HomeWisconsinBayside › Schlitz Audubon Nature Center

Schlitz Audubon Nature Center

4.8 ★★★★★ 1,427 Google reviews · Running trail in Bayside, Wisconsin · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Schlitz Audubon Nature Center'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.

BoardwalkScenicStroller / ADAQuiet

185-acre habitat on Lake Michigan, with 6 miles of hiking trails & a 60-ft. observation tower.

What runners say about Schlitz Audubon Nature Center

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (1,427 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 15 mentions

“The natural beauty of the space is unreal; we didn’t even feel the need to decorate for our ceremony because the setting was already so beautiful.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 3 mentions

“The trails are easy to walk and take you through woods, near the lake, and some really peaceful spots.”

Absolutely amazing park. It's a beautiful walk along easy trails through a variety of habitats. The outlook tower is very tall and gives you a breathtaking view of the lake and the forest. The nature center had educators with different raptors on hand! They were very knowledgeable and super friendly.

★★★★★ — Katie , Sep 2022

Surrounded by Nature, Schlitz Audubon is a beautiful and peaceful wedding venue. There are gorgeous nature trails, teeming with life and flowers, a lagoon with a boardwalk, a cute beach along Lake Michigan, and a wooded clearing for weddings!

★★★★★ — Brandon , Jun 2025

A secret gem of a place. I've driven past the entrance hundreds of times and didn't even know it was there! We only went to have family photos taken at the center, but after that we were sold and got a membership.

★★★★★ — Stacey , Sep 2024

Really nice spot to relax and enjoy nature. The trails are easy to walk and take you through woods, near the lake, and some really peaceful spots. The Observation Tower is a MUST - amazing view of the trees and Lake Michigan from up there. Great place to take a walk, spot some birds, or just unwind for a while.

★★★★★ — Islamia , Oct 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 1,427 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 17 mentions

“The natural beauty of the space is unreal; we didn’t even feel the need to decorate for our ceremony because the setting was already so beautiful.”

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Stroller / ADA accessible 4 mentions

“All trails were well groomed, most are accessible and have enough room for a walker!”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 3 mentions

“The trails are easy to walk and take you through woods, near the lake, and some really peaceful spots.”

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🪵 Boardwalk

“There are gorgeous nature trails, teeming with life and flowers, a lagoon with a boardwalk, a cute beach along Lake Michigan, and a wooded clearing for weddings!”

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Plan your run at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceBoardwalk — flat and scenic, and slick when wet, so watch your footing
  • 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.
  • Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
  • Websiteschlitzaudubon.org
  • Phone+1 414-352-2880
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 8:30 am–8 pm
Tuesday 8:30 am–8 pm
Wednesday 8:30 am–8 pm
Thursday 9 am–8 pm
Friday 8:30 am–5 pm
Saturday 8:30 am–5 pm
Sunday 8:30 am–5 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 Schlitz Audubon Nature Center

1111 E Brown Deer Rd, Bayside, WI 53217

Get directions

Running trails near Bayside

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

Doctor's Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,119 reviews

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MixedScenic

Remote beach area on the lakefront with wild & paved trails from the bluff parking lot to the shore.

under a mile away

Mequon dog park

4.5 ★★★★★ 86 reviews

Mequon, WI

Natural surfaceShadedDog-friendly

Park offering trails for dogs that are mostly off-leash, plus picnic tables.

2.3 miles away

Katherine Kearney Carpenter Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 175 reviews

Mequon, WI

Natural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

Park offering picnic tables and trails for humans and dogs, plus open areas.

2.3 miles away

Virmond County Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 591 reviews

Mequon, WI

PavedScenicDog-friendly

63-acre park with a lake overlook, picnic pavilion & playground, plus trails, benches & open fields.

2.6 miles away

Grasslyn Nature Preserve

4.5 ★★★★★ 10 reviews

Mequon, WI

3.0 miles away

Kletzsch Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 765 reviews

Glendale, WI

ShadedScenic

Relaxed park with soccer fields, trails and waterfalls, plus archery practice areas and fishing spots.

3.3 miles away

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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.