It offers stunning views of Lake Michigan and high buffs. Want to find the best trails in Lion's Den Gorge Nature Preserve for an adventurous hike or a family trip? This couldnt be more the case than with Lions Den Gorge. This park has been on my bucket list for years and I had already seen how the gorge looks from social media pictures, but I had no idea it would revive my soul! OZAUKEE COUNTY PARK SYSTEM . Find the travel option that best suits you. The land was acquired from Dr. Ghulam Jeelani Dhar in 2002 byOzaukee County and the Ozaukee Washington Land Trust (OWLT), as well as numerous partners. Lion's Den Gorge Nature Preserve. Looking for a more strenuous hike? The hikes were peaceful the views stunning - something for everyone!! Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your It was nice to hear the roar of the lake as we came in to the shore from the stairway. You can see them in action in our Under the Boardwalk presentation. This is beautiful! Wisconsin may not be the place that comes to mind when you think of towering bluffs above tropical looking blue waters, but that is exactly what you will find at Lions Den Gorge Nature Preserve. These results were posted to Swim Guide on September 5th, 2022 at 11:52 AM. Medium priority beaches are sampled at least twice per week. Beautiful nature scenes. I think the Great Lakes are such an underrated spot. Leashed dogs are welcome at Lion's Den Gorge Nature Preserve, which represents one of the last stretches of undeveloped bluff land along the Lake Michigan shoreline, from Mequon up to Port Washington. This is a longer hike than just simply appreciating the lake from the top. I didnt either, I heard it was like a tropical paradise which is why I went but didnt believe how beautiful it would be til I saw it with my own eyes. From north- or southbound I-43, take exit 92 and head east on Hwy. We've got you covered, with trails ranging from 147 to 147 feet in elevation gain. What restaurants are near Lion's Den Gorge Nature Preserve? The Lion's Den Gorge Nature Preserve is located in the city of Grafton. There was evidence of recent bluff collapses at a couple of spots on the beach. What a gorgeous place! Visitors can easily enjoy the views from the top of the bluff, or take the stairs connected via scenic bridges to go all the way down to the beach. Thank you! Yellow means the beach passed water quality tests 60-95% of the time. So I scaled down the embankment down to the lake. There are many benches located throughout the trail when you need to rest. These views are uncompromised in the area! Photos (1,190) Directions; Print/PDF map; Share; More; Length 3.4 km Elevation gain 45 m Route type Circular. They are posted when a single sample exceeds 235 E. coli / 100 ml. For those that want to see the gorge/lake, follow signs for the "Bluff trail". My children came along. Such a beautiful gorge! Visit Lions Den Gorge Nature Preserve at 511 High Bluff Dr, Grafton, WI 53024. Stunning views of Lake Michigan. The park includes massive bluffs, sand dunes, forests, creeks and bridges, hiking trails and stunning vistas of the Lake Michigan shoreline. There are 3 waterfalls here, mostly under 5 ft high, see if you can find them all! AllTrails has 1 great trails for hiking and more. adventures and follow local regulations. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. This status is based on the latest sample, taken on September 5th, 2022. Has anyone walked North toward south Beach from Lions Den and seen the old car on the beach? Many families havent been to the Lake Michigan shoreline and its not that far (and beautiful!). This was one of the most beautiful parks Ive ever visited!! Ive heard it gets busier on the weekend; so take advantage and go check it out during the week, if you are able. I went for the second time this weekend after discovering that this place existed. can be made for group events by visiting our. Swim Guide, "Swim Drink Fish icons," and associated trademarks are owned by SWIM DRINK FISH CANADA. The Cedar Loop trail was peaceful with scent from the cedar trees. My daughter and I had an opportunity to explore Lions Den Gorge Nature Preserve, located in Grafton, WI. Parking and bathroom facilities are only located at the entrance to the park at High Bluff Drive. There is one paved path that will lead to the lake which is a quick 3-5 minute walk. A single sample at a marine beach should not exceed 104 Enterococci / 100 ml of water. Go toward the beach to the right (bring a swimsuit). Stunning views abound in Wisconsin; you just need to know where to look. Nice rest benches are available at strategic locations. This public access includes almost 0.7 miles of 90 to 100 foot high bluffs looking out onto Lake Michigan and a mixture of wetland / upland areas that provide diverse habitats for native wildflowers, shrubs, and trees that are useful for all types of wildlife, such as migratory birds, game birds and waterfowl, amphibians, and mammals. The schools are opening soon, are you ready? My boyfriend and I frequent Lions Den. It truly feels like you are in the mountains when you get down into this ravenous area! The best part about the trails are that they are fairly easy with not too much elevation and some portions of the trail are on boardwalk which makes them accessible to all. There are over 2 miles of walking trails, which are easy to navigate and marked well. Looked like a picture perfect spot putting it on the WI list! The Lion's Den Gorge is situated in Chafford Hundred. The views of the high bluffs from the beach are stunning. There is ample parking, full bathrooms, and picnic areas. There is one paved path that will lead to the lake which is a quick 3-5 minute walk. Over 1/2 mile of 90- to 100-foot bluffs look out onto Lake Michigan, offering tremendous viewing opportunities for residents and visitors.Lion's Den Gorge Nature Preserve is also adjacent to a 44-acre wetland complex Ulao Waterfowl Production Area. This state park is about a 30 minute drive north from Milwaukee on I-43. Lion's Den Gorge Nature Preserve represents one of the last stretches of undeveloped bluff land along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Lion's Den Trail. I realized why at the end of my 2-hr visit. The biggest highlight of the trail is that it goes along the bluff with multiple stopping points to take in the beautiful views of Lake Michigan. It's about 100 steps down to the shoreline but the steps meander with many platforms to stop along the way, so it didn't feel overwhelming coming up. Located along the largest of the great lakes, Lake Michigan it features 100 foot tall bluffs along one mile of the lakes shoreline. Parking is free and there is no fee to enter the park. When swimming season is over or when a beach's water quality data has not been updated frequently enough (weekly) it goes into historical status. Our two year old walked most of the way by himself. - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. Follow the signs along the Gorge loop toward the "Stairs". It's basically flat the entire time except for the steps to the beach so it is great for anyone who wants to get outdoors. What hotels are near Lion's Den Gorge Nature Preserve? The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. The goal of this authorized, lottery gun deer hunting and bow deer hunting is to effectively manage the deer herd and provide for the health of the unique, native vegetation on the Park properties. The preserve is 72 acres and is located in the town of Grafton, just north of Milwaukee. Explore one of 1 easy hiking trails in Lion's Den Gorge Nature Preserve that are great for the whole family. It can get pretty busy in the summer and on weekends so the colder months have become my favorite time to visit. This project is expected to greatly enhance the Park user experience. This year, donors have helped to fund urgent monitoring of beach closures during the COVID-19 pandemic, expand our support for volunteer water quality monitoring, and create groundbreaking data sharing resources for scientists. 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Its pretty awesome how many flowers were still in bloom so late in the year. They are posted when a single sample exceeds 235 E. coli / 100 ml or when the geometric mean of samples collected over a 30-day period exceeds 126 E. coli / 100 ml. We expected the trails to be crazily overcrowded with the hundreds of cars, but overall things were not that busy. After walking up the stairs from the beach, I continued on the trail through the gorge which is accessed by a lovely wooden bridge. Lions Den Gorge Nature Preserve is a great place for fishing, bird watching, hiking, and picnicking. Visit Truist Pier 225 to meet our California sea lions. However I highly suggest taking the journey to the water. The geometric mean of 5 samples from a freshwater beach should not exceed 126 E. coli / 100 ml of water. See Legal. I did not expect the sandy beach and that water! Join the Swim Guide community today. There are signs at the corners guiding you, and the trails are suitable for all skill levels. What a gorgeous area! Dogs must be on leashes at all times in the park. Here is a great list to get you started. This entire loop will take you approximately 1 hour from the parking lot to the lake roundtrip. How many trails are in Lion's Den Gorge Nature Preserve? With breathtaking views of Lake Michigan, and plenty of hiking trails, Lion's Den Gorge is a beautiful place to visit throughout the year. There are many benches located throughout the trail when you need to rest. At the end of the trail, you will reach a set of stairs that will take you down to the beach below. And also beautiful. If you come here just for this hike take the time to drive into Cedarburg and wander around their downtown. Do not miss it if you are in the area. The parking is free and there is no fee to enter the park or beach. Lion's Den Gorge is arguably one of the most beautiful spots in Wisconsin, but it's somewhat overshadowed by more well-known state parks; in fact some locals have not even made the trek to this magical park. Stunning views of Lake Michigan. Isnt fabulous when you can hike along the beaches as well as see the views from high above on the bluffs. Nice place to go for a Walk with some great views. Holiday Inn London-Bexley, an IHG Hotel Customer Reviews Black Prince Interchange, Southwold Road, Bexley Map Around 10.97 Km from Lion's Den Gorge. Perfect place to view a beautiful Easter sunrise over Lake Michigan. I could not get over how beautiful the water of the lake looked from the bluffs. Be on leashes at all times in the summer and on weekends so the colder months have become favorite... Alltrails has 1 great trails for hiking and more that want to find the best trails in Lion Den! Its pretty awesome how many flowers were still in bloom so late in the year longer hike than simply... 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can you swim at lion's den gorge