Closures, alerts, and notices pertaining to beaches, dog exercise areas, lake access points, recreational trails, and more will be posted on this page as necessary. If a notice hasn't been updated recently, that means there has been no change to the status as it is posted.

If you have any questions, please call Guest Services at 262-548-7801 Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:15 pm.

Coronavirus COVID-19 Information: 

Updated on: Thurs., September 3, 2020

Waukesha County is continuing to provide vital government services to members of the public, while following established safety measures to protect employees and members of the public from the COVID-19 virus. The Park System will continue to follow these practices to help keep our visitors and staff safe. We appreciate your patience.

We know that our parks and trails provide opportunities for physical activity and stress relief that is critical to the health of our community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our team has increased monitoring of all facilities in an effort to ensure the parks can remain open, clean, and safe during this public health crisis.   Also, we continue to ask patrons to follow all park rules and to pay the daily entrance fee or purchase an annual sticker, as these fees will help us cover a portion of the costs to stay open.   

Please note:

• Parks and trails are open. Please help us stay open with respectful and responsible visits.
• Park users should practice social distancing by maintaining distance of approximately 6 feet from others.
• Due to the Governor's Executive Order, masks or other face coverings are required by all visitors, ages 5 and older, while indoors in a county facility or within an enclosed area. 
• In order to maintain safety, our staff reserves the right to ask patrons to adjust distances, temporarily restrict access to the park or specific areas and ask visitors to come back another time. 
• Please only park in designated park lots/spots at all Park locations. Park staff and Rangers will be strictly enforcing this parking rule at all facilities.
• All playgrounds are open but are not sanitized and should be used at your own risk.  
• Picnic tables are not sanitized and should be used at your own risk.  
• Family and Group Campgrounds are open.
• Beach Swimming is open. Please monitor our Swimming webpage for updates and Swim at Your Own Risk Hours.
• Pop-up Beer Gardens are cancelled for 2020.

Please note that trail and park users may find public restrooms closed — be prepared before you leave and time outings so that you are not dependent on public restrooms. Park visitors may want to bring hand sanitizer with them as they go out to our parks, just to be safe. 

For updated, credible information about COVID-19 in Waukesha County, visit: www.waukeshacounty.gov/COVID19. (Visit this page routinely as data about COVID-19 changes daily.)

Please view the following tabs for specific information:

• Social Gatherings

  Social Gatherings & Masks or Face Coverings:

  Updated on: Thurs., September 3, 2020

  Waukesha County updated its large gathering recommendation in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak.

  The new guidance advises indoor venues may host events at 50% capacity, or up to 250 individuals, as rental space capacity allow,  with a focus on maintaining appropriate social distancing.

  Outdoor events may exceed 250 individuals, as rental space capacity allows.  when proper outdoor space, separation of groups, social distancing, and other CDC guidelines are followed. The recommendations apply to special events such as weddings and sporting events, not daily business functions.

  For more information, please visit: https://www.waukeshacounty.gov/gatherings

  Due to the Governor's Executive Order, masks or other face coverings are required by all visitors, ages 5 and older, while indoors in a county facility or within an enclosed area. 

  ---

• Golf Courses

  Updated on: Mon., August 3, 2020

  Waukesha County Golf Courses are OPEN.

  Please review our course procedures as we operate while following all guidelines from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Waukesha County Department of Health Services. 

  Book a Tee Time
• Retzer Nature Center

  Updated on: Mon., August 3, 2020

  Retzer Environmental Learning Center buildings are OPEN to the public.

  • Visitors should practice social distancing by maintaining distance of approximately 6 feet from others.
  • Due to the Governor's Executive Order, masks or other face coverings are required by all visitors, ages 5 and older, while indoors in a county facility or within an enclosed area. 

  All trails are OPEN. 

  • No dogs allowed (service dogs permitted).
  • Practice social distancing by maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet) from others on the trails.
• Ice Arenas

  Updated on: May 18, 2020

  Eble Ice Arena is OPEN for guests with online reservations only.

  Naga-Waukee Ice Arena is OPEN for guests with online reservations only.

Dog Exercise Areas:

Updated on: Mon., August 3, 2020

NOTICE: Dog Exercise Area users should practice social distancing by maintaining distance of approximately 6 feet from others.

Minooka Park's Dog Exercise Areas are OPEN, please be aware and avoid wet and muddy areas. 

Mukwonago Park's  Dog Exercise Areas are OPEN. 
Notice: The water is on. Water faucets in the Dog Exercise Areas are not cleaned by park staff. None of the surfaces are disinfected. Please use at your own risk.

Nashotah Park's Dog Exercise Areas are OPEN, please be aware and avoid wet and muddy areas. 
Notice: The water is on. Water faucets in the Dog Exercise Areas are not cleaned by park staff. None of the surfaces are disinfected. Please use at your own risk.

Mountain Bike Trails:

Updated on: Wednesday Sept. 16, 2020

Minooka Park's Mountain Bike Trails are OPEN.

Retzer Nature Center:

Updated on: Mon., August 10, 2020

Access to Retzer Environmental Learning Center building will be limited coming from the east using Madison Street due to a road project. Read more about the Madison Street Reconstruction Project.

Access is available from Hwy 18 and County Rd DT. See Google Map

New Berlin Trail Closure: 

Updated on: Thurs., September 3, 2020

The New Berlin Trail will be CLOSED near the Sunnyslope Road intersection for culvert replacement and pavement repairs beginning on Wed., September 9. Please use caution on the trail.

Pop-Up Beer Gardens:

Updated Wed., August 19, 2020

The remaining 2020 Pop-Up Beer Gardens in the parks have been cancelled.

Nashotah Park Entrance:

Updated on: Mon., August 3, 2020

The turf along the entrance road in Nashotah Park being converted from non-native cool season grass into a native prairie planting that will sustainably benefit a variety of pollinators and other wildlife. Read more about this project in our FAQ Document.

Pewaukee Lake Access:

Updated Fri., May 8, 2020

No life jackets are available. In order to help minimize contamination, no life jackets will be available for communal use at the launch.

Bridle Trails:

Updated on: Mon., June 22, 2020

Bridle Trails at Menomonee Park are OPEN. 

Bridle Trails at Minooka Park are OPEN. 

Bridle Trails at Ryan Park are OPEN.

Water Quality & Conditions

Waukesha County Park System consistently monitors our beaches for E. coli bacteria and blue-green algae during the swim season.
Waukesha County is committed to giving our customers the best experience at our beaches. 

Routine water sampling for bacteria is performed by Waukesha County Staff and the results are posted below.

A visual check is performed for blue-green algae. If blue-green algae is suspected, the beach would be closed and sampling would be conducted with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the results would be posted below. Additional information about blue-green algae.

Water quality, swimmer's itch, and weather may all be factors in your beach planning. Always consider that weather conditions can change quickly. 

Water Quality Results

Good ≤ 235
Under Advisory =236-999
Poor ≥ 1000

Testing is based on E. coli colonies per 100 ml.