About Us

The Milwaukee Urban Water Trail is a cooperative effort to help the citizens and visitors of the Greater Milwaukee Area gain safe and legitimate access to the Milwaukee, Menomonee and Kinnickinnic Rivers with their canoes, kayaks, and other small non-motorized boats. The second edition of the Milwaukee Urban Water Trail now connects a large natural stretch of the Milwaukee River and its tributaries in Ozaukee County to the more urban stretches of our rivers in Milwaukee County. This edition also connects our three rivers to access points along Lake Michigan, which includes launches that are part of the Lake Michigan Water Trail as well as some newly acquired lakefront parks in Ozaukee County.

The Milwaukee Urban Water Trail builds on a series of efforts to bring life back to the rivers of the Milwaukee River Basin by improving access, water quality, fisheries, and wildlife habitat. The underlying goal of the Water Trail is to encourage people to enjoy their rivers in a responsible way that protects our natural and cultural resources. Water trail explorers are encouraged to respect these resources and the private landowners and communities that care for them.

The Milwaukee Urban Water Trail is supported by Milwaukee Riverkeeper, a science-based advocacy organization working to achieve swimmable, drinkable, fishable waters in the Milwaukee River Basin & Lake Michigan. Milwaukee Riverkeeper is a member of the Waterkeeper Alliance, a global movement to protect our right to clean water in communities around the world.