Our friends live about 10 minutes from this park and recommended we check it out, so we stopped by after visiting them. There's a huge rock formation that definitely catches your eye, but the path leading up to it isn't well paved. You'll need to navigate through some tall brush if you plan to climb up. I wouldn't suggest attempting it unless you have proper shoes and decent balance (or a good core!). We saw a few adventurous teenagers make the climb, though. Aside from that, there are several nearby trails that are much better maintained and perfect for a casual walk or light hike. Overall, it's a nice county park with plenty of parking spaces to explore, especially if you're in the area and want a bit of fresh air and nature. read more

Discovered this park while looking for a hiking spot after visiting Mt. Horeb. Only 6 minutes drive from Mt. Horeb and what a great hidden gem. We parked at Pop's Knoll which has a gravel parking lot for about 20 vehicles. About 100 meters from the parking lot is an area with a covered shelter with picnic tables and a toilet room. What really surprised me about this park was how well the trails were maintained and marked with numbers so you have reference points to know where you are on the park map. Consists of multi-use trails for hikers and horseback riders, as well as hiking trails for pedestrians only. A good mix of trails through corn fields, wooded areas, and grassy paths along streams. Dogs are allowed but must be leashed at all times. I highly recommend. read more

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Here's an Earth Day shoutout to my favorite local county park! Great trails to explore on foot and even on a horse. A beautiful example of native plant life and the diversity it brings with birds and insects. Pop's Knoll has a great shelter to use and exploring the creek makes for a fun afternoon for all ages. read more

Absolutely gorgeous park, even before the foliage comes in. I love hiking the trails and there's lots of clearings, cool rocks to climb, and cute little places to have picnics/take photos. read more

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Excellent hiking area. We parked at Pop's Knoll - Delma's Shelter. There was large covered area with picnic tables. We hiked down to the beautiful Springs Trail and to the Mt Vernon Outlook which is about 1.5mi and another 1.5 back to the parking lot. A lot of shaded areas and some benches along the springs. Water was so clear. Beware of mosquitos. read more

Gorgeous Wisconsin Park. Fields, paths, birds, open spaces, misty mornings and even some benches and a fire pit. The quiet is healing and the beauty is powerful. read more

One of the best hidden parks in Dane County. Donald park is so secret even some locals don't even know about it. Head out on Hwy 92, one of the most gorgeous drives from Mount Horeb, or drive in from Verona Area, just 10 minutes from Epic. " It's officially in the Driftless region". Rolling hills, valleys and has an amazing "Donald Rock" to climb and make you feel like you've gone back in time a few centuries. Close to nearly 800 acres of land with prairies, woods, trails, streams, beautiful rock formations, and ponds. There's even a historic cabin they have been restoring. This park is teeming with wildlife, geology and beauty. Hike the miles and miles of trails by foot or even the special trails for horses. With the park being so large you never feel crowded with people. We love to hike the trails year round. Some our favorite memories here are the winter hikes, untouched snow, ice formations over the streams, and inside the wooded area tracking where the animals have been going. You won't be disappointed! After 5 years of going to Donald Park I still have not seen it all. Activities here:Hiking, Horseback riding, Fishing, Exploring the historic cabin, climbing the rock formations, Snowshoeing & cross-country skiing on rustic trails, Prairie and woodland exploration, Relaxing at the pond, sampling the wild blackberries and sun bathing on a bench or blanket surrounded by acres of beauty. Close to Sutter's Ridge Fruit Farm and Pumpkin Patch, Mount Horeb is less than 10 minutes away, or Maxine's Bar in Mount Vernon has great bloody mary's and bar brunch specials on the weekend. read more

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I'm extremely fond of Dane County Parks in general, but Donald has become my favorite. I had no idea that it was tucked right between Mount Vernon and Mount Horeb until last winter, and I live only 10 minutes away! What a beautiful and sneaky treasure! Honestly, a selfish part of me hesitates to review the park just to keep it this way, but everyone should enjoy the beauty of this driftless landscape. Excluding camping, Donald offers something for just about everyone. There's a nice shelter with picnic tables, restrooms, and grills available for general use at the main entrance. You can reserve this shelter via the Dane County Parks website. A second and smaller parking lot on Sutter Drive currently has no facilities, but offers closer access to Larson's Pond and the far west trails. There's a separate entrance off of HWY G for Equestrian access. Licensed dogs are welcome if you have a parks permit, although there is a convenient station for a $5 day-permit at the main parking lot if you need it. I've run into a few happy hikers out with their pups, and seen signs of horses on the multi-use trails, but mostly I or my group have been uninterrupted while moseying our way along the trails. While not my thing, this park is also a trout fishing site; with those handy boot cleaning stations here and there. The spring-fed streams provide an ideal location, with Frye Feeder and Deer Creek being listed as "Exceptional Resource Waters," and Mount Vernon Creek being listed as an "Outstanding Resource Water." There are trails along these small waterways, so even if you don't fish you can enjoy the babbling water and dragonflies as you hike. The Mount Vernon Creek Fishery Area is also just a short jaunt down HWY 92, with access before and after Mount Vernon. All of the trails are well maintained year-round and cover a wide variety of terrain (high and lowlands, woods, pine groves, restored prairies) with multiple benches, scenic outlooks, bridges and viewing platforms. I've hiked in the snow, spring mud, and now the blooms of summer. Aside from trail maintenance the way has always been clear and wide. I've not had to fight back branches or wipe a spider web off my face due to close foliage here. There are at least two rock outcroppings that can be climbed (that I've come across), with gorgeous views from both. There are a few steep areas in the wooded trails, but they're not difficult to avoid with miles of easy hiking available. Lowland trails bring you near streams, ponds and natural springs. Apparently, in addition to being shady, cool and fragrant, the pine groves (red, scotch and white) are about 65 years old. In the winter months the trails are maintained for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, and a seasonal snowmobile trail opens through the park. As Rowan C. points out, you can visit again and again and continue finding new aspects to this beautiful place. The Friends of Donald Park maintain bluebird houses along some of the restored prairie, which in the warm months is loaded with songbirds, butterflies, bees, and wildflowers galore. They're researching the old apple groves, apparently filled with hardy heirloom varieties, and working on restoring some beautiful oak savanna. They're also restoring a historic cabin site near the springs, which had burned down in the late 1800s. I see on their website that they hold occasional family-friendly events at the shelter, with a focus on "programs and activities that provide education, restoration and preservation." Among other exciting things, the land use plan (Yes, I really do read these things when I find a natural place I love) identifies rustic and/or group camping as a potential use down the road, addition of three more shelter/picnic sites, a lodge, and ongoing improvement/addition of trails. I love seeing that this place is so appreciated, and that there are plans to continue improving it in the future. I believe I'll be volunteering to help make those things happen. With a documented history including found artifacts from the Ice Age (PaleoIndian), driftless terrain, and the European settlement of the Mount Vernon/Springdale area, Donald Park is definitely a special piece of Dane County worth visiting and supporting as it continues to grow. read more

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Well, I guess it's unanimous. Donald County Park (should we now call it "The Donald?") is one of the best places to hike in the Dane County and Madison area. I had my introduction on a mild March Sunday, when the flora and fauna was not even at its best. That said, I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of topography and terrain, the bodies of water flowing through, and especially the natural spring, which at this early stage, boasted a growth of fresh watercress on top. Made me wish I'd brought along my salad spinner on the hike. By the way, I enjoyed this hike courtesy of the Madison Area Outdoor Group, who facilitates many hikes in the area throughout the year. We spent about 2 hours crossing hill and dale, and making a couple of stops to view and old early settler homestead, the natural spring, and some cranes circling above us trying to find a good air current. I can only imagine how much more pleasant this park is as spring and summer approach. It's just about a 20 minute drive from Madison and a few miles south of Mt. Horeb. Scenic and convenient. read more

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A very nice park southwest of Madison. There are plenty of trails that weave through a variety of terrain, providing lots of nice hiking options. There also is a babbling stream that runs nearby, providing fishing opportunities. Dogs are allowed, on leash. It's definitely a park that's far enough away that it doesn't attract a huge crowd, so it's possible to not run in to too many people (which I think is good). A shelter with picnic tables provides a good spot near the parking lot to hang out. It reminds me of Indian Lake County Park, trail-wise. Although without the lake and with fewer people. Imagine that! All-in-all, it's worth the half hour drive from Madison. read more

We went to this park with some relatively low expectations but were pleasantly surprised it lived up to the positive reviews! The trails were snow covered when we went and we probably only got through 5% of the park but what we did see was great and as a bonus the trails are wide and kid friendly! I am excited to continue to explore what the park has to offer. We will definitely be going back and may make this a regular visit given that it is in close proximity to where we live. read more