Top 10+ Nature Centers in Milwaukee for Kids & Families (2025)

Ready to get outside? If you’re looking for a fun, low-stress way to explore the outdoors with your kids, Milwaukee has you covered. From stroller-friendly trails and wildlife encounters to epic nature play areas and interactive exhibits, there’s a nature center nearby that your whole family will love.

In this guide, we’re rounding up the best nature centers in and around Milwaukee to help you plan your next adventure. So grab your hiking shoes, pack some snacks, and get ready to explore Wisconsin’s natural beauty—without going far from home.

1. Wehr Nature Center

📍9701 W. College Ave., Franklin, WI 53132

Wehr Nature Center is a gem for families, located inside Whitnall Park. This 220-acre preserve has more than 4 miles of trails through forests, wetlands, prairie, and a beautiful oak savanna. Don’t miss the stunning waterfall and nature play space. Inside the Wehr Nature Center’s visitor center, you’ll find interactive exhibits and nature displays. Programming runs year-round for all ages.

The trails include accessible features like a boardwalk, observation blind, and pier, plus an all-terrain wheelchair available upon request.

2. Schlitz Audubon Nature Center 

📍1111 E. Brown Deer Rd., Bayside, WI 53217

Schlitz Audubon Nature Center is one of the most popular destinations in the area! Walk the 6 miles of trails through 185 acres, including a paved trail to Lake Michigan and a 60-foot tower with incredible views. Check out the boardwalk around Mystery Lake or stop inside the visitor center to see animal ambassadors like Emerson the snapping turtle. (Don’t miss the raptor exhibit, home to 15 birds of prey – including two bald eagles!) Family programs at Schlitz Audubon start as young as 6 months old.

Plus, the nature school is the first nature-based preschool in Wisconsin, housed in their Gold LEED-certified building.

Nature centers make perfect starting points for the outings in your kids’ Wisconsin outdoor adventures.

3. Retzer Nature Center & Discovery Trail 

📍S14 W28167 Madison St., Waukesha, WI 53188

Retzer Nature Center is great for kids of all ages. It features beginner-friendly trails, indoor animal exhibits, and the Discovery Trail—packed with sensory play, STEM fun, and nature learning stations. Don’t miss the Vista Trail for scenic views, and the charming Children’s Garden near the Nature Center. Retzer also houses the Horwitz-DeRemer Planetarium for stargazing fun.

Pro Tip: Unlike many Waukesha County parks, entrance is free – just park and play!

4. Mequon Nature Preserve

📍8200 W. County Line Rd., Mequon, WI 53097

Mequon Nature Preserve is home to a fantastic natural playground and over 400 acres of wetlands, prairie, and young forest. Follow trails to observation towers and wildlife viewing platforms. Start your visit at the PieperPower Education Center.

Kids might spot Tilia or Timber, the preserve’s trained Conservation Canines who help sniff out native and invasive species!

5. Havenwoods State Forest

📍6141 N. Hopkins St., Milwaukee, WI 53209

Havenwoods State Forest is Wisconsin’s only urban state forest! With over 200 acres of woods, wetlands, grasslands, and four ponds, it’s a hidden gem on Milwaukee’s north side. Explore a 120-foot bridge, hunt for geocaches, or visit the Environmental Awareness Center at Havenwoods.

Inside the Education Center, peek at photos and displays showing the site’s surprising past – from a corrections facility to a Nike missile base (a Cold War-era military site designed to launch missiles to defend U.S. cities from possible air attacks. Many were hidden in plain sight!).

6. Hawthorn Glen Outdoor Education Center 

📍1130 N. 60th St., Milwaukee, WI 53208

Hawthorn Glen Outdoor Education Center spans 23 acres and features a little nature museum, walking trails, and a playground. The self-guided trail is open to the public on evenings and weekends. It’s a go-to for school field trips and peaceful weekend strolls.

In winter, the nature trail transforms into a cross-country ski route, and gear rentals are available on-site.

7. Riveredge Nature Center 

📍4458 County Hwy Y, Saukville, WI 53080

Riveredge Nature Center is a 402-acre sanctuary along the Milwaukee River. Explore 10 miles of scenic trails, tranquil ponds, and peaceful woodlands. Riveredge is known for its maple sugaring events, exciting tree climbing events, and its lake sturgeon rearing program – over 15,000 released into the wild!

Riveredge is also home to a rare State Natural Area, making it ideal for spotting unique plants and wildlife.

8. Stigler Nature Preserve 

📍17400 W. Liberty Ln., New Berlin, WI 53146

Stigler Nature Preserve is tucked inside a business park, but once you’re in, it’s quiet and peaceful. This small preserve features a one-mile trail loop, a shallow creek, and two charming bridges. It’s mostly covered in cedar chips – just pack boots and bug spray if it rained recently.

9. Urban Ecology Center (Three Locations) 

Riverside Park
📍1500 E. Park Pl., Milwaukee, WI 53211

The Riverside Park branch of Urban Ecology Center has it all: a sun-filled lodge with games, puzzles, hidden blue slides, a 40-foot climbing tower, and a beautiful park to stomp around in. It’s free to visit, and it connects directly to the Oak Leaf Trail.

Washington Park
📍1859 N. 40th St., Milwaukee, WI 53208

The Washington Park branch was newly renovated in 2025. New spaces in the building include a tower, an indoor slide to get to the first floor, and an Ecology Room. Outside, families can fish in the lagoon, look for their orchard, grab an activity pack, and more!

Menomonee Valley
📍3700 W. Pierce St., Milwaukee, WI 53215

At the Menomonee Valley branch, explore family hikes, nature crafts, playgroups, and programming that’s perfect for little ones. Don’t miss the indoor slide that goes from the upper level to the lower level. This branch is part of a revitalization effort in the valley. Nearby Menomonee Valley’s Three Bridges Park was built on a former railyard and is now a beloved urban green space.

10. Forest Exploration Center (Free!) 

📍1800 Forest Exploration Dr., Wauwatosa, WI 53226

The Forest Exploration Center is a 67-acre hardwood forest with a one-mile, stroller-friendly loop trail and rotating educational exhibits. You won’t find a building here, but there’s a Story Walk, interactive double-sided trail signs, and over 150 bird species to spot. Admission is always free!

They also host rotating exhibits and trail signage that teach kids (and grown-ups!) about forest ecology, sustainable forestry, and the importance of hardwood woodlands.

More Nature Centers to Explore:

Hausmann Nature Center at Lapham Peak (Delafield): Stunning views, exhibits, and Ice Age Trail access. Could appeal to older kids and hikers.

Hawthorn Hollow (Kenosha): Has gardens, an observatory, summer nature & space camp, and historical buildings – ideal for day trips or homeschool families.

Pringle Nature Center (Bristol): Offers snowshoe rentals, live animals, and lots of programming.

🪁 Richard Bong State Recreation Area (Kansasville, WI): This expansive state recreation area blends conservation and recreation with nearly 30 miles of trails and a Nature Explore Classroom designed for all ages and abilities. Families love the outdoor free-play space, cross-country ski opportunities, and adaptive equipment rentals. Entrance fee or Wisconsin State Parks sticker required.

River Bend Nature Center (Racine, WI): Just outside Racine, River Bend offers a quiet, beginner-friendly nature experience. Families can hike, explore ponds and prairie, or rent kayaks and paddle the Root River. Admission is free, and it’s just minutes from the city, but it feels a world away.

Seno K/RLT Woodland Education Center (Burlington, WI): If your family is looking to unplug and unwind, this 127-acre sanctuary is worth the short drive. The trail loops through woodlands, prairie, and a rare tamarack bog. Bring snacks, good shoes, and enjoy the peace—no admission fee.