Wisconsin's Largest Natural Bridge/Arch…read more this natural arch is located in the "Driftless Area of Southwestern Wisconsin" meaning....this natural bridge was not glaciated during the last Ice Age & is still standing strong today! Quick Facts * archeologists found charred wood in fire pits underneath this natural bridge that dates as far back as 12,000 years * this is a 530 acre state park with lots of beauty...but stay on the trails!! ‼ * the trail to the natural bridge is quick & easy! Bring your family * there are no trash cans...keep your trash on you!! * this spot is located very close to the House on the Rock * add this spot to your list of Things To Do in Wisconsin!

This is the most bizarre State Park I've been to in Wisconsin, and I've been to many. I don't know…read morewhy it has State Park status, it's more of a State Natural Area, because there is no park office, no bathrooms of any kind, no picnic tables, no one enforcing or collecting the fee you're supposed to pay -- there's just a parking lot you drive into, for free as far as I can tell. The posted map says it has toilets and a picnic area, but they are not there. Anyway, once you park and take the mowed trail, it's a pretty short hike to the bridge, which is very, very beautiful. There are a couple of more trails you can continue to walk on, but they seemed to disappear into nothingness after a while, so we turned back. So definitely stop in for 30 minutes to see the natural beauty, but there's no reason to stay beyond that.

As a lover of WI's dying prairies, having this remnant prairie so close to Madison, WI almost seems…read moretoo good to be true. A great place to watch the seasons change from the first hint of greens in the spring to the vibrancy of summer and the rich tones of fall. Go mushroom foraging, take a walk, take so many pictures you run out of storage on your iphone!

I'm a bit amazed by how good all the reviews for the Conservancy are on Yelp and Google, given how…read morelittle of the conservancy gets you away from houses or streets. While a fairly nice space in and of itself, those that gush about it apparently have never seen the other 85% of the area that is much more beautiful. It is a nice place to take a hike if you don't have the time or means to get out of the city proper. However, Pheasant Branch itself is a brackish, polluted stream. There are plenty of trout streams within a 15 minute drive of town that are much cleaner and more picturesque. The trails themselves are usually pretty busy, so I've never really felt like I'm getting away from it all. That all said, have at it! If you want to get a hike or jog in, especially with your dog or your kids, don't let me rain on your parade. You can see enough of what it's like yourself from all the posted photos. I do encourage you to cast your net a bit wider, to Donald Park, Indian Lake, or any of the much more secluded and beautiful places just minutes away from Madison.

Nice place to hike! Trails traverse over multiple sites…read morealong the lakeshore and other intersecting trails. Seen some turkeys along the way. Nice prairie grasses in abundance.

Beautiful place to hike, especially in the fall. Magnificent views of Lake Mendota and even the…read moreCapital Building. I stumbled across it my first week living on campus as a hapless freshman and it immediately became one of my favorite spots. I always make sure to stop by whenever I'm back in Madison.

Very cute conservancy in Waunakee that is so peaceful. There are picnic tables at the start and…read morebenches throughout the trail. Also very well maintained.

My husband and I strolled here the other day. It's a beautiful retreat and reminds me of being in…read morethe country even though it is in the town of Waunakee. The trail is not groomed and judging by the paw prints left in the snow the fact that they don't allow dogs is most likely not enforced. However, with the warmer weather the trail is wet and muddy in some spots and I recommend water proof shoes as the trail isn't paved or gravel. The bridges are lovely and there are rest benches along the path. There were also wildlife tracks so if you time it right you may see some deer or large birds. I'm looking forward to walking this when the path is drier. Update: I did go here when the weather was drier and I loved it. The path makes a circle, so if you don't carry a compass or navigation eventually you'll get back to the start. It was even prettier now without the snow and less mud, I'm looking forward to some greenery along the path. While you are close enough to town to see civilization it almost like being out in a natural state.

This is a great little walk by Lake Mendota on university property. Take a little dirt road to the…read moreparking lot. The dirt parking lot can hold maybe 8 cars. There are stairs down to the waters edge. A few intrepid swimmers met here for an early morning dip. The trail to the left starts from the bottom of the stairs and goes roughly a quarter mile until it hits private property. The trail to the right goes from the parking lot. It's mostly through the woods but there are a few secret spots to view the lake, including a newly installed bench.

Definitely a hidden gem near campus. So many trails following the water, some with entrances down…read moreto the lake. I hiked a good two miles and barely touched the many places to go over here. It's beautiful and quiet even though the city is bustling just beyond the tree line. I'd recommend this place to hike if you're a beginner, don't want to drive super far, want to take in the outdoors, and spot some fun birds.

BIG fan of this state park! Recently returned for a camping trip after not having been here in…read moreyears, and boy was it delightful. The campgrounds themselves are well-kept and honestly massive. Can't even imagine how many campsites they have. Ours in particular was in quite the open space with tons of grass, but there are plenty of options that are more wood-like and covered. Nice they have electric hook up options, as we were traveling with both tents and RVs. Hiking trails were awesome too, wow. Really enjoyed our excursions out and about, winding through the woods, rocky up-hills, and taking in the beautiful lake views. Also awesome? The beach and the attached gift shop/restaurant. Super duper well-kept. Tons of beach space (though it was still packed!) with clean sand and shallow waters, great for the kiddos. Also that gift shop is more of a convenience store- it's got it all! The adject ice cream shop was also enjoyed by everyone we traveled with. My only small gripe was the lack of garbage cans. I feel like this is some kind of state-park rule maybe? I don't know there was only one area with dumpsters and unless you trek over there, you're kind SOL with wrappers, ice cream cups, rubbish left over from your restaurant meal, etc. 100% will return here, whether it's for future camping, just hiking outings, or beach days.

Came here for a weekend in October and was pleasantly surprised by just how pretty this park is!…read moreThe fall leaves definitely helped but I'm sure it'd be gorgeous year round. We camped at Upper Ice Age campground and it was perfect - the sites are spread out so you're not too close to neighbors and there are two bathrooms and water stations that make it easy to do your business. The bathroom located in UIA could be cleaner but the showers and bathrooms right down the hill are great and not too far away.

We stumbled upon the park almost by accident. We only stopped to look at the lake and were…read moreoverjoyed to find an area where our son could be entertained as we sipped on a beer from the nearby biergarten. Our son especially enjoyed the sandbox. I'm sure there are other features that I missed but it was a nice way to spend an evening before heading back to the hotel.

I think this park is awesome. There is a Biergarten, bathrooms, a beach, kayak and SUP rentals,…read moresand volley ball courts and lots of trees for shade and grass areas. Dogs allowed on leash. The lake front views are beautiful too.

Unfortunately, did NOT encounter any spirits. However, I had a wonderful time as I walked around…read moreduring daylight with my boo. Was haunted by bugs- that was it :-P Maybe I'll try again at night time and it'll be creepier. But the park overall was very nice and had beautiful trails. I just was looking for more spooks.

I love the little Lake View Hill Park. It is a county park tucked into a neighborhood with great…read moreold oaks and walking trails. The history though is what makes it unique as it is the wooded grounds around a former tuberculosis sanatorium with cultural remnants from the days when it served Dane County residents. You can find old cement ponds that cascaded down into what is now the parking lot, an old hog barn foundation in the middle of the woods, and more. There are two kiosks on the east and west sides that provide information on the history and current efforts to restore the woods to native species. Check out the website at lakeviewhill.org and Facebook @lakeviewhill for more. Full disclosure that I am on the board of the Friends of Lake View Hill ! Come visit and enjoy the park!