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Cudahy Nature Preserve

4.4 ★★★★☆ 100 Google reviews · Running trail in Oak Creek, Wisconsin · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Natural surface
Loop distance
Not reported
Shape
Loop
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Cudahy Nature Preserve's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Natural surfaceLoopScenicDog-friendlyTrailhead parkingQuiet

Park featuring scenic wooded trails for kid-friendly hikes and bird watching.

What runners say about Cudahy Nature Preserve

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (100 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“Beautiful old growth trees and a well kept path.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 8 mentions

“Beautiful old growth trees and a well kept path.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 6 mentions

“Great place to explore nature and what it has to offer nice place to meet new and different individuals quiet in peaceful”

Hidden little gem of a walking trail! Went on the perfect fall day. The foliage and fungi were so beautiful!

★★★★★ — Ari , Nov 2023

A great place to get grounded, and feel at peace. Small parking lot means it's usually never packed. Great place to walk and wander. Gorgeous during fall!

★★★★★ — Amber , Oct 2022

Nice short trail that makes you seem like you are further away. Next to the airport so you do hear the planes but it is a old growth forest. Bring bug spray and don't come after rain. Some trees are down and block some of the paths. If you can do the whole circle it's about a mile.

★★★★☆ — Benfromiowa , Feb 2024

Nice overall, easy sauntering. Trails seemed a bit neglected but the flora and sounds of birds made up for it. Parking is immediately as you enter, pavilion right near the parking and there's a circle drive. One could walk these trails and feel accomplished at the end.

★★★★☆ — Holly , Jul 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 100 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 8 mentions

“Beautiful old growth trees and a well kept path.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 7 mentions

“Parking is immediately as you enter, pavilion right near the parking and there's a circle drive.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 6 mentions

“There is a sign saying no dogs allowed, then another for no dogs off leach.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 6 mentions

“Great place to explore nature and what it has to offer nice place to meet new and different individuals quiet in peaceful”

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🌲 Natural surface / singletrack 5 mentions

“The paths are kept relatively nicely, albeit sometimes muddy after a rainfall.”

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🔁 Loop trail 2 mentions

“Trails loop around and bring you back to tot parking lot.”

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Plan your run at Cudahy Nature Preserve

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitecounty.milwaukee.gov
  • Phone+1 414-762-1550

Hours

Monday 6 am–10 pm
Tuesday 6 am–10 pm
Wednesday 6 am–10 pm
Thursday 6 am–10 pm
Friday 6 am–10 pm
Saturday 6 am–10 pm
Sunday 6 am–10 pm

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Cudahy Nature Preserve

501 E College Ave, Oak Creek, WI 53154

Get directions

Running trails near Oak Creek

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Oak Creek Parkway

4.6 ★★★★★ 425 reviews

South Milwaukee, WI

Scenic

Serpentining green space that borders Oak Creek and includes open park land, shrubs & trees.

1.7 miles away

Abendschein Community Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 476 reviews

Oak Creek, WI

MixedDog-friendly

Local park featuring a playground, baseball field, disc-golf course, wooded trails & skate facility.

1.9 miles away

Johnstone Park | Leased by the City of Oak Creek

4.4 ★★★★☆ 36 reviews

Oak Creek, WI

2.0 miles away

Falk Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 177 reviews

Oak Creek, WI

MixedScenic

Hiking trails through stands of native trees & grassland bird habitat, with picnic facilities.

2.0 miles away

Emerald Preserve Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 69 reviews

Oak Creek, WI

Scenic

Nature preserve offering kid-friendly hikes, and plenty of wildlife including turtles.

2.2 miles away

Seven Bridges

4.8 ★★★★★ 3,124 reviews

South Milwaukee, WI

LoopScenic

Forested 2-mi. ravine hiking trail overlooking the lake & crossing over 10 bridges.

2.8 miles away

All running trails in Oak Creek, WI →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.