Lake Country Trail: Delafield to Oconomowoc

The Lake Country Trail from Delafield to Oconomowoc provides a relaxing ride through the open spaces of western Waukesha County. After departing Delafield, the route passes through the village of Summit and concludes in Oconomowoc. It journeys past suburban neighborhoods, farm fields, and low marshes.

From the trailhead at Delafield’s Fish Hatchery Sports Commons, it is 7.4 miles to Roosevelt Park in Oconomowoc. Mile markers are posted, and the trail is paved and in excellent condition. A yellow line delineates two lanes. The grade is level, making it an easy ride.

Delafield is a perfect place to begin a ride. Its lively downtown offers stores and restaurants to explore. There’s no shortage of places to eat. Revere’s Wells Street Tavern is highly recommended. It serves traditional pub fare, and has an outdoor seating area. Great Harvest Bread Company offers tasty sandwiches, sweet baked treats, and specialty breads. Wheel & Sprocket Bicycle Store is on the trail, offering cyclists equipment and services.

Coffee lovers have several choices in Delafield. Steeplechase Coffee Company and Blue Collar Coffee Company are both close to the trail. Steeplechase is directly on the Lake Country Trail, while Blue Collar is a few short blocks away next to a park and creek.

Trail-goers craving ice cream have options, too. Wholly Cow Frozen Custard features their own frozen custard, along with burgers and tasty sides. Here’s the Scoop offersice cream from the Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Company in Madison.

The town of Delafield dates to 1837 when white American settlers established themselves on the southern shore of Lake Nagawicka. This community also served as a stop for people traveling on the Blue Mound plank road between Milwaukee and Madison.

Delafield emerged as a religious center for Wisconsin Episcopalians in the mid-1800s. In 1842, Bishop Jackson Kemper and Deacon James Lloyd Breck oversaw construction of the Nashotah House Theological Seminary. In 1858, Kemper founded St. John’s Preparatory School which became the St. John’s Military Academy in 1884. In 1995, it was re-established as St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy.

In the 1870s, the construction of a rail line from Milwaukee made Delafield a popular resort destination for vacationers. Summer homes were constructed around Lake Nagawicka, many remaining today. Today, Delafield is a delightful town to visit.

In Delafield, the Fish Hatchery Sports Commons on the beautiful Bark River serves well as a trailhead. The Fish Hatchery building from 1907 and neighboring Delafield Visitor Center provide amenities for bicyclists. There is a parking lot, restrooms, picnic tables, pavilion, athletic fields, and play area.

To access the complex by car, after taking exit 285 from Interstate Highway 94 drive north on County Road C (Genesee Street). Drive 0.4 mile to downtown Delafield, and turn left (west) on Main Street. The parking lot entrance is 350 yards on the right (north).

The Lake Country Trail is reached by biking west on Main Street a few hundred feet, until the trail begins running west along the north side of Main Street. It passes the Lake Country Police and Fire Department, and crosses Cushing Park Road. At this intersection, the Cushing Park Trail and Ice Age National Scenic Trail lead south to the Kettle Moraine State Forest-Lapham Peak Unit. Continuing further south, the Cushing Park Trail connects to the Glacial Drumlin State Trail.

Trail-goers may digress north on Cushing Park Road to Cushing Memorial Park. The park contains picnic tables, a playground, and restrooms. It also has a memorial to three of Delafield’s famous sons, the Cushing Brothers who served as Union Army officers in the American Civil War. Alonzo was killed at the Battle of Gettysburg during Pickett’s Charge in 1863. William was credited with sinking the CSS Albemarle during a daring nighttime raid in 1864. Howard fought in the Civil War and subsequent Indian Wars, and was killed fighting Apache warriors in Arizona in 1871.

Back on the Lake Country Trail, the route continues west from Cushing Park Road for 0.4 mile until it ends on Delafield Road. Main Street becomes Delafield Road at the boundary between Delafield and the village of Summit.

In Summit, the trail follows the road for a half mile. The route passes over a bridge spanning a canal separating the Upper and Lower Nemahbin Lakes. On summer weekends the bridge is often busy with vehicle and pedestrian traffic, as this is a popular spot for boaters visiting the nearby Panga Bar and Grill.

Beyond the bridge, the trail resumes on the south side of Delafield Road, next to Nemahbin Lake Boat Launch. A public restroom is there. From this spot it’s less than a half mile west to the Lake Country Trailhead which has a parking lot, restrooms, and picnic tables.

The trailhead is located on Delafield Road. It is reached from Interstate Highway 94 by taking exit 283 north on County Highway P (Delafield Road). After driving 0.3 mile, take the first exit east at the traffic circle to stay on Delafield Road. Drive 0.3 mile, and the trailhead will be on the right (south) side of the road.

The trail follows alongside Delafield Road and across a traffic circle, where caution should be used. In this area the trail also passes Peter Prime Park, a small park with a playground and basketball court. At the traffic circle, the trail crosses Delafield Road to the north, and then goes west across County Highway P (Sawyer Road).

Traveling north for one mile, the trail travels aside the county road and past open fields and housing subdivisions. Power line towers follow the route to its end in Oconomowoc. The trail turns west at the intersection with Valley Road, and proceeds another mile before arriving at a very busy state highway.

It’s challenging to cross Wisconsin State Highway 67 (Summit Avenue) due to its many lanes and high traffic volume. As of May, 2023, trail construction created a detour through the intersection. Work is underway to build a tunnel under the highway to allow for easy trail passage across the intersection. Until its completion, extreme caution is needed when traversing the detour route across the highway. Use of bright clothing and headlights/taillights is strongly recommended.

The Lake Country Trail continues west past a Target warehouse and subdivisions. After a mile, the route turns north and proceeds another 1.7 miles. The trail passes through marshy wetlands between the powerlines.  

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

The path ends at Jefferson Street in the city of Oconomowoc. Before its end, a spur trail leads to Roosevelt Park, an excellent trailhead. This 99-acre park has a parking lot, restrooms, bike racks and a bicycle self-service station. It also has picnic tables, a playground, athletic fields and courts, and pavilions.

To reach the park from Interstate Highway 94, take exit 282 north on Wisconsin State Highway 67 ( Summit Avenue). Drive 2.5 miles, and turn left (west) onto Forest Street. The park is at the west end of the street.

Oconomowoc has many businesses catering to the needs of visitors using the Lake Country Trail, with ample hotels and restaurants

The town’s name means “gathering of the waters” in the Potawatomi language. Tribal members lived in the area that would become Oconomowoc, for many years before the arrival of white American settlers.

The first white person recorded in the area was Amable Vieau, brother-in-law of Solomon Juneau, a founder of Milwaukee. Vieau built a trading post in 1827 and other white settlers soon followed. A town was formed in 1844. In the 1870s, the community became a summer resort destination for wealthy families from Milwaukee and Chicago. Large houses were established around the town’s lakes and Oconomowoc was incorporated as a city in 1865.

Trail last ridden and documented in May, 2023.