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Details
Distance
1.8 miles
Route Type
Loop
Features
Wildflowers
Dog Friendly
Romantic
Family Friendly
Lake
Forest
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About this place
Added by Jon Mattrisch
Stunning views of Lake Michigan. Five story bluffs. Beautiful nature scenes. Dozens of acres of trails and exploration. All just 30 minutes north of downtown Milwaukee, WI. If you're looking to capture some beautiful pictures of Wisconsin, or just want to hike along the shores of Lake Michigan, Lion's Den Gorge Nature Preserve is where you need to be.
Lion's Den Gorge is a gorgeous nature preserve featuring a variety of unique nature scenes. The park includes massive bluffs, sand dunes, forests, creeks and bridges, hiking trails and stunning vistas of the Lake Michigan shoreline. The preserve is 72 acres and is located in the town of Grafton, just north of Milwaukee. You won't need a vehicle pass or any paid admission to visit the preserve.
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Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and be sure to follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly.
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Mark Mlsna
3/25/2026
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Natalie F
7/2/2020
Beautiful and easy to get to
This used to be less well known, but because of "stay at home" and covid, it's much more popular since people are exploring their ...
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Elizabeth Wolfenberger
2/24/2019
Gorgeous icy winter hike
beautiful views. we went after several snowstorms/melting/refreezing and the trails were covered in ice so it was a bit slippery but well worth it ...
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Andy Merkel
9/17/2018
Hidden Gem near Milwaukee
What a great place to go and explore Lake Michigan. These views are uncompromised in the area!
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Brandi Matijevic
9/16/2018
Absolutely beautiful!
Easy trails with scenic views and a few hidden spots off the beaten path. A perfect little afternoon adventure.
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Bernadette Garcia
3/4/2018
Easy day
There are a lot of paths to follow that all loop back to the parking lot. My children came along. They love the lake ...
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Kathy Kruse
9/9/2017
Great place to explore!
Loved it! My sister-in-law and I went hiking there this morning. Beautiful views of Lake Michigan, and very easy hiking for new adventurers. It's ...
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Jen Buck
7/1/2017
Great Place To Spend The Day!
My boyfriend and I frequent Lions Den. We love the variety of trails and the rocky beach area is beautiful! It is also just ...
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Kyle Heise
9/30/2016
Stay on the trail
The first time I went, I was a little bored. So I scaled down the embankment down to the lake. If only I had ...
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Jen Muecke
9/7/2016
Open Year 'Round
This is a beautiful preserve on the lakefront, connected to a wetland complex owned by the USFWS. I live nearby and have been to ...
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Zoua Xiong
7/11/2016
Perfect For All Ages
Lion's Den is gorgeous! I went for the second time this weekend after discovering that this place existed. Both times, the weather was very ...
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Helen Schlosser
5/13/2016
Very Enjoyable And Relaxing
I went to Lions Den just for a day, but it was quite enjoyable! It was not hard to find, nor was parking difficult. ...
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