 acres2.5 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Doyne Park
Managed by Milwaukee County Parks
35 acres2.3 mi of trail
Doyne Trails
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Lake Park
Managed by Milwaukee County Parks
138 acres1.7 mi of trail
Locust Street Ravine TrailNorth Lighthouse Ravine TrailSouth Lighthouse Ravine Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
All 212 parks & preserves
Little Menomonee River Parkway862 acres · 5.3 mi of trail · Milwaukee County Parks
DirectionsBrown Deer Park361 acres · 4.1 mi of trail · Milwaukee County Parks
DirectionsJackson Park115 acres · 2.6 mi of trail
DirectionsWilson Park74 acres · 2.5 mi of trail · Milwaukee County Parks
DirectionsDoyne Park35 acres · 2.3 mi of trail · Milwaukee County Parks
DirectionsLincoln Park121 acres · 1.8 mi of trail
DirectionsMcKinley Park104 acres · 1.8 mi of trail
DirectionsLake Park138 acres · 1.7 mi of trail · Milwaukee County Parks
DirectionsKern Park29 acres · 1.5 mi of trail
DirectionsHawthorne Glen Environmental Center24 acres · 1.5 mi of trail · Milwaukee Public Schools
DirectionsThree Bridges Park26 acres · 1.3 mi of trail
DirectionsWilson Recreation Center53 acres · 1.2 mi of trail
DirectionsHartung Park11 acres · 1.2 mi of trail
Joseph Lichter Park37 acres · 1.1 mi of trail
King Park22 acres · 1.1 mi of trail
DirectionsKohl Park278 acres · 1 mi of trail · Milwaukee County Parks
DirectionsNoyes Park69 acres · 1 mi of trail
DirectionsJohnsons Park15 acres · 1 mi of trail
DirectionsKinnickinnic River Parkway224 acres · 0.9 mi of trail · Milwaukee County Parks
DirectionsSmith Park18 acres · 0.9 mi of trail
DirectionsWashington Park133 acres · 0.8 mi of trail · Milwaukee County Parks
DirectionsMilwaukee River Parkway41 acres · 0.8 mi of trail · Milwaukee County Parks
DirectionsTippecanoe Park21 acres · 0.8 mi of trail
DirectionsDavidson Park5 acres · 0.8 mi of trail · Harley-Davidson Foundation
DirectionsDretzka Park322 acres · 0.7 mi of trail
DirectionsEstabrook Park42 acres · 0.7 mi of trail
DirectionsRiverside Park26 acres · 0.7 mi of trail
DirectionsLyons Park14 acres · 0.7 mi of trail
DirectionsEmigh Playfield12 acres · 0.7 mi of trail
DirectionsMarquette Electronics Park21 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
DirectionsAlcott Park18 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
DirectionsClinton Rose Park10 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
DirectionsEuclid Park10 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
DirectionsMenomonee River Parkway281 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsEast Side Bike Trail37 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Milwaukee County Parks
DirectionsGordon Park25 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsSherman Park23 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsDowner Woods12 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsParklawn Park5 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
Baran Park26 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsServite Park Preserve23 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsPleasant Valley Park19 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsCambridge Woods Park10 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsIndigenous People’s Park10 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsSaveland Park4 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
Columbia Park3 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsLakeshore State Park21 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsWar Memorial & Art Center Grounds16 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsBradford Beach14 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsArmour Park14 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsCannon Park8 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsBryant Park8 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
Jewell Playfield7 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
Moody Park4 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsLindbergh Park3 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
Milwaukee river revitalization3 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
Lincoln Creek Parkway139 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Milwaukee County Parks
DirectionsDineen Park65 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsMitchell Park63 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Milwaukee County Parks
DirectionsKosciuszko Park35 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsMenomonee Valley Community Park21 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsMitchell Boulevard Park16 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsSijan Playfield16 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsPopuch Park14 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsMetcalfe Park10 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsClovernook Playfield8 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
MacArthur Square8 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsLewis Playfield6 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsHeritage Green4 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsOhio Playground4 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsClarke Square Park3 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Milwaukee County Parks
DirectionsSouthlawn Playground3 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsSister Jeanne Gengler Park2 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsHumboldt Park74 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Milwaukee County Parks
McGovern Park59 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsSouth Shore Park37 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsNoyes Creek Parkway29 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsPulaski Park29 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Milwaukee County Parks
DirectionsJuneau Park18 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Milwaukee County Parks
DirectionsSchoenecker Park17 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsKilbourn Reservoir Park14 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Holler Park14 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsTiefenthaler Park13 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsLindsay Park12 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsAlice Bertschy Kadish Park11 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · COA Youth & Family Centers
Enderis Playfield10 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsBurbank Playfield8 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Directions78th Street Park6 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsEllen Park5 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsCarmen Playfield5 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Center Street Park4 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Green Bay Playfield4 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsHolt Playground4 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Directions90th & Bender Play Area3 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsCaesar's Park3 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Milwaukee County Parks
Pulaski Street Playfield3 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Milwaukee Public Schools Recreation Division
Directions97th & Thurston Play Area3 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Directions49th & Juneau Play Area3 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsValley Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Pere Marquette Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Milwaukee County Parks
DirectionsAtkinson Triangle2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
40th & Douglas Play Area2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsRiver Bend Play Area2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Reiske Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsButterfly Park1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Directions12th & Wright Play Area1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsRed Arrow Park1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Milwaukee County Parks
DirectionsHarbor View Plaza1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsVeterans Park94 acres · Milwaukee County Parks
DirectionsMaitland Park30 acres
Meaux Park30 acres
DirectionsHoney Creek Parkway28 acres
DirectionsGranville Dog Park26 acres
DirectionsBradley Woods Natural Area20 acres
DirectionsCopernicus Park20 acres
James W. Beckum Park18 acres
DirectionsMitchell Airport Park17 acres
DirectionsWyrick Park16 acres
Harriet Tubman Park16 acres
DirectionsCooper Park16 acres
DirectionsMelody View Preserve13 acres
DirectionsCarver Park13 acres · Milwaukee County Parks
DirectionsNash Park13 acres
DirectionsGrand Trunk Wetland12 acres
DirectionsMerrill Park12 acres
DirectionsVogel Park11 acres
DirectionsStory Parkway11 acres · Milwaukee County Parks
DirectionsHamilton Dell Park10 acres
DirectionsBeerline Trail10 acres
DirectionsKops Park10 acres
Directions30th & Fardale Green Space9 acres
DirectionsWhittier Park9 acres
DirectionsGarden Homes Park8 acres
DirectionsNewberry Boulevard Park8 acres
DirectionsGrantosa Creek Parkway7 acres
DirectionsCupertino Park7 acres
DirectionsPumping Station Park7 acres
DirectionsMuseum Center Park7 acres · Milwaukee Art Museum
DirectionsWedgewood Park7 acres
Back Bay Park7 acres
DirectionsCornell Park7 acres
DirectionsCuster Playfield7 acres
DirectionsBay View Park6 acres
DirectionsGranville Woods Natural Area6 acres
Hampton Park6 acres
DirectionsGra-ram Playfield6 acres
DirectionsMadison Park5 acres
DirectionsBeulah Brinton Playfield5 acres
DirectionsWhitman Park5 acres
DirectionsMenomonee Valley Bioretention Facility5 acres
DirectionsWater Tower Park5 acres · City of Milwaukee
DirectionsThree Pines Park4 acres
DirectionsWarnimont Playground4 acres
Manitoba Park4 acres
DirectionsModrzejewski Playground4 acres
Harley Park4 acres · Milwaukee County Parks
Directions65th & Stevenson Green Space4 acres
Lloyd Street Playfield3 acres
DirectionsMitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory3 acres · Milwaukee County Parks
DirectionsLynden Hill Urban Tree House3 acres
DirectionsUrban Park3 acres
DirectionsPompeii Square3 acres · Milwaukee County Parks
DirectionsCathedral Square Park3 acres · Milwaukee County Parks
DirectionsGarden Homes Square3 acres
Franklin Square Playground2 acres
DirectionsSouth 88th Playground2 acres
DirectionsNorris Park2 acres
DirectionsWalker Square Park2 acres
Cass Street Park2 acres · City of Milwaukee
Directions78th & Fiebrantz Play Area2 acres
DirectionsBurns Commons2 acres · Milwaukee County Parks
DirectionsFounders Terrace2 acres
Directions20th & Olive Play Area2 acres
DirectionsVel R. Phillips Plaza2 acres · City of Milwaukee
DirectionsRadyne Park2 acres
DirectionsMartin Luther King Jr. Peace Place2 acres
DirectionsCatalano Square2 acres
DirectionsHubbard Park1 acres
DirectionsSidney Woodlands Preserve1 acres
Morgan Triangle1 acres
Witkowiak Play Area1 acres · City of Milwaukee
Directions16th & Edgerton Play Area1 acres · Milwaukee County Parks
Zeidler Union Square1 acres · Milwaukee County Parks
DirectionsClas Park1 acres · Milwaukee County Parks
DirectionsMarshall Park1 acres
DirectionsTriangle Park1 acres
Jeannetta Simpson-Robinson Victory Over Violence Park and Garden1 acres
DirectionsZillman Park1 acres
DirectionsFranklin Play Area1 acres
DirectionsAlwin Lopez (Al) Jarreau Park1 acres
26th & Medford Play Area1 acres
Paliafito Eco-Arts Park1 acres
DirectionsBrewhouse Square Park1 acres
Directions1st and Wright Play Area1 acres · City of Milwaukee
Riverfront Launching Site1 acres · Milwaukee County Parks
DirectionsFondy Park1 acres
DirectionsGilman Triangle1 acres · Milwaukee County Parks
DirectionsEzekiel Gillespie Park1 acres
Teutonia & Fairmount Green Space1 acres
65th & Medford Green Space1 acres
Directions29th & Meinecke Play Area1 acres
DirectionsGarden Park1 acres
DirectionsHaymarket Square Park1 acres
Directions35th & Lincoln Green Space1 acres
Zilber Park1 acres
DirectionsPreservation Park1 acres
Directions62nd & Kaul Play Area1 acres
5th & Randolph Play Area1 acres
DirectionsIndia-America Friendship Park1 acres
DirectionsChildren's Park1 acres · City of Milwaukee
Directions34th & Mount Vernon Play Area1 acres
Directions18th & Washington Play Area1 acres
DirectionsWho protects it
5,240 conserved acres
9% of Milwaukee’s land. Who manages Milwaukee’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
County4,175 ac
Town or city569 ac
State natural resources305 ac
Private owners206 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits1 ac
Bureau of Land Management1 ac
Local Park · 3,452 acLocal Recreation Area · 1,223 acState Resource Management Area · 212 acPrivate Park · 179 acState Park · 71 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 11 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Menomonee River Parkway Local Recreation Area | County | 861 | Open |
| Brown Deer Park Local Park | County | 357 | Open |
| Dretzka Park Local Park | County | 321 | Open |
| Kohl Park Local Park | County | 295 | Open |
| Havenwoods Forest Preserve And Nature Center State Resource Management Area | State natural resources | 212 | Open |
| Brynwood Golf Course Private Park | Private owners | 178 | Open |
| Washington Park Local Park | County | 135 | Open |
| Lake Park Local Park | County | 133 | Open |
| Lincoln Park Local Park | County | 117 | Open |
| Lincoln Creek Parkway Local Recreation Area | County | 101 | Open |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
549 places to go in Milwaukee
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Milwaukee
McKinley BeachIn McKinley Park
DirectionsPebble BeachIn Lakeshore State Park
DirectionsPlus 4 beaches without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Public pools in Milwaukee
Harriet Tubman Park Wading PoolIn Harriet Tubman Park
DirectionsHoller Park Swimming PoolIn Holler Park
DirectionsHumboldt Park Wading PoolIn Humboldt Park
DirectionsJackson Park Swimming PoolIn Jackson Park
DirectionsLyons Park Wading PoolIn Lyons Park
DirectionsRose Park Wading PoolIn Clinton Rose Park
DirectionsSherman Park Wading PoolIn Sherman Park
DirectionsSmith Park Wading PoolIn Smith Park
Directions5 more public pools
Tiefenthaler Park Wading PoolIn Tiefenthaler Park
DirectionsVogel Park Wading PoolIn Vogel Park
DirectionsWedgewood Park Wading PoolIn Wedgewood Park
DirectionsWilson Park Diving WellIn Wilson Recreation Center
DirectionsWilson Park Swimming PoolIn Wilson Recreation Center
DirectionsPlaygrounds in Milwaukee
21st & Keefe Play Area
DirectionsB. Bruce Krier Center
DirectionsBerryland Playground
DirectionsCenter Street Park PlaygroundIn Center Street Park
DirectionsEnderis Playground- SmallIn Enderis Playfield
DirectionsLittle Legends PlaygroundIn Davidson Park
DirectionsLyons Park Tot LotIn Lyons Park
DirectionsMaitland Park Tot LotIn Maitland Park
Directions9 more playgrounds
Nash Park Tot LotIn Nash Park
DirectionsNoyes Park Tot LotIn Noyes Park
DirectionsPlayground @ Kosciuszko ParkIn Kosciuszko Park
DirectionsPopuch Park Tot LotIn Popuch Park
DirectionsPulaski Park Tot LotIn Pulaski Park
DirectionsRacoon PlaygroundIn Riverside Park
DirectionsSwing Park
DirectionsTippecanoe Park Wading PoolIn Tippecanoe Park
DirectionsUnited Healthcare Playground
Directions447 playgrounds are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Dog parks in Milwaukee
Bay View Dog ParkHours: Mon–Sun 5 am – 10 pm, 6 am – 10 pm
DirectionsGranville Dog Exercise AreaIn Granville Dog Park
DirectionsMKE Dog ParkHours: Mon–Sun 6 am – 10 pm
DirectionsRoverwest Dog Exercise Area
DirectionsPlus 2 dog parks without a name on the map.
Boat launches in Milwaukee
Canoe LandingIn Menomonee River Parkway
DirectionsEmmber Lane Boat Launch
DirectionsKiwanis LandingIn Milwaukee river revitalization
DirectionsPlus 19 boat launches without a name on the map.
Fishing spots in Milwaukee
Veterans Park LagoonIn Veterans Park
DirectionsPlus 4 fishing spots without a name on the map.
Scenic views in Milwaukee
Daniel W. Hoan Memorial Bridge Overview
DirectionsMilwaukee County Airport Observation Area
DirectionsPlus 11 scenic views without a name on the map.
Picnic areas in Milwaukee
Little Oak Picnic Area
DirectionsMaple Cove Picnic Area
DirectionsOak Grove Picnic Area
DirectionsPicnic Area 1In South Shore Park
DirectionsPicnic Area 1In James W. Beckum Park
DirectionsPicnic Area 1In Vogel Park
DirectionsPicnic Area 2In South Shore Park
DirectionsPicnic Area 2In Carver Park
Directions4 more picnic areas
Picnic Area 2In Kern Park
DirectionsPicnic Area 5In Lake Park
DirectionsSavanna Walk
DirectionsTembo Trail
DirectionsPlus 5 picnic areas without a name on the map.
Disc golf in Milwaukee
3 disc golf without a name on the map.
Community gardens in Milwaukee
All People's Garden
DirectionsAmerican LegionIn Kilbourn Reservoir Park
DirectionsBethune Community Garden
DirectionsBumblebee Haven Community Garden
DirectionsFlorence Lambert Community Garden
DirectionsGarden District Community Garden
DirectionsHide House Community Garden
DirectionsNigella Community GardenHOME GR/OWN
Directions2 more community gardens
Nigella Community OrchardHOME GR/OWN
DirectionsVictory Garden Urban FarmVictory Garden Initiative
DirectionsPlus 7 community gardens without a name on the map.
Trails & water
17 named trails and 13 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 3.1 miUnpaved · 32.3 mi
Milwaukee River Trail4.2 mi
Milwaukee River Greenway Westside1.4 mi
Forked Astor Trails1.1 mi
Doyne Trails1.0 mi
Camino Fresco0.3 mi
Sumac Trail0.3 mi
Locust Street Ravine Trail0.3 mi
North Lighthouse Ravine Trail0.2 mi
South Lighthouse Ravine Trail0.1 mi
Paso de la Rama0.1 mi
7 more trails
Airlines Yards
0.1 miMarsupial Bridge
0.1 miMain Street Promenade
0.1 miKilldeer Hill
0.1 miValley View
0.1 miSlippery Elm
0.1 miBubba's Woods Mountain Bike Trail
0.1 miBiking & sports
329 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
246 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
63 mi
off-road bike paths
20 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Courts & fields
252Basketball
214Tennis
167Baseball
102Soccer
29Football
22Beach volleyball
17Pickleball
14Softball
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →212 places on the National Register, 7 of them National Historic Landmarks
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 82 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
★
Northwestern Branch, National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers Historic DistrictNational Historic Landmark · District · listed 2005
About itFrederick C. Bogk HouseBuilding · listed 1972
About itHoly Trinity Roman Catholic ChurchBuilding · listed 1972
About itNorth Point Water TowerStructure · listed 1973
About itOld St. Mary's ChurchBuilding · listed 1973
About itSt. Josaphat BasilicaBuilding · listed 1973
About it200 more on the History page.
When to get out
The best walking months in Milwaukee: July and September
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) | 9.3 | 10.5 | 11.8 | 13.3 | 14.6 | 15.3 | 15.1 | 13.9 | 12.4 | 10.9 | 9.6 | 9.0 |
| High (°F) | 30 | 33 | 43 | 55 | 67 | 77 | 82 | 80 | 73 | 60 | 46 | 35 |
| Rain (in) | 1.6 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 3.3 | 2.9 | 2.1 | 1.9 |
February is the driest month (1.6 in) and July the warmest (highs of 82 °F). 4.5 inches fall in June, the wettest month. The climate in Milwaukee →
Next door
Milwaukee and its neighbors
Milwaukee has the most mapped trails of the 8 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Milwaukee87 miWauwatosa27 miSt. Francis5.7 miGreenfield5.2 miWest Allis4.9 miGlendale4.4 miShorewood3.3 miWest Milwaukee1.0 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | 9% | 0.9 | 10 | 99%+ | A− |
| Wauwatosa | 11% | 2.0 | 26 | 91% | A |
| Greenfield | 3% | 0.5 | 15 | 96% | B+ |
| Glendale | 12% | 0.8 | 37 | 99%+ | A |
| Shorewood | 11% | 2.1 | 8 | 87% | A− |
| West Allis | 7% | 0.4 | 12 | 95% | B+ |
| St. Francis | 16% | 2.2 | 22 | 99% | A+ |
| West Milwaukee | 3% | 0.9 | 6 | 99%+ | B+ |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Milwaukee
Where can I hike in Milwaukee?
The longest trail networks: Little Menomonee River Parkway, 5.3 miles; Brown Deer Park, 4.1 miles; Jackson Park, 2.6 miles; Wilson Park, 2.5 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Milwaukee is conserved land?
9% of its land, against a typical 4% for a Wisconsin town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Milwaukee’s trails?
Little Menomonee River Parkway and Brown Deer Park don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Milwaukee?
329 miles of bike routes are on the map: 246 of painted or protected lanes, 63 of off-road paths and 20 of shoulders and shared lanes.
Is there public land near Milwaukee?
30,390 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Milwaukee or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 5,973 of them inside the city line.
How much outdoors does Milwaukee have?
Ahead of 84% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #87 of 362 in Wisconsin. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Milwaukee 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 →