Milwaukee River Greenway in milwaukee

Running from Silver Spring Drive to the former North Avenue Dam, the Greenway links and protects over 840 acres of park lands along eight miles of the Milwaukee River. Includes the following named parks: Lincoln, Estabrook, Kern, Pleasant Valley, Hubbard, Cambridge Woods, Riverside, Gordon, Turtle, Rotary Centennial Arboretum, and Caesar’s Park. Altogether the named parks provide numerous amenities.

 

The paved Oak Leaf Trail runs through Lincoln, Estabrook and Riverside Parks, connecting with the Milwaukee River Parkway and Kletsch Park on the north and the Lakefront on the south. The paved Beer Line Trail, an extension of the Oak Leaf Trail, runs from Turtle Park to Gordon Park. Extensive riverside trail systems along both sides of the river can range from tame to quite wild. The gravel East Bank Trail from Caesar’s Pool to Cambridge Woods is wheelchair accessible. Biking is allowed only on the paved trails.

 

Very popular for hiking, jogging, fishing and for canoeing/kayaking. The entire length of river in the Greenway is on the Milwaukee Urban Water Trail. The Water Trail map provides information about access points and portages.

 

Cambridge Woods and Riverside Parks are stops on the Forked Aster Trail System. The entire Milwaukee River corridor is a migratory flyway and identified as an ebird hotspot.

 

The flagship branch of the Urban Ecology Center is located in Riverside Park and the River Revitalization Foundation is located in Turtle Park at the southern tip of the Greenway.

 

Links:

Friends of Lincoln Park.

Riverside Park and Rotary Centennial Arboretum map.

Estabrook Park trail map.

Gordon Park trail map.

Caesar’s Park map.

Photo album on Flickr.

 

Story links: “Kayaking Lincoln Park.”

“New trail connects Lincoln and Estabrook Parks.”

“Fun and adventure on the Milwaukee River at Estabrook Falls.”

“Hiking the Milwaukee River Greenway: Our premier urban wilderness.”

 

 

Gallery (click to enlarge)