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Oak Leaf Trail facts for kids

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Oak Leaf Trail
A sign for the Oak Leaf Trail in Lake Park on Milwaukee's East Side neighborhood

The Oak Leaf Trail is a super long, paved path that's great for biking, walking, and running! It stretches for about 108 miles (174 kilometers) and goes all around Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. Think of it like a green ribbon connecting many of the big parks in the Milwaukee County Park System. It used to be called the 76 Bike Trail.

What is the Oak Leaf Trail?

This amazing trail was first thought up by a bicycling fan named Harold "Zip" Morgan way back in 1939. He imagined a 64-mile (103-kilometer) path. This path would follow the county's edge. It would also go through pretty areas near rivers and the lake.

Three decades later, in 1966, the Milwaukee County Park Commission officially started building the trail. It became known as the 76 Bike Trail. This was because it was 76 miles (122 kilometers) long at that time.

How Long is the Trail Now?

Today, the Oak Leaf Trail is a big system of connected paths. It has about 48 miles (77 kilometers) of smooth asphalt paths. There are also 31 miles (50 kilometers) of parkway roads. Plus, 27 miles (43 kilometers) of city streets have special bike lanes and sidewalks.

The main outer loop of the trail is about 64.5 miles (104 kilometers) long. This loop connects to several smaller paths:

  • The Lake Loop, which is 5.4 miles (8.7 kilometers) long.
  • The Lincoln Creek Spur, about 1.6 miles (2.6 kilometers) long.
  • The Whitnall Loop, which is 2.6 miles (4.2 kilometers) long.
  • The East-West Connector, stretching 13.7 miles (22 kilometers).

In 2006, the 2.1-mile (3.4-kilometer) Root River Trail Extension was added. More parts of the trail are being planned. These new parts will connect to other trails. This includes the Hank Aaron State Trail in the Menomonee Valley and Lakeshore State Park. A new section under Bluemound Road was finished in 2011. This part is in the City of Wauwatosa.

What Can You See on the Trail?

The scenery along the Oak Leaf Trail changes a lot! You might see beautiful woodland parks. There are also nature reserves and areas where wildlife lives along the lakefront. Other parts of the trail go through city areas. You can even see industrial buildings in downtown Milwaukee.

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