City of Franklin Hike and Bike Trail (Route of the Badger)

Wisconsin

10 Reviews

View Trail Map
View Map
Print
Complete
Favorite
Send to App

Register for free!

Register for free with TrailLink today!

We're a non-profit all about helping you enjoy the outdoors
  • View over 40,000 miles of trail maps
  • Share your trail photos
  • Save your own favorite trails
  • Learn about new trails near you
  • Leave reviews for trails
  • Add new and edit existing trails

City of Franklin Hike and Bike Trail (Route of the Badger) Facts

States: Wisconsin
Counties: Milwaukee
Length: 1.5 miles
Trail end points: Rawson Ave/Milwaukee BB and S North Cape Rd at Muskego Trail (Franklin)
Trail surfaces: Asphalt
Trail category: Rail-Trail
ID: 6227953

City of Franklin Hike and Bike Trail (Route of the Badger) Description

The City of Franklin Hike and Bike Trail follows a corridor originally used by the Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light, an interurban railroad in southeastern Wisconsin. The corridor was later acquired by Wisconsin Electric Power Company, which is known today as We Energies. The Hike and Bike Trail connects seamlessly with the Muskego Recreation Trail at the Milwaukee–Waukesha county line, taking you an additional 5 miles west to Muskego.

The 1.5-mile section of the Franklin Hike and Bike Trail courses through farmland from west to east and then abruptly turns north after you cross Forest Home Avenue. The eastern stretch of the trail runs through suburban Franklin, where you'll pass by playgrounds and residential communities.

Parking and Trail Access

There is no official parking for the trail. To access the City of Franklin Hike and Bike Path, take US 45/SR 100 north from Franklin to W. Rawson Avenue (County Road BB). Turn left on W. Rawson and cross Forest Homes Avenue. The trailhead is on the left between Forest Homes Avenue and S. North Cape Road.

Update: There is a new, paved parking lot for bicyclists and hikers at the edge of the town of St. Martin, where the trail crosses St. Martin Road, near Forest Home Avenue.

City of Franklin Hike and Bike Trail (Route of the Badger) Reviews

No complaints. Just a short paved trail.

No complaints. Just a short paved trail.

Very short trail, it does connect to the big bend muskego trail

Very short trail, it does connect to the big bend muskego trail

Very Good Trail

This trail is a paved trail. The city of Franklin has done a great job of maintaining the trail as well as providing restrooms and shaded rest stops along the way. The only problem with this trail is that it’s too short. I’m hoping someday this trail is able to be extended further north and south.

Tore up

This is all ripped up now, they are replacing the power lines. Still rideable but not relaxing

Accordion

Peaceful, scenic trail

I road this trail on a sunny Monday afternoon, and it was a great ride. I parked at the paved parking lot on St. Martin Road in St. Martin. Rode the trail southwest to connect with the Muskego Recreation Trail and took it to its dead end about 7 miles away. Lots of wildlife on the trail, many rabbits and yellow chickadees. A hamburger and root beer at the Culver's restaurant in Muskego was a welcome break. Took a few side roads to see Muskego Lake and Bass' Bay. A very pleasant summer ride, about 15.5 miles.

Lots of improvements

The last time we rode this trail it was pretty rough. Late last year they repaved it. It's very nice now. And there is indeed parking off of Rawson Ave, on Cape Rd. What used to be maintenance building is now a small public park, Ken Windl Park.

All asphalt now

I checked out this trail today and the southern portion is paved now. Very smooth ride the whole way.

Muskego trail to Rawson - Smooth, paved, asphalt

We've ridden on this trail several times last summer. I don't remember it being paved but it was a significant difference going from Muskego trail onto the Franklin Trail. We made a left at the electric substation rather our usual route where we jig-jog around the church to go east on Church street which turns into Drexel to pick up the Oak leaf trail which is east of 68th st.

Going left on the Franklin trail, you cross Forest Home twice. It's nice to be able to ride on a bike trail instead of Forest Home Ave which is 40 mph road after the trail ends.

It's a pretty nice trail but short. The bathrooms are closed at the park near Rawson but it is December and it did snow pretty good here once. Although the snow's mostly melted now. Not very many people on the trail at the Rawson end.

New pavement

Whenever I'd go east on the Muskego trail this would be a turn around point at St. Martins Rd. It since has been paved north of the road it is worth riding.

More gravel than crushed stone

Not the best trail for a road bike.

Nearby Trails

Go Unlimited Today!

  • FREE Account
  • View over 40,000 miles of trail maps
  • Post your trail reviews
  • Share your trail photos
  • Save your favorite trails
  • Learn about new trails near you
  • Get a free map in the app!
Register for FREE
  •  
Purchase Unlimited

Explore by City

Explore by City

Explore by Activity

Explore by Activity

Log in to your account to:

  • View trail paths on the map
  • Save trails to your account
  • Add trails, edit descriptions
  • Share photos
  • Add reviews

Log in with Google

Log in with Apple

OR

Register for free!

Join TrailLink (a non-profit) to view more than 40,000 miles of trail maps and more!

Register with Google

Register with Apple

OR

Your account has been deleted.