While this was a spacious park, I don't think it's worth the daily pass fee of $7. There is a good amount of parking available and a small pond for people/dogs to play in. Checked out some of the trails but they weren't too well maintained. We primarily stopped by for a beer garden and car show. If you don't pay the fee beforehand online, you'll receive something in the mail about a month later. Surprised they charge this much considering they don't put more into their park. I'd rather check out a different free park in the area, like Whitnall. read more

See all

I've been here before over the years for the trails and dog parks. You need a day or year pass for parking. The year pass is worth it if you would visit more than 6 times/visit any of the other Waukesha Parks. I went this past visit with my pup to paddle board- I personally wouldn't go again for this since it really is a pond and the water is a bit stinky and quite yucky! If we would have fallen in the water I would have been so upset so we only did one lap and then I let him play some water fetch. I do love the expanse of trails however and it looks like they have a beer garden set up as well. I'll come back just not for the water portion here read more

Minooka Park - Sand beach but water is a bit murky - Hiking Near Me - Waukesha, Wisconsin

See all

Love Minooka for its dog park! They have separated areas for small and large breeds and it is HUGE! 5pm during the weekdays is the prime time to go otherwise it is pretty empty. You have to have a waukesha county day or year pass but it's worth it if you visit other parks in the area. Although, the bathroom by the dog park is a whole other situation...it quite literally is a hole in the ground with a toilet seat but it is just outside. The area by the dog park is also super buggy - make sure to bring bug spray if you go after 4pm. read more

Great hidden gem! Awesome sledding hill for winter! The pond to swim in during summer was nice and clean and the beach was perfect for building sand castles! They also have tons of trails for bikes and hiking! read more

A great place for mountains biking! (Us) beginners can find a loop according to our level. There are different loops for different levels of proficiency. Well kept, this park has everything a mountain biker could need. It even has a station to rinse your bike an the end of your experience. It is worth paying the fee at the entrance, and/or getting the annual pass. Can't wait to be back! read more

True oasis for pets and people. Feels like being in a more dog friendly state like Vermont or Oregon.

The dog park is top notch, but some of the visitors can truly be dicks so heed this bit of advice please! (I use the large dog area) I started taking my dog here last June and he loves it, but we have a bit of a ritual. I keep him on leash until I am comfortable with the other dogs in the park. We enter slowly which is easy because of the super useful double gate system where only one can open at a time in both the exit and entrance. This prevents escapes. Then we will walk the perimeter of the park, maneuvering closer to other dogs as we encounter them. Once we have met most of the dogs and I feel comfortable with them I will allow my dog to run around freely and keep an eye on him. The unfortunate thing is that many people bring dogs here and just let them go free while they read a book or nap on a bench. I have even had people willingly bring aggressive dogs in to socialize, and have the nerve to get mad at me when I suggest they try a training class first to deal with the aggression. I'm not sorry that I'd like to NOT take my dog to the vet for a visit you won't pay for so I will not keep my mouth shut if you think something like that is ok. The other thing I dislike is that some owner turn a blind eye to their dogs pooping all over the park. There is no excuse to ignore this because the park provides a ton of stands with bins and poop bags. Myself and many others I see do bring their own bags but keep an eye out while walking to prevent stepping in a mess. Now that the negative is out of the way, seriously, this park is HUGE. There are some woody areas, hilly terrain, a flat "landing strip" that is mowed and great for catch or Frisbee. Benches all around for taking a break, bowls for general use - but bring your own water, and there are some restrooms for people as well, though primitive. The parks is stimulation overload at first, but my shy guy opened up after an hour or so, and then even more so as our visits became regular. Most of the visitors are very friendly and open and enjoy meeting and getting to know new dogs. I have a special few that I love to see myself. Often times toys get stolen by other dogs, as evidenced by about 50 tennis balls and others strewn around the park. Don't bring anything expensive as it may become a lost toy somewhere in the 10 or so acres. You will find it, at some point, well used and covered in dirt and slobber. Give this park a try. Your first visit will only be $4 per car - though visit the county parks website to verify that the cost has not increased. For me it was worth it enough to pay $28 for a year long pass. My dog loves it, I love it, and that is even in the face of the few negatives brought on by poor dog owners. read more

See all

I've been here for cross-country skiing and mountain biking, but the park is also used for dog walking, soccer, sledding, snow-shoeing, geocaching and hiking. There are also picnic areas, which are great for hosting parties. The park requires a parking pass, which is either $25 or $30 a year, cannot remember. New mountain bike trails were built here and opened last year; they include a beginner route (about 1.5 mile loop from parking lot, into woods and through a valley) and a more advanced loop with berms and log crossings (not too technical). I love riding here and come at least a few times a month. I highly recommend checking it out! read more

See all

What a sweet, little surprise this swimming hole was today! I, generally, avoid Waukesha because I feel I may never make it back. It confuses the hell out of me. But we gave it a go today because I just felt like swimming and wanted to bring the dogs, too. I'll tell you, my first choice was Fox Brook ( another small ish swimming place in the area ) but the beach was closed. I found Minooka and I'm glad I did. Lots of wonderful things are happening at this place: a fenced in dog park, hiking trails, fishing and swimming.. For $5 ? I'm in! The swimming pond startled me at first because it, well.. Looks like a pond. The water quality sign said it was all good, though. We took the dogs to a spot away from the beach ; I conquered my reoccurring phobia of stepping in squishy stuff and in we went. Frogs and fish moved out of our way. It's just a lovely place. The water was refreshing, not stinky and pretty deep close to shore ( no squishy! ) I would love to spend the day there and intend to soon. read more

Minooka Park - The view of the beach from one of the doggy swim areas - Hiking Near Me - Waukesha, Wisconsin

Dog People Great park with a fenced areas where your dog can roam free. Some people here are a bit uppity but you get those aggressive ones at all parks. I digress. There are miles of nicely groomed hiking trails in addition to the fenced dog areas so you're not stuck in a cage. read more

Such a beautiful area for nature trails and pretty parks. We love going to the small breed dog park, our pup loves to romp and play with fur friends and their humans, we've not met anyone who isn't nice and friendly. Great area for our puppers to really run and socialize, Just don't forget water for you and your pups! read more

See all

Cool place to tan but not exactly sure if I trust the water (it's a pond) Went there twice now in the last week so yeah I'm getting the hang of how things are in there. Other than that there's a lot of kids n parents there read more

LOVE this dog park! We have been coming here for about 3 years now. It has a great mix of dog park and walking trails. We have a smaller dog and the small dog side always seems really busy, which is awesome! The 2 large dog areas look very nice. Owners seem very responsible with their dogs. There is usually not a lot of dog waste laying around. They do supply waste bags at the gate of each park. One of my favorite dog parks to visit! read more

Ok I live very near this park I've been here since I was a teenager and now in my 60's it's been updated to please most we now use there dog park , wish my grand dog could speak for this dog park it's free to use only paid for parking. There's a water faucet inside the running area free . All fenced in & for all dogs even for small ones bigger ones all kinds. Special areas fenced off between large dogs & small read more

Compared to other dog parks in the area, this one takes the cake. In fact, once you've visited Minooka I'm not sure you can even call the other ones "dog parks." This part of the park was literally made for dogs, not just a park where dogs can be off-leash. There are two separate areas, one for small dogs and one for large dogs. The small dog area is 7 acres and the large dog area is 11 and both are completely fenced in. Small dogs are welcome to play over in the large dog side if the owner so chooses, however large dogs are not welcome in the small dog side. They provide waste bags and generally you can find a dish or two that have been left for water (though you should bring your own water as there isn't some where to access that near the park). Most owners who visit are extremely friendly and I've never witnessed any aggressive dogs or problems with fights between dogs. There's parking right between the two dog exercise areas so you can drive right up to the dog park. There's benches for owners on both sides, in case you tire out before your dog does. The park charges entrance (I think it's around $5) or you can purchase a yearly pass to all Waukesha County Parks for about $25 that gets you access to the entire park (including the dog exercise area) for the entire year. They do a great job of trying to keep the park area as mud-free as possible so it really does serve as a year-round play area (though I've never been when snow is on the ground thanks to a wuss of a pup.) This park is really THAT good, I've met owners who travel quite a way to bring their dogs here, making those of us who live close by feel pretty lucky to have it in our backyards! read more

This is a huge park! I'm glad they decided to close off half of the park for the large dogs because it's that big! You can lose your dog if you are not diligent in watching them. People here are always friendly and care for their fur babies. They'll chat if you so chose otherwise you can use a corner to play fetch with your pet alone. Dogs play nicely here for the most part and there is almost always a "welcoming committee dog" waiting to greet you and your dogs at the gate. Don't bring any particularly special toys as they might get thefted during playtime. My dogs love this place and, lucky for me, it was only $30 or so to buy a pass to Waukesha County's parks for the year. Sweet deal! read more

Minooka Park - On the way back they are all tuckered out! - Hiking Near Me - Waukesha, Wisconsin

See all

I'm reviewing primarily the dog park. I've frequented the rest of the park but not at length. The dog park is the best in Milwaukee. It's 4 bucks a car so trekking with a buddy makes it even more worthwhile. The park has two entrances and adequate parking. Bag receptacles are always maintained and the park stays clean. Your dog can walk through the forest like area towards the back or you can play fetch in the huge open area. There are multiple benches throughout the park and many are placed near trees for nice shade. I love that my dog finds new paths every time we visit, she loves to adventure through this park! Be mindful that after it rains it can get muddy in some spots. read more

Minooka park is huge!! I was here last night mountain biking for the first time. They have a few different difficulty levels for biking which is nice. I tried the easy first to break it in then braved it and went for medium! Both trails offered beautiful scenery and fun twists and turns! This park also has some awesome hiking trails! read more

I decided to try the mountain bike trials after reading reviews from a few different websites. Trials run through some fields and then into the woods. Not overalls challenging other then a few minor spots. Mostly just a a dirt trail through the woods but provides a great workout and a few surprises. Some reviews said not suitable for a 29er but I had no real problems. I was always waiting for some major challenge spots but they never materialized. On my second loop through I was able to increase my speed. Much better than Lapham Peak trails. I would recommend the trials and the rest of the park looked well kept and offered plenty of hiking trails. read more

Great trails right in downtown Waukesha ! , the longest trail is almost 5 miles long and it's got plenty of ups and downs, perfect for beginners! . read more

See all

We love coming here! We take the dogs here to walk the trails and run around in the dog park. It is a very well kept park and nicely groomed hiking trails. read more

Beautiful park with something for everyone. All sorts of hiking trails, mountain bike course, archery range, picnic area, nice restrooms, even some fishing! read more

Awesome trails and views... enjoyed time with my niece.. Gods country!! I will be back and bring the pooch next time!

The hiking trails at Minooka Park are well kept and very wide which is very nice. I went around 4:00 in the afternoon and it was very busy - full of runners. The issue that I had was with the green walking trail which is the longest. Unfortunately it was not well marked and I could not find the way because although the posts were up, the colors had washed away quite some time ago. The trail split several ways at a couple of points and I just had to hope for the best until I ended up on what looked like private property so I just turned around and went all the way back to my car instead. This is the 18th park I've been to in the last few months, so I know how to follow a trail that's marked adequately. read more

I've only been to this park once, but we had a very good experience. We took our puppy to the large breed dog exercise area. It was on a hill, so it was wet and closed like the other parks that day. There was almost no poop or anything in the fenced off area, and there were lots of garbage cans with baggies always within reach when you need it. I really like this facility and plan on returning. read more

Great place for small and large dogs. We have a dog that is allowed in both and this location works out well for us coming from New Berlin. It does get a little muddy during times of heavy rain. read more

Great dog park! Lots of space. We went on a Sunday morning and there were a lot of dogs. But there is so much space it didn't seem crowded. One dog was aggressive but the owner quickly controlled him. $4 for a day pass. Fun time read more

Minooka Park - Hiking Near Me - Waukesha, Wisconsin

Minooka Park is a great size and has wonderful walking paths, well-kept picnic shelters, and a nicely-maintained dog park. I visit the park primarily for the dog park, but have attended Spooka Minooka, the Halloween event, as well. The price for the event was good, though the event was aimed at younger children than I expected. I still had fun though, even as an adult! The owl walk was worth it alone - we actually saw an owl! read more

This is a great dog park with lots of room to walk, run, and play! Most other dogs and owners are very friendly. There is occasionally a rowdy dog or two but people are normally good at watching and break it up when needed. They have dog bags, garbages and bathrooms on site, as well as a big dog park and little dog park. And people go throughout the year, which is nice. read more

Our dog, Oliver, was adopted this past August. He has high energy and loves to run and play. We were told about Minooka Park and decided to take our Weimaraner there. All fall and winter were fabulous times for Oliver and his "buddies" he would meet at the park. There were times; however, when we would come across some aggressive dogs battling it out. Oliver always steered clear of these dogs and continued his "happy go lucky" attitude as he ran and chased balls. Unfortunately, this past April, Oliver was playing with a dog that should not have been at the dog park. Oliver was severely bitten on his left side, near his hind leg. Leaving two deep wounds. He was taken to the emergency vet where he had to under go surgery to repair the damage done. His abdominal lining was nicked, therefore, requiring further surgery to repair the muscles in hopes that he would not get a hernia. Oliver was stitched up and a drain was put in place. He was on heavy doses of pain pills for 5 days, drain out in a week, stitches out in two weeks, and one month of antibiotics. Oliver was not allowed to run, play or do stairs for two weeks. I won't even mention how much fun that "cone" was! We have not been back to the dog park since. Owners that should not take their dogs to the park because of aggression continue to take their dogs there. They should (but don't) keep their dogs on a leash, muzzle them, or leave them home. Most dogs are friendly, but not all dogs are. Both our local vet and the emergency vet said it was not uncommon; actually, fairly common for dogs to be brought in because of aggressive dogs at the dog park. Oliver misses not going to the park and is working on getting his "stamina" back, but we will find another way to let him run and play among friendlier dogs. We would never want to go through another experience like this again, all due to a dog that should have stayed home. read more

We have a 10 month old toy poodle mix only 5 lbs. when April rolled around and Minooka opened for the year, we couldn't wait to bring him out to the small dog park for the first time. It was opening weekend and the park was packed. Tons of people and dogs. It's a nice park with all the right amenities. After some initial excited running and greeting other dogs, I called Teddy and we began to do some off leash heel training around the perimeter. We passed a woman in her 40's sitting on a bench with a minpin beside her. She commented on how cute the puppy was and then said 'get him'. To my shock, the minpin launched off the bench and ran Teddy down and started biting his face. I was horrified as she repeated this 3 times. I was finally able to call, catch my terrified and bitten dog and we left the park. Thinking she was disturbed or cruel or worse, my husband accompanied us a couple weekends later. On that occasion we were chatting with a group of nice people when a larger dog attacked Teddy, held him on his back and chewed on his stomach. The strike was so fast and so unexpected. Women screaming and running at it stopped him. I was only 10 ft away when it happened and couldn't save him from the attack. The owner grabbed her dog up, made some excuses and kept walking. Upon returning to the group of people, they told me this dog does that every time it comes and the owner knows this but still let's it wander the park attacking friendly dogs. This park is much closer than Nashota for me but 2 strikes Minooka and apparently some ignorant people who can't control their dogs think it's ok to bring them to public small dog parks instead of spending the time working with them or keeping them home for the sake of innocent dogs and puppies. A man approached me as we leaving that second time and asked about Teddy. His dog was run down and viscously attacked there last fall, he was lucky he survived it but it took a week at the vets. Not ok! read more