Friends of Hank Aaron State Trail

Hank Aaron State Trail maps are available! Download the map here.

The Friends of Hank Aaron State Trail is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting, developing, and maintaining the Hank Aaron State Trail. The creation of the Hank Aaron State Trail along the Menomonee River and through a former industrial valley contributes countless opportunities for recreation and fitness, improvements to the environment, economic growth, and overall quality of urban life.

The Trail is ideal for bicyclists, walkers, runners, and skaters, and currently provides a 10-mile continuous connection via dedicated trails and marked streets between the lakefront and Milwaukee's west end.  The Trail starts at Lakeshore State Park near the Henry W. Maier Festival Grounds, winds its way through the Historic Third Ward and Menomonee River Valley, past Miller Park, and then points west by accessing the new bridge at 37th St. The Trail links to Milwaukee County’s 100-mile Oak Leaf Trail at both its east and west end, making it possible to bike from Lake Michigan, along several trails across the state, and eventually link to the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Glacial Drumlin State Trail, and Military Ridge State Trail.

The Western extension features a new bike/pedestrian bridge over Hawley Road, redecked bridges, and asphalt pavement. When work is completed on the Zoo Interchange, the remaining off-road section of the Trail west of 94th Place will be completed and paved out to Underwood Creek and the connection to the Oak Leaf Trail.

Some points of interest along and adjacent to the Trail include Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin, Milwaukee Art Museum, Lakeshore State Park, Summerfest & Ethnic Festivals, Historic Third Ward, Historic Walkers Point, Harley-Davidson Museum, Potawatomi Casino, Marquette Playing Fields, Mitchell Park Domes, Miller Park, Menomonee Valley Stormwater Park, Soldiers Home Historic District, State Fair Park, Petit Ice Center, and the restorative peace of the Menomonee River.

The Hank Aaron State Trail Will Take You There!

The Friends of Hank Aaron State Trail continues to be an advocate of the Trail, working closely with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, local communities, organizations, and businesses, to bring the Trail to reality. From our annual Spring River Clean-Up and Planting, to the Hank Aaron State Trail 5k Run/Walk, to our hikes through history, the Friends helps people enjoy and appreciate all that the Hank Aaron State Trail has to offer.

We invite you to learn more about the Trail and our organization, and enjoy the beauty and serenity of the Hank Aaron State Trail.

Become a Friend of the Friends of Hank Aaron State Trail

Joining the Friends offers an opportunity to play an important role in bringing the Trail to its full potential. It provides a great forum for discussion and support of the Trail, and friends also receive newsletters and advance notification of special events. In addition, the Friends offer Bike Safety Camps to kids in the adjacent neighborhoods, pay for printing of HAST maps, and restore and install the classic copper shelters as rest and "information stations" along the trail.

Another 2.5 Miles Has Been Added to the Hank Aaron State Trail at Our West End

The newest extension of the Hank Aaron State Trail from 94th Place west to the connection with the Oak Leaf Trail at the Milwaukee/Waukesha County line was completed in the Fall of 2012. This section has a crushed limestone base, as we will need to temporarily close major portions during the reconstruction of the Zoo Interchange about 3 years from now. When the Zoo Interchange work is being completed, the limestone areas of the trail will be paved with asphalt.

The best parking for that connection is in the parking lot of the Saviour Assembly of God Church at 201 N. 121st St. right next to the trail. They have graciously offered to share their parking lot with trail users. Another option is to park on Underwood Creek Parkway, along the Oak Leaf Trail just north of the connection with the Hank Aaron State Trail. A newly constructed Oak Leaf Trail underpass of busy Bluemound Road makes for a safe connection to the Hank Aaron State Trail just about 100' south of Bluemound Road. So, park on Underwood Creek Parkway north of Bluemound Road and take the Oak Leaf Trail underpass to the connection with the Hank Aaron State Trail, which is on the south side of Bluemound Road. There is also another connection to the trail off of 116th Street, in a light industrial Park that has access off of 121st Street.

Our new connection accesses the Oak Leaf Trail, which continues for over 100 miles around Milwaukee County. The connection at Underwood Creek is within one-mile of the Brookfield Trail system and just 2-miles to the New Berlin Trail. The New Berlin Trail goes to Waukesha, where folks can get on the Glacial Drumlin State Trail and continue all the way to Madison.

Your Donations at Work!

In 2012, Friends of Hank Aaron State Trail sponsored five summer bike camps for approximately 90 youth living in neighborhoods along the Trail. FOHAST was able to offer an additional camp due to the success of the 2011 5K Run/walk and the generosity of WholeFoods and the Brewers Community Foundation. Camps were held at Nativity Jesuit Middle School, Notre Dame Middle School, Neighborhood House, West Allis Lincoln Intermediate School and Escuela Vieau School.

FOHAST is interested in expanding the number of participants and camps, since the Trail is within a 15 minute bike ride of over 415,000 people, of which 100,000 children are ages 18 and under. The adjacent neighborhoods are also home to some of the most at-risk for childhood obesity, juvenile diabetes, and a myriad of other health issues. Getting youth to be more active and learning the life-long skill of safe biking will enhance their lives and help improve their health.

Participants in the 2012 bike camps wrote thank you letters and these letters eloquently describe the difference these camps make in the lives of our youth:

"Dear Friends of the Hank Aaron State Trail,

I had a lot of fun. I saw lots of cool things. I wish I could stay longer. What I want to do is I want to go there everyday. I told my dad now (he) really wants to go on the trail. Thanks a lot."

"Thank you very much for giving us this opportunity of bike camp. Because of the program I now know more riding bikes and going places where I had never gone before. I also thank you for giving us a chance to get out of school to have Fun and not to be hot inside and bored. I really enjoyed that I learned easy and fast and I lost a few calories."

"Thank you for providing this wonderful program. I really enjoyed how we got to go on a trail if it wasn't for you guys I would have never known about this trail. I also thank you for the map that way afterwords when the program is done we can go on the trail with our family. Most of all I had fun!"

"I really loved the flowers and the pictures that were painted at the Hank Aaron State Trail."

"I learned the signals bikers use to show cars which way they're going."