Fox River Trail (Waukesha)

Waukesha’s Fox River Trail is a scenic path that takes cyclists through various landscapes. It runs slightly over seven miles southwesterly along the Fox River, from downtown Waukesha to rural Fox River County Park. The paved path is level, with a few formidable hills toward the end of the route. There is more traffic on the trail in downtown Waukesha. No trail fee is required, but there is a fee for vehicles to enter Fox River County Park.

The northern trailhead is in Frame Park in Waukesha. This picturesque park on both shores of the Fox River contains a baseball diamond, sand volleyball courts, boat ramp, picnic shelters, botanical garden, and playgrounds. The Schuetze Recreation Center and Rotary Building are used for recreational programs and community rentals.

Frame Park’s parking lot is on Frame Park Drive in Waukesha. To access the park by car from Interstate Highway 94, take exit 295 south on Redford Boulevard. Drive 1.8 mile. Turn left (east) onto E. Moreland Boulevard and cross the bridge over the Fox River. Then turn right (south) onto Frame Park Drive. Parking is available alongside the drive.

The downtown park is well-used. Large open areas, including an outdoor amphitheater, host community festivals. Floating river piers give access to fish, canoe, paddle boat, and are used for water ski shows. A nature play area lets children practice rock climbing. Barstow Plaza is at the southern end of the park, off N. Bartow Street adjacent to a Wisconsin State Office Building. At the plaza, tiered concrete seating and observation decks open up to a lagoon created by a spill-over dam. It is a perfect place to relax and enjoy a view of the river.

Two paved paths run adjacent to each other for 1.5 miles around Frame Park. One trail is designated for pedestrians; the other accommodates cyclists. The park’s east side has perennial and shrub garden beds, while the west side showcases a natural river edge.

Cyclists may want to bike around both sides of the park. Much of the Fox River Trail in downtown Waukesha runs on both sides of the river. Bridges along the route allow pedestrians and cyclists to switch sides. At Frame Park, the trail is accessed on the west side by crossing the bridge at E. Moreland Boulevard or N. Barstow Street.

Use caution when biking through Frame Park. The trails may be congested. Pavilions with park benches are located at various places, and Barstow Plaza is a worthwhile stop. There, trail-goers see the river cascade over the dam and a fountain sprays water into the air. On the east side of the park, the trail arrives at Barstow Plaza via Corrina Boulevard.

After crossing N. Barstow Street, the path moves into downtown Waukesha. Once again the route passes on both sides of the river. Pedestrian traffic on this downtown path can be heavy; slow speed and watchful eyes are needed. The trail passes Bryant and Love Bridges. On the west bank between the two bridges is a sculpture of a mother bear and her two cubs. A beautiful gazebo is located south of Love Bridge.

On the east bank of the Fox River, the trail crosses a busy downtown intersection where four streets converge. Cyclists are advised to walk their bikes across this intersection. The trail then moves past a remarkable clock tower, and attractive murals are visible on a nearby building. These murals are found throughout downtown Waukesha. A historical marker there conveys the story of the Almont building and Cohn’s Shoe Store. The downtown area is also home to several other historic structures.

On summer Saturdays, Waukesha’s farm market is held in a parking lot on the west side of the river. Cyclists wanting to bypass the market should remain on the east bank path. The two trails converge at the end of W. Main Street, after the path on the west side crosses a bridge. It is 1.3 miles from the start of the trail to that location.

The merged path then passes by Waukesha’s Veterans Park, which has a sculpture and the opportunity to remember military veterans. Cyclists must then cross busy Wisconsin Avenue. The route across the street is not clearly marked, and caution is advised.

As the Fox River Trail moves out of downtown Waukesha, it passes through Grede Park. After crossing the river, it enters Bethesda Park where the path divides. Cyclists should take the trail to the right, which exits the park at Dunbar Avenue. It is 0.2 mile south on Dunbar Avenue to W. College Avenue. The path continues west on the south side of the road, but switches to the north side after crossing N. Prairie Avenue.

The E.B. Shurts Building appears on the northwest corner of W. College and N. Prairie Avenues. It is situated within the Fox River Sanctuary, and serves as an environmental education center. It is also the trailhead for the Glacial Drumlin State Trail. Restrooms are accessible from outside. After continuing west along W. College Avenue, the Fox River Trail turns south while the Glacial Drumlin State Trail branches off to the west.

The Fox River Trail then runs south along Sentry Drive for 0.6 mile. After going by an industrial area, it turns right (west) and passes through a forest. A half mile from Sentry Avenue, an observation deck and boardwalk extend into the marsh surrounding the Fox River. A short distance further, the trail arrives at the other side of the boardwalk. The path crosses Sunset Drive and continues one mile next to Fox River Parkway. A shelter with restrooms, basketball court, playground, and open field area are locatedd in this section.

Before going under Wisconsin State Highway 59 (Les Paul Parkway), the trail passes a parking lot and canoe/kayak launch. The path continues along Fox River Parkway and runs by another park. It has a gazebo, picnic shelter, restrooms, ball diamond, and playground.

One mile south of Wisconsin State Highway 59, the trail leaves Waukesha and enters Fox River County Park. This 257-acre park has woodlands, wetlands, and prairies. It has a canoe/kayak launch, fishing opportunities, and hiking trails. There are three covered picnic shelters with restrooms with a nearby nature playground area and sand volleyball court.

The trail enters the park near the Fox River and travels through a thick forest, emerging by a parking lot in a large prairie. Two different paths traverse the prairie, which is filled with wildflowers in the summer. The trails converge before climbing a hill into another forest. The trail descends the hill and makes a mile loop around three separate picnic pavilions.

Each pavilion has a parking lot, and may serve as a potential trailhead. The Fox River Park entrance is off River Road. From Wisconsin State Highway 59 (Genesee Road), turn south on Saylesville Road. Drive one mile and turn left (southeast) onto River Road. The park entrance is on the left (east), 0.6 mile down the road.

While not a large city, Waukesha has much to offer visiting cyclists. Hotels are available, and Waukesha’s historic downtown on the scenic Fox River has shopping and dining.

The Rochester Deli is a popular downtown restaurant, known for delicious Rueben sandwiches and tasty lemon bars. It offers a variety of sandwiches and baked goods. John’s Drive-In has been a local favorite since 1937. It features home-made root beer in an icy glass, ice cream float, or frosty. Other comfort foods are hot dogs, burgers, fries, and malts.

The name “Waukesha” comes from two sources. It may come from the Ojibwe word Waagoshag, the plural form of “fox.” The name may also have come from Wau-tsha, a local Potawatomie leader from the time of European settlement in the area.

^{Map of trailheads and addresses along this section of the trail.}

Waukesha was settled by European and Americans beginning in 1834. Morris D. Cutler was one of the first settlers, and others followed from New England and Wales. The community incorporated as the Town of Prairieville in 1846. In 1847, its name changed to Waukesha. It was incorporated as a village in 1852 and a city in 1896.

The seven miles of the Fox River Trail takes cyclists through a change of landscape. In Waukesha, it passes through a busy park and by cluttered downtown streets. As it advances in following its namesake river, the path ends in the tranquil and rural environment of Fox River County Park. It’s a pleasant ride on the Fox Trail Trail. The surface of the path is in excellent condition and the route is well-marked. There’s a lot to see and do along the way.

Trail last ridden and documented in July, 2021.