Ozaukee: Trails, Coast and Culture

Explore Ozaukee through its trails, lakeshore and diverse cultural sites. The paved Ozaukee Interurban Trail is 30 miles long and runs the entire length of Ozaukee County. It connects historic town centers with natural landscapes. This gives your trip several possible focuses: getting active on the trail, enjoying the scenery or visiting historic sites. If you’re looking for a hotel in Ozaukee, you can start by considering which of these interests you want to shape your stay.

Between Bluffs and Beach

Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve protects one of the last undeveloped stretches of bluffland along the shore of Lake Michigan. Stairs lead down to the lakeshore. Birdwatching here also has a specific seasonal draw: at the peak of spring migration, more than 20 warbler species can be found within a short walk of the parking lot. The bluffs and spring migration offer two different reasons to visit the preserve.

Harrington Beach State Park also brings together lakeshore and trails, with different named measures: the park has more than a mile of Lake Michigan beach and seven miles of hiking trails. Visitors planning a day in nature that includes both beach time and a hike can find both in the same park. The figures for the beach and trails describe two distinct options for planning your day.

Woods, Rivers and Paddling Access

The 57.1-acre park area at Hawthorne Hills Park is mostly undeveloped woodland. Trails pass through the eastern part of the park, and there is also access to the Milwaukee River for fishing. Woods, trails and fishing opportunities are all found within the same park. Which of these options matters most to you depends on whether you’d rather spend your time hiking or fishing.

Several different details are also relevant for canoeing and kayaking. Tendick Nature Park has a ramp to the Milwaukee River. River Oaks Park has river access with a canoe and kayak ramp. At Ehlers Park, the shoreline along the Milwaukee River is approximately 2,200 feet long. The shore is used as a launch or access point by groups taking part in the annual “Canoe Runs.” Check event dates before your trip.

Historic and Cultural Sites

Covered Bridge Park is home to Wisconsin’s last original covered wooden bridge, built in 1876. Pioneer Village offers a different focus: the village is a living history museum. A road leads to its parking lot, from which gravel paths run throughout the village. At Stony Hill School, you’ll find a stone one-room schoolhouse. Bernard Cigrand taught there and recognized the very first Flag Day celebration in 1885. The bridge, village and schoolhouse offer different historical themes, from construction to local education history.

Cedarburg Art Museum combines art with specific access information: its wheelchair-accessible entrance at the rear of the building leads to the galleries on the ground floor and the museum shop. Check the accessibility information again before your trip. The Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts is dedicated to preserving fiber art, adding this distinct field to the area’s cultural offerings.

The 1860 Light Station includes a lighthouse with a lantern room and the lighthouse keeper’s living quarters. Tours include a climb to the lantern room, which features a reproduction of a fourth-order Fresnel lens. If you’re planning a tour, check its availability in advance. The accessible entrance to the ground-floor museum is separate; you should also check the accessibility information again before your trip.

A guided tour of Cedar Creek Winery includes a tasting of several wines. Along with the Interurban Trail, natural areas, and historic and cultural sites, this offers a range of interests to choose from for your trip. For your stay, you can first decide whether you want to focus on trails and scenery, water activities, history, art or a wine tasting.

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For the main travel overview: Wisconsin.

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