Skip to main content
Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Donate
  • Visit us on facebook
  • Visit us on twitter
  • Visit us on instagram
  • Visit us on vimeo
  • Shopping Cart 0
  • Blog
  • About Us
  • COVID-19
  • Venue Rentals
  • Visit
    • Plan Your Visit
    • Hiking Trails
    • Group Visits
    • FAQs
  • Birding
    • Birding at Schlitz Audubon
    • Feeder Cam
    • Birding Resources
    • Birdathon
  • Learn
    • Nature Preschool
    • Youth Education
    • Summer Camp
    • Adult Education
  • Conservation
    • Conservation Philosophy
    • Conservation Plan
    • Stormwater Wetland & Ravine Restoration Project
    • Reptile Amphibian Conservation Area
    • Birds of Greatest Conservation Need
    • Citizen Science
    • Conservation in Your Yard
  • Raptors
    • Raptor Program
    • Meet Our Raptors
    • Support Our Raptors
    • 2023 Raptor Calendar
    • At the Mews
  • Calendar
  • Get Involved
    • Membership
    • Donate
    • Planned Giving
    • Volunteer
    • Careers & Internships
Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
  • VisitView Children
    • Plan Your Visit
    • Hiking Trails
    • Group Visits
    • FAQs
  • BirdingView Children
    • Birding at Schlitz Audubon
    • Feeder Cam
    • Birding Resources
    • Birdathon
  • LearnView Children
    • Nature Preschool
    • Youth Education
    • Summer Camp
    • Adult Education
  • ConservationView Children
    • Conservation Philosophy
    • Conservation Plan
    • Stormwater Wetland & Ravine Restoration Project
    • Reptile Amphibian Conservation Area
    • Birds of Greatest Conservation Need
    • Citizen Science
    • Conservation in Your Yard
  • RaptorsView Children
    • Raptor Program
    • Meet Our Raptors
    • Support Our Raptors
    • 2023 Raptor Calendar
    • At the Mews
  • Calendar
  • Get InvolvedView Children
    • Membership
    • Donate
    • Planned Giving
    • Volunteer
    • Careers & Internships
  • Blog
  • About Us
  • COVID-19
  • Venue Rentals
  • Donate

Also in this section

  • Plan Your Visit
  • Hiking Trails
  • Group Visits
  • FAQs
Hiking Trails at Schlitz Audubon

Hiking Trails

trail map

Download a JPG

Our trails are open 9:00am-5:00pm daily. Please register at the Welcome Booth when you arrive. Admission fees are paid when you arrive if needed.

See our latest COVID-19 updates here.

The best way to experience the abundance of nature at Schlitz Audubon is to hike the trails. Our offering includes beautiful nature hikes, birding trails, wheelchair-accessible trails, and more. In every season, our 185 acres offers incredible views of flora and fauna.

Schlitz Audubon Nature Center is designated as an Important Bird Area because of the habitat our nature preserve provides migratory birds. You can view both Lake Michigan and the forest from above by climbing our 60-foot observation tower. We provide a growing selection of wheelchair and stroller-accessible walking trails so that everyone can experience nature. When weather permits, snowshoes are available for use on our trails – free for members, or $10 for guests.

Recommended Nature Hikes

First Time Visitor

Take the hiking trail to Mystery Lake and then visit our Observation Tower. The tower provides a beautiful view of the nature preserve and Lake Michigan. Mystery Lake has a boardwalk that lets you get close to the frogs and turtles, and is wheelchair accessible.

Lake Michigan Hiking Trail

Take the paved hiking trail down to Lake Michigan and follow the sandy steps down to the beach. You can feel the lake breeze, and see if any gulls or ducks are out on the water. Continue walking on the North Lake Terrace Trail, stop by the new Milner Lake Michigan Viewing Deck for another great view of Lake Michigan, and then continue on and head up the wooden steps to return to the building.

Wheelchair Accessible Hike

Take the Green Tree Accessible Trail around the tower and connect to the wheelchair-accessible hiking trail made of crushed gravel that leads to the Mystery Lake boardwalk. You’ll pass through woods, have the chance to see beautiful ephemeral flowers in spring, and end up at Mystery Lake with an up-close look at frogs, turtles, muskrats, waterlilies, and you’ll be able to see native birds like Green Herons, Baltimore Orioles, and Tree Swallows. Cross the road and take our Gateway Trail to complete your loop to the parking lot.

Birding HIKES

There is no wrong way to go if you’re a birdwatcher! We have a variety of habitats on the land, so different species can be found all over the property. A good route to start with is swinging by Mystery Lake, taking the paved path down to Lake Michigan, and then walking back up to the building by following the North Lake Terrace Hiking Trail. During spring migration, this route should give a great variety of birds, including many warbler species.

Solitude Hike

Hike to Mystery Lake, and then head to the Woodland Loop. It is not a high-traffic area, and even includes a spot called Solitude Marsh! Another great area to recommend to visitors looking for solitude is the West Meadows Trail. You will see quite a few ponds, Eastern Bluebird houses, prairie flowers in summer, and it’s likely you will not run into anyone else. Hiking this route will be muddy if it has rained recently.

Trail Guidelines

Here are a few quick guidelines for hiking at Schlitz Audubon. We have six miles of trails, portions of which consist of paved, crushed gravel, or boardwalks that are wheelchair accessible. Drones, bicycles, and pets are not allowed on Center trails. Collecting is prohibited; please leave nature where it is for everyone to experience. Please stay on marked trails (even for photographs); stepping off-trail can diminish plant and animal habitat that we work to create.

See our Frequently Asked Questions for complete trail guidelines.

Members hike the trails through all seasons for free!

Join today

Related Articles

September 17, 2021
A Walk in the Woods

The Waning of Summer

We still have a few days left of summer, but the transition to autumn has… Read Story >

February 18, 2021
A Walk in the Woods

Winter Waves & the Ice Shelf

Waves have always mesmerized me. It’s possible that this fascination stems from growing up in… Read Story >

Events

Conservation Hike: Native Plants

Saturday, August 20, 2022
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Join our Director of Conservation and Land Management, Drew Shuster, for a hike highlighting native... Read Story >

Songs and S’mores

Thursday, August 25, 2022
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Join Family Programs Manager Cassie Rincon as we celebrate the end of summer before starting... Read Story >

Birding Exploration

Sunday, August 28, 2022
7:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Birding with an experienced guide is an excellent way to improve your birding skills. Join... Read Story >

Schlitz Audubon Nature Center

Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, our mission is to conserve our land’s diverse habitats on Lake Michigan and provide meaningful experiences and environmental education for all.

Our Location

Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
1111 E. Brown Deer Road
Milwaukee, WI 53217
(414) 352-2880

Summer Hours
(through August)
8:30am – 8:00pm Mon – Thurs
8:30am – 5:00pm Fri, Sat, Sun

Admission
Free for members
$8 Adults
$5 Ages 3-17
$5 Active Duty & Veterans

Plan Your Visit
Join today!

Stay Connected!

Subscribe to our Weekly eNews to receive updates on activities, programs and special events.

  • Please enter a number from 10000 to 99999.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • Visit us on facebook
  • Visit us on twitter
  • Visit us on instagram
  • Visit us on pinterest
  • Visit us on vimeo
  • Contact Us
  • Venue Rentals
  • Careers & Internships
  • About Us
  • Panorama
  • Site Terms
  • Donor Privacy Policy
Charity Navigator 4-star charity
National Audubon Society
Schlitz Audubon is an independent, locally supported partner of the National Audubon Society.

All content ©2022 Schlitz Audubon Nature Center

Site Design: Third Sector Creative