The East-West Connector
A close up map of the East-West Connector trail (in yellow). To view a larger map, click here.
True to its name, this section of the trail runs east to west and connects the lakefront with Wauwatosa, West Allis, and the western part of Milwaukee. The Connector begins at Hoyt Park (Swan Blvd. and Menomonee River Pkwy) in Wauwatosa and heads east on an off-road path along the Menomonee River. There are many great shops and eateries available in the village, which can be accessed from Harwood Ave. But there’s plenty of time to stop and eat later – let’s ride.
Continuing on past the village, enter Hart Park and continue riding along the river. As you exit Hart Park, you have a choice of direction. Let’s go left (east) first.
Heading east from Hart Park, the Oak Leaf trail follows the Honey Creek Parkway to Jacobus Park and then to Doyne Park for a total of 3.3 miles. The Connector trail ends at Wells street on the east side of Doyne Park. Here there are signs directing you to the Hank Aaron State Trail. If you are north of I-94 on the western side of the county and want to get to the lakefront by bicycle, I would recommend this route.
If we take a right turn coming out of Hoyt Park, we follow the Honey Creek Parkway south until it spills out onto 84th street just north of I-94. The route then runs straight down 84th street for 2.4 miles. The interchange with I-94 is very busy, the pavement is narrow and in poor shape under the freeway as well as under the three railroad bridges crossing the route. Also, there is no connection to the Hank Aaron Trail, which crosses at State Fair Park.
I ride just about anywhere, but I avoid 84th street on my commute.
Luckily, once you reach 84th and Arthur, you can enter McCarty Park, a pleasant nice and scenic path that reconnects with the Honey Creek Parkway. (The Honey Creek runs underground from McCarty Park to 84th and I-94, running under the Milwaukee Mile). The Honey Creek parkway disappears again at 76th street and we ride on Jackson (a nice parkway) until 60th street where it officially becomes the KK river Parkway. This takes us into Jackson Park at 43rd street.
Coming out of Jackson Park, our ride continues on the Parkway until 20th street. After going through the KK Sports Center, the route follows an easterly path along city streets, eventually getting us into Bay View where we connect with the main Oak Leaf at Cupertino Park, just west of the lake. This part of the East-West Connector gives us good access to the southern lakefront trails from Bay View to Grant Park. From start to finish, this route is about 8.4 miles.
Good Riding!
