Ozaukee Interurban Trail:
Wisconsin
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Description:
The Ozaukee Interurban Trail (Brown Deer Recreational Trail) is an excellent 32-mile path through the communities of Cedar Grove, Belgium, Port Washington, Grafton, Cedarburg, Mequon, and Theinsville. The majority of this trail follows an old electric rail line corridor, though there are on-road portions as you navigate through the downtown areas of Port Washington and Grafton and Cedarsburg. The final 2 miles of this otherwise paved trail excursion are on the packed-dirt Brown Deer Recreation Trail at the corridor's southern tip.
Begin your trip-and extend your ride, skate, or walk-by starting in Cedar Grove in Sheboygan County, where a new 1.75-mile extension takes you to the start of the Ozaukee Interurban trail in Ozuakee County at County Line K. The section from County Line K through Belgium and into Port Washington is largely farmland. An active rail line runs adjacent to the trail.
Arriving in Port Washington the trail goes up a ramp and ends on Highland Drive. Bear right at the end of the ramp and follow the bike signs that will lead you to a stop sign. Turn right and go under Interestate 43. Turn right again onto E. Seven Hills Road and travel a quarter mile, cross to the other side and pick up the trail where it resumes in a field next to a corporate parking lot.
In Port Washington, you must navigate the well-signed roads and some steep climbs before the trail resumes outside of town. Approaching Grafton you will have another on-road, unsigned detour. The trail brings you to the doorstep of a residential community where you will turn right and travel down North Street; turn left on 1st Street. Take 1st Street to Washington; cross over Washington Street and pass Wildwood Park on your right. Several blocks after the park, the off-road trail into Grafton resumes on your right. In Grafton a small half-mile on-street section is well signed and will direct you back to the trail.
The trail from Grafton to Cedarburg crosses many residential streets with scenic views of neighborhoods and parks. It only gets better as you enter the charming community of Cedarburg. Historic bridges carry you over Cedar Creek. and you'll be tempted to explore the inviting restaurants and shops.
South of Cedarburg the trail again becomes rural, passing through the communities of Thiensville and Mequon. Halfway between Cedarburg and Mequon the trail crosses an active rail line and provides a model pedestrian crossing and rail-with-trail design. The trail travels alongside the active rail line until the Ozaukee trail ends and the Brown Deer Recreation Trail begins. This short trail isn't much in the way of scenery-it ends at a utility substation-but it makes a nice connection to extend your trip into the village of Brown Deer.
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Parking & Trail Access:
To reach the Ozaukee Trail's northern entrance from Milwaukee, take Interstate 43 north to State Road 32 west, which turns into Union Avenue (County Road D). The trail entrance is on your left as you approach Cedar Grove.
The southern endpoint for the Ozaukee (and the start of the Brown Deer trail) can be reached from Interstate 43 north; go west on County Line Road Q (at the border of Ozaukee and Milwaukee counties) for approximately 2.5 miles and look for the trail as it crosses the road. The Ozaukee goes north from here; the Brown Deer goes south.
To reach the Brown Deer trail's southern endpoint take Interstate 43 south and then take Hwy. 100 west (Brown Deer Road). The trailhead-also the utility sub station entrance-is on your right at the railroad crossing.
Note: There are a wide variety of trail access points but no designated trail parking lots. For a list of parking facilities and amenities go to Ozaukee County's official trail website: www.interurbantrails.us/parking.htm
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Reviews: [2 trail ratings]
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Century rides
By loghouse in March, 2010
The interurban trail is a great place to do a century ride. I've done this many times now (at least a few times a year for the past4 years). Typically, I'll start somewhere north of Belgium, and ride south to Brown Deer Rd. (the last mile was finally paved last year, so no more "muddy ruts" that other reviewers have posted about). When I get to Brown Deer Rd., I turn around had head north. Once I gor to Ootsburg, I follow the bike route north (no linger the Interurban, but out on lightly traveled rural roads) to Down-town sheboygan where I turn around at the marina, and head back to my starting point. This ride covers around 103-107 miles (depending on my bike computer and food and rest-room stops along the way). The Great thing about this ride is that there are plant of good places to eat and stop along the way in the many little towns you pass through. The southern half of the trail is busier, with the towns being closer together, and the northern half (north of Port Washington) is much quieter and less traveled until you reach Sheboygan (if you choose to try the century).

Anyway, I'd give the Interurban 2 thumbs up. One of my favorite places to ride, and I'm looking forward to the 2010 season.
Century rides
By loghouse in March, 2010
The interurban trail is a great place to do a century ride. I've done this many times now (at least a few times a year for the past4 years). Typically, I'll start somewhere north of Belgium, and ride south to Brown Deer Rd. (the last mile was finally paved last year, so no more "muddy ruts" that other reviewers have posted about). When I get to Brown Deer Rd., I turn around had head north. Once I gor to Ootsburg, I follow the bike route north (no linger the Interurban, but out on lightly traveled rural roads) to Down-town sheboygan where I turn around at the marina, and head back to my starting point. This ride covers around 103-107 miles (depending on my bike computer and food and rest-room stops along the way). The Great thing about this ride is that there are plant of good places to eat and stop along the way in the many little towns you pass through. The southern half of the trail is busier, with the towns being closer together, and the northern half (north of Port Washington) is much quieter and less traveled until you reach Sheboygan (if you choose to try the century).

Anyway, I'd give the Interurban 2 thumbs up. One of my favorite places to ride, and I'm looking forward to the 2010 season.
Good and bad.
By Limpit in October, 2008
My wife and I recently rode the trail from Grafton to Port Washington. We liked the fact that it is paved allowing for quiet, smooth and cleaner ride (if it rains). We are beginners and what we did not like was the fact that so much of this trail runs on roads, some of them very busy. If you ride with small children be aware of the car traffic that will be on this trail. When you get into Port Washington you really have to keep your eyes open for which way the trail goes and with all the traffic to also watch for it was not a very enjoyable ride.
I don't think we will be taking this ride anytime in the future due to the road riding, we can do that anywhere.
The view from the bridge over the Milwaukee River in Grafton, Wisconsin, on a chilly spring day.
Trail Facts
Trail End Points: Cedar Grove (W. County Line Rd.) to Brown Deer
Counties: Ozaukee
Trail Length: 32 miles
Trail Category: Rail-Trail
Trail Surfaces: Asphalt, Dirt
Trail Activities: Bike, Inline Skating, Wheelchair Accessible, Walking, Cross Country Skiing
TrailLink ID: 6017211

Related Links
Guidebook: Learn more about other Midwestern rail-trails in RTC's Midwestern Guidebook.