Cedar Creek Park, Cedarburg: The Complete Visitor Guide

Cedar Creek Park is the five-acre green space where the creek drops over the old mill dam just east of downtown Cedarburg. Most people come for one of three things: the waterfall and the walk along the water, the playground, or a free Friday-night concert at the band shell in summer. This guide covers all of it — where to park, what you'll actually see, the rules worth knowing before you arrive, and what's within a short walk when you're done.

Where is Cedar Creek Park?

The park sits at N52 W5882 Portland Road, a few minutes east of the Washington Avenue shops. If you're standing in downtown Cedarburg, it's an easy walk — follow the creek downstream and you'll reach it. Coming by car from Milwaukee, it's about 30 minutes north; Portland Road runs just off the main routes into town.

One thing that trips people up: the City of Cedarburg lists the Parks Department's office address (on Washington Avenue) on most official pages, not the park's own street address. The park itself is on Portland Road. Put N52 W5882 Portland Road into your maps app and you'll land in the right spot.

Parking and the basics

There's no parking lot inside the park — city ordinance keeps cars out, so you'll park on the street along Portland Road and walk in. On a normal day that's simple. During a festival or a well-attended Summer Sounds night, arrive early or be ready to walk a couple of blocks.

The park has a restroom building (a standalone structure, not attached to the shelter or band shell), several picnic areas, an open-air shelter, and a large playground that includes a much-loved firetruck play structure. Leashed dogs are welcome on the park paths — worth knowing, because some listings online get this wrong: dogs are allowed on the paths, not roaming the wider park, and that's the rule the city actually enforces.

The creek, the waterfall, and the walk

This is the part photos don't quite capture. Cedar Creek runs right through the park, and where it passes the historic mill it spills over a dam into a short run of rapids — the closest thing Cedarburg has to a waterfall, and genuinely pretty when the water's up in spring and after rain. A pedestrian bridge crosses the creek, giving you the head-on view most visitors photograph.

A paved path — the Cedar Creek Walkway — follows the water with benches along the way, so you can make this a five-minute look or a slow riverside stroll. The trail is short and flat, which makes it easy with strollers or grandparents. A note the city is firm about: no swimming or wading in Cedar Creek. The water looks inviting on a hot day, but it's not permitted, and the current below the dam is stronger than it appears.

The playground and family amenities

Families are the park's core audience, and the playground earns it — a large setup with the firetruck structure kids gravitate to, open lawn for running, and picnic areas close enough that you can watch from a shaded table. Between the playground, the restrooms, and the flat walk to the creek, it's an easy stop with young children, and a common spot for birthday parties (the shelter and band shell areas can be reserved through the city).

Summer Sounds concerts at the band shell

From June through August, the park's band shell hosts Summer Sounds — free live music on Friday nights. It's a genuine local tradition: people bring lawn chairs and blankets, kids run on the grass, and the music carries over the creek. If you're planning a summer visit to Cedarburg, lining it up with a Friday Summer Sounds night turns a park stop into an evening. The park also hosts other community events through the year, including Country in the Burg and overflow space during Cedarburg's big festivals.

For dates and the current lineup, see our Summer Sounds guide.

Grab a drink or a bite nearby

The park's north end backs onto an old mill building, and on the lower level you'll find Rebellion Brewing — a small craft brewery with a patio right on the creek. It's about as close as a pint gets to the water in Cedarburg, and the natural first stop after a walk.

If you're making a craft-drink afternoon of it, The Fermentorium is another Cedarburg brewery and tasting room worth the short hop.

And downtown Cedarburg — with its restaurants, coffee, and shops — is a five-minute walk back along the creek. See where to eat in Cedarburg for the full rundown.

Make a day of it

Cedar Creek Park pairs naturally with the rest of downtown. The Cedar Creek Settlement — the restored 1860s woolen mill with shops, a winery, and cafes — is a short walk away. So is the covered bridge, and the Cedarburg Cultural Center. If you liked the creekside feel here, the other iconic Cedarburg park is worth the drive:

For a broader plan, our things to do in Cedarburg guide maps out a full day.