HomeWisconsinSouth Milwaukee › Oak Creek Parkway

Oak Creek Parkway

4.6 ★★★★★ 425 Google reviews · Running trail in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Oak Creek Parkway'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.

Scenic

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

What runners say about Oak Creek Parkway

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (425 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“We only went to the playground but walking through the grounds are well kept and clean.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 11 mentions

“A great place to hike, dog walk, see the lake from a beautiful perspective along parts of the trails.”

Took a leisurely walk in Grant Park following the 7 bridges trail down to Lake Michigan. The best part of walking through the park in Winter is you get exceptional views of the lake when the trees are bare of their leaves. The stairs can be a bit of a challenge for some.

★★★★☆ — Jj , Jan 2024

What a surprise! Beautiful clear water. Great place for a walk and wild life scenery. Simply perfect hidden spot!

★★★★★ — Elicia , May 2023

This is a part of our walking path. Home to the pond dam and back is 4 miles. The County Park system needs to maintain some of the sidewalks along the Parkway. Walkers are forced to walk in traffic.

★★★★★ — Paul , Oct 2023

My husband and I went here on a whim to take our puppy for a walk on a nice day. I was pleasantly surprised at how nice this park is! I’m not sure if there is a specific parking lot but we just parked on the street at the end of one of the dead ends that lead to the park trail.

★★★★★ — Lauren , May 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 425 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 16 mentions

“There's a decent sized waterfall, a long River to walk alongside, a spot to fish by the river, lots of geese and hiking trails galore!”

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Oak Creek Parkway

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • 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.
  • 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 Oak Creek Parkway

Oak Leaf Trail, South Milwaukee, WI 53172

Get directions

Running trails near South Milwaukee

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

Seven Bridges

4.8 ★★★★★ 3,124 reviews

South Milwaukee, WI

LoopScenic

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

1.4 miles away

Grant Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 4,447 reviews

South Milwaukee, WI

MixedScenic

Lakefront park with a beach, 18-hole golf course & hiking trails winding through woods & ravines.

1.4 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.

1.6 miles away

Cudahy Nature Preserve

4.4 ★★★★☆ 100 reviews

Oak Creek, WI

LoopNatural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

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

1.7 miles away

Grant Park Beach House

4.8 ★★★★★ 114 reviews

South Milwaukee, WI

Natural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

Park with a beach, food, a playground, and volleyball leagues, plus views of nature.

1.7 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.

2.7 miles away

All running trails in South Milwaukee, 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.