Milwaukee By Bike

[Milwaukee City]

It's the Oak Leaf Trail

http://www.city.milwaukee.gov/ImageL..._2009f_300.pdf

[43north87west]

The Oak Leaf trail. I used to ride it once a day from the east side (Newberry Blvd entrance at Riverside Park), downtown, around Veterans Park, then north to Hampton Avenue in Estabrook Park, then back to the East Side. It was about a 10 mile ride every day. Obviously not in winter.

Here is a picture of the Oak Leaf Trail from the Urban Ecology Center at Riverside Park. I took this a few weeks ago.



And here is another picture I took at the same time, of the Milwaukee River in Riverside Park. You can access some unmarked river trails at various points along the Oak Leaf Trail. These days I prefer riding on marked and/or paved trails, but at one time you'd find me near the river.

[Milwaukee City]

Nice pics, I couldn't find any Oak Leaf Trail pics. Thanks for posting some.

[caieva]

First let me put a plug in here for Lapham Peak - nice hilly trails and plenty of room!
and then the Glacial Drumlin Trail - 5% grade, crowded on weekends mid day, otherwise blissfully empty and you can ride the 13.2 miles paved from the trail head in Waukesha then 50 miles gravel from Dousman to near Madison. Beautiful!

As far as Chicago -
These are the rules for the Cook County Forest Trails, which are beautiful - never seen so many near tame deer, but I didn't see this sign on the LSD path the one time I road it. I think cyclists can go quite fast commuting, but on weekends it is a VERY heavily used mixed trail with always lots of tourists who are on it for the first and only time of their lives.
So - speed training and racing not permitted on Cook County trails, but not sure about LSD-

All Trails:

1. Trails are open from sunrise to sunset.
2. Motor vehicles prohibited.
3. RIDE/WALK ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TRAIL.
4. Give warning before passing other trail users.
5. Obey all stop signs.
6. Speed training or racing is NOT PERMITTED. Violators will be ticketed.
7. Keep dogs leashed and in control.
8. Please do not litter. Pack out more than you pack in.
9. Helmets are required for all bicycle riders 14 years and younger (effective Jan. 1, 2005).
10. In case of an emergency - call 911

[BrewCityMama]

Back before kids I biked more than I do now, and once they are bigger I plan to get back into it - with them! I have biked most of the trails mentioned. One I did not see mentioned (although I may have overlooked it) is the Old Plank Road Trail. It's a paved RR grade from Sheboygan area (trail head just off I-43) out to Greenbush. If I am remembering correctly it's 34 miles rt. It gets nice and hilly at the western end, and there are some nice little stops along the way. Always a good thing to time a ride on that trail when BratFest is happening in Sheboygan!

[Twoaday]

@Milwaukee City I love that trail as well. This week we've road it from downtown till the end and then worked our way back on streets four times.. Very enjoyable. Hoping if the weather is nice enough to get out and do 20-30 miles today.

[Milwaukee City]

I was thinking about doing the loop of the Oak Leaf trail it basically circles the inside of Milwaukee County. It goes up to Good Hope over to the little Menominee river parkway down to Oakwood Park in Oak Creek then back up via grant park and the south shore. Something tells me it might take all day long. Here is some more pics of the Oak Leaf Trail:

[43north87west]

Plan all day. It's a nice ride and will take a while at a leisurely pace. I've ridden most of it. Not 100%, but most.

I can ride from Locust St. to Hampton Ave, then south again to downtown, and back to Locust St. on my mountain bike, in about .5 hours. So the Oak Leaf Trail should be only a few hour ride at that pace. But in reality, if you are looking for a nice ride (i.e. not a hard workout) plan for a good chunk of the day. Twenty miles is nothing on a mountain bike if you are in shape. If not, it might be a little bit slower.