Have you ever been snowshoeing before? It’s basically just hiking on top of the snow.
And if you can walk, you can snowshoe.
You’ll see the forest in a whole new way!
The following nature centers around Milwaukee offer snowshoe rentals, kid-friendly trails, and guided snowshoe hikes.
Havenwoods State Forest (Free!)
6141 N. Hopkins St., Milwaukee, WI 53209
(414) 527-0232
dnr.wi.gov
Snowshoers are welcome to explore over 6 miles of trails in Havenwoods State Forest, and you can borrow snowshoes any time the nature center is open. The “People and the Land” trail is especially kid friendly at just 1.3 miles.
Mequon Nature Preserve (Free!)
8200 W County Line Rd, Mequon, WI 53097
Facebook Page
All rentals are FREE and are offered Mon-Fri from 9am-4pm. There is a limit on the amount per checkout. Sizes vary and limited number of each. First come, first serve. Please call or email at least three days in advance. No poles are provided. Trails are not groomed; however, with high foot traffic they are patted down.
Whitnall Golf Course
Franklin, WI
Website
Check out the trails and waterfall at Whitnall Park in snowshoes! They are rented on a first-come, first-served basis.
Urban Ecology Center
Riverside Park: 1500 E. Park Pl., Milwaukee, WI 53211 – (414) 964-8505
Washington Park: 1859 N. 40th St., Milwaukee, WI 53208 – (414) 344-5460
Menomonee Valley: 3700 W. Pierce St., Milwaukee, WI 53215 – (414) 431-2940
urbanecologycenter.org
By becoming a member at the Urban Ecology Center, you’ll have the opportunity to rent out their nature equipment, including snowshoes.
Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
1111 E. Brown Deer Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53217
(414) 352-2880
schlitzaudubon.org
Keep an eye on the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center website and calendar. They occasionally offer low-cost, guided Family Snowshoe events, during which they provide the snowshoes.
Hawthorn Glen
1130 N 60th St, Milwaukee, WI 53208
(414) 647-6050
facebook.com/HawthornGlenOE/
Follow the Hawthorn Glen Facebook Page to stay informed about low-cost snowshoe hikes for which they provide snowshoes. Sometimes the hikes are even candlelit!
In 2013, Calie Herbst, a former teacher with three little ones, saw a need for a “One Stop Shop” for family fun in Milwaukee. So she founded Milwaukee With Kids. Her goal was to find the best this city has to offer families and share it with other parents. In one place.
In 2019, she published “Exploring Milwaukee WIth Kids”, a comprehensive Milwaukee travel guide for families and kids.
She appears regularly on WISN News, Fox 6’s ‘Real Milwaukee’, B93.3, and Wisconsin Morning News. She has been featured in Medium, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, NPR, the Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle, and on CBS 58 News.
Calie is available for hosting, moderating and media appearances.
