New Berlin Trail:
Wisconsin
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Description:
The communities of Waukesha, New Berlin, and West Allis were sleepy outposts of Milwaukee in the late 1800s. Although the Chicago and North Western Railroad serviced the area, a critical turning point for growth came with the state of Wisconsin's 1892 selection of West Allis as the official location of the annual state fair. Increased rail service was established to bring residents of Milwaukee to the fairgrounds. In 1894 the Milwaukee Street Car Company again expanded service to the fairgrounds in West Allis and these communities began to thrive.
The legacy of the railroad continues today with the New Berlin Recreation Trail. The 7-mile paved trail runs directly west to east from Waukesha through New Berlin to Greenfield Park in West Allis. You will find a very smooth flat trip with a slight downhill advantage if you travel west to east. The first 5.5 miles of the trail are in Waukesha, with wide-open spaces and a rural environment. As you approach New Berlin and continue into Greenfield Park, parks and residential areas flank the trail. There are a few major road crossings that require caution.
This is not a particularly beautiful trail; the Wisconsin Electric Power Company owns the right-of-way, and power lines provide cover rather than trees. What it lacks in scenery it makes up for in location. Though mainly a community path, the trail provides an important link in the system connecting the Oak Leaf Trail and the Glacial Drumlin and Fox River trails. The trail takes you to Greenfield Park, rich in amenities including a golf course, swimming pool, tot lot, concession, picnic and ball fields. And don't forget to experience the event to which this corridor traces its origin: the Wisconsin State Fair.
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Parking & Trail Access:
The trailhead in Waukesha can be accessed by following Highway 59 west which dead-ends into Arcadian Avenue at a traffic light. Highway 59 goes left, but go straight and follow Arcadian Avenue. Take a left on Springdale Road. The trail entrance and parking lot are on the left. From here the trail continues to the right; however, it only goes 0.2 miles into the Cooper Power Systems Plant parking lot. From here 2 miles of on-road connections will take you to the Glacial Drumlin and Fox River trails.
The trailhead in West Allis is in Greenfield Park, at the intersection of Highway 59 and 124th Street. You'll find the trailhead adjacent to the main parking lot, across from the Greenfield Park Pavilion.
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Reviews: [0 trail ratings]
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Favorite Trail
By dillweeds in June, 2011
This is my favorite trail. It's sooooo flat and connects to a ton of other trails
Good Condition and Useful, If Unexciting
By willzerbillz in February, 2010
I live in Waukesha, and used this trail many times to go to West Allis and Milwaukee. Used it 3 times last summer to attend Brewers games -- it gets you about 3/4 of the way there (no fee to park if you are on bike!) The trail was improved a couple of years ago, and I believe it is now completely paved. Very safe--only need to look out at busy HWY 164, and Moreland Roads, plus Calhoun which is not as busy as the other two. Nothing tricky about crossing, just be careful. Very flat and pretty dull, but useful for transit. I find riding the streets of Waukesha more enjoyable--it has extra-wide streets with little traffic, plus some hills and a variety of buildings and houses to look at. New Berlin trail is free, as opposed to Glacial Drumlin, which is part of a pay system. At the east end of the trail is Greenfield park, with a concessions stand when the pool is operating. Lots of civilization just a few blocks away.
New Berlin Trail - recently paved
By Todd Jensen in August, 2006
"As of June, this trail has been recently paved, making it a smooth path for roller blading, roller skiing, etc. Since then, it has seen a large increase in usage, at least from my sightings while commuting.

Todd Jensen
New Berlin, WI"
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