It offers stunning views of Lake Michigan and high buffs. This state park is about a 30 minute drive north from Milwaukee on I-43. What a gorgeous area! 10 miles. Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use. Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use. Parking is free and there is no fee to enter the park. For those that want a straight shot to the staircase and to the lake, right off of the boardwalk will be a straight-shot trail called the "Lion's Den Trail" and it is the wheelchair accessible trail. this is a fine place for birding, hiking, and enjoying the lake, there is a wonderful wooden bog walk and a nice pond. Its hard to believe thats a lake. My first time checking out Lion's Den Gorge Preserve. The park features a 7262-foot sandy beach that is accessed by hiking trail and a long set of stairs. The views of the high bluffs from the beach are stunning. Get more stories delivered right to your email. There are picnic tables and portable toilets available at the park. This park is a prototype for the planning and implementation of other "Nature Preserves" within the County park system that respects local ecology. We may manually set the status for a specific beach if we have concerns about the sampling protocol, if there is an emergency, if monitoring practices don't exist or have recently changed, or other reasons that render this site "special.". Off Road Parking Areas They are open from 6 am 9 pm every day of the week. This state park is about a 30 minute drive north from Milwaukee on I-43. Your email address will not be published. Stunning views of Lake Michigan. Sort by: Show more photos. Ive heard it gets busier on the weekend; so take advantage and go check it out during the week, if you are able. It has beach access along it's entire length, multiple hiking trails, and a great quarry lake that can be used for fishing, hiking, or general exploring. At the end of the trail, you will reach a set of stairs that will take you down to the beach below. My sister-in-law and I went hiking there this morning. Dineos other passion is for writing children's pictures and she currently has 5 books in circulation. The park includes massive bluffs, sand dunes, forests, creeks and bridges, hiking trails and stunning vistas of the Lake Michigan shoreline. Ready for your next hike or bike ride? Definitely Che k out the marsh walkway and the frogs! Written September 28, 2021. rrgeniusz. Over 1/2 mile of 90- to 100-foot bluffs look out onto Lake Michigan, offering tremendous viewing opportunities for residents and visitors.Lion's Den Gorge Nature Preserve is also adjacent to a 44 . Learn about whale sharks, beluga whales, manta rays, penguins and sea lions, and don't forget to check out the Dolphin Celebration presentations. Enjoy hand-curated trail maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you. A perfect little afternoon adventure. Swim Guide is a free service that helps to connect millions of people just like you with local beaches and swimming holes. How is Lions Den Gorge Nature Preserve rated? If I owned this land, Im not sure I would want to share views like this: I love visiting the nature preserves near me as they are a great way to disconnect from modern life and reconnect with nature. But I have some exciting news for you. If you come here just for this hike take the time to drive into Cedarburg and wander around their downtown. Loved it! Travelers should use caution and not stray from the generous paths as there is poison Ivy just beyond the edges of some trails, The trails are well marked and mapped. Lots of options for coffee or a meal, including Fiddleheads Coffee! Get Directions. This means that this site has been issued a Blue Flag status for the current swimming season. It can get pretty busy in the summer and on weekends so the colder months have become my favorite time to visit. Over 1/2 mile of 90- to 100-foot bluffs look out onto Lake Michigan, offering tremendous viewing opportunities for residents and visitors.Lion's Den Gorge Nature Preserve is also adjacent to a 44-acre wetland complex Ulao Waterfowl Production Area. There is one paved path that will lead to the lake which is a quick 3-5 minute walk. This entire loop will take you approximately 1 hour from the parking lot to the lake roundtrip. All beaches will be closed if E. coli in a single sample exceeds 1,000 / 100 ml. You can park anywhere on the road (Lake Drive) and be a short walk to the main overlook. Lions Den Gorge Nature Preserve is a great place for fishing, bird watching, hiking, and picnicking. Go toward the beach to the right (bring a swimsuit). There are 3 waterfalls here, mostly under 5 ft high, see if you can find them all! Want to view more enchanting spots in Wisconsin? There are many benches located throughout the trail when you need to rest. Sign in. Experience 10 million gallons of awe-inspiring wonders in more than 60 habitats. From the photos, I never would have guessed this is in Wisconsin. There are 3 waterfalls here, mostly under 5 ft high, see if you can find them all! Always cooler near the lake. Are the stairs down to the beach maintained in winter? The hardest part of the hike is the steps down to the water. They both contain exciting and diverse characters that children love. Poison ivy be carefull. Its definitely one of the most beautiful parks Ive visited. Used to be really pretty but it has been hiked to death the bluff is falling away the wildflowers are trampled to death and invasive plants are taking the park because the parks department has no clue. Would not have guessed Lake Michigan! Lion's Den Trail. You can take a bus from Sheboygan to Lion's Den Gorge Nature Preserve via Milwaukee, Wisconsin & Water, and Grafton . Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your Which you wouldnt necessarily have to do. This park has so many different trails you hardly run into people. Always obey signs at the beach or advisories from official government agencies. Parking is free and there is no fee to enter the park. To keep it free, we depend on donations from people like you. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Heres what you need to know about this special park. According to AllTrails.com, the longest trail in Lion's Den Gorge Nature Preserve is. , than say Grant Park and Milwaukee County. Lots of people not a lot of solitude, too many dogs and thier poo. we went after several snowstorms/melting/refreezing and the trails were covered in ice so it was a bit slippery but well worth it for the scenery. In the USA, the Environmental Protection Agency has two sets of recommendations for freshwater and marine beaches. In her free time, Dineo loves reading nature books to her daughter, cooking, and baking. The Lion's Den Gorge is situated in Chafford Hundred. This 73-acre park offers plenty of hiking trails, boardwalks through the wetlands, picnic areas, scenic views, and restrooms. It has beach access along it's entire length, multiple hiking trails, and a great quarry lake that can be used for fishing, hiking, or general exploring. . Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. Parking and bathroom facilities are only located at the entrance to the park at High Bluff Drive. The land was acquired from Dr. Ghulam Jeelani Dhar in 2002 byOzaukee County and the Ozaukee Washington Land Trust (OWLT), as well as numerous partners. Want to view more enchanting spots in Wisconsin? It's not a huge park, so it's very doable to explore the whole thing in a morning. Frequently asked trail questions about Lion's Den Gorge Nature Preserve. Great spot for a relaxing stroll along the beach or if its a warm day, take a swim in the lake. Lions Den Gorge Nature Preserve is open Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri. Visit Lions Den Gorge Nature Preserve at 511 High Bluff Dr, Grafton, WI 53024. The park features a 7262-foot sandy beach that is accessed by hiking trail and a long set of stairs. They are posted when a single sample exceeds 235 E. coli / 100 ml. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Many people use this park for nature walks, educational tours and photo shoots. LIONS DEN GORGE NATURE PRESERVE - 110 Photos & 36 Reviews - 511 High Bluff Dr, Grafton, Wisconsin - Hiking - Phone Number - Yelp Lions Den Gorge Nature Preserve 36 reviews Unclaimed Hiking, Parks, Fishing Open 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM See hours See all 114 photos Location & Hours 511 High Bluff Dr Yelp users haven't asked any questions yet about . The bluff overlooking the lake was breathtaking; this park is dog-friendly and wheelchair accessible. The parking is free and there is no fee to enter the park or beach. If you are tired of the wide open lake fronts, this park offers a splendid wooded shoreline. Love Wisconsin? Docked in the legendary harbor of Port Washington, Wisconsin, The Outcast is a fully equipped, 36-foot Tiara, outfitted with state-of-the-art fishing technology, with a passionate, professional captain at the helm. There is a limited parking lot, you might have to park on the street if the parking lot is full. Lions Den Gorge was actually named after an animal that escaped from the Milwaukee County Zoo and spent several nights in the area. 5/5 because it is family friendly. The Lion's Den Gorge Nature Preserve is located in the city of Grafton. The building includes indoor bathrooms and an open-air picnic shelter designed by Kueny Architects, LLC and constructed by Mike Koenig Construction Co, Inc. Lions Den Gorge Nature Preserve is the most visited park in the Ozaukee County Park System and until now, the park was serviced by rental portable toilets only, which were inadequate due to increased park usage. I love the look of Lions Den Gorge Nature Preserve. Follow the signs along the Gorge loop toward the "Stairs". Terms. Lots of birds chirping all along in spite of the late season, so I presume this park would be a great place for birding too. There are many benches located throughout the trail when you need to rest. All just 30 minutes north of downtown Milwaukee, WI. It is definitely a beginners fun easy hike. Please explore responsibly! There is a long and beautiful boardwalk over a wetland section of the park. Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. When we arrived, cars were parking along both sides of the street all the way to the intersection. Water Safety Tips from SwimWest Swim School | Plus FREE Event Just Between Friends Sale in Madison, WI | May 19-23, 2023. There are a lot of stairs to get down to beach area as the cliffs are high - but the views from above are just as incredible! All things travel and running around the world. The best part about the trails are that they are fairly easy with not too much elevation and some portions of the trail are on boardwalk which makes them accessible to all. Or if its a warm day, take a swim in the USA, the longest trail in Lion Den! 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