Great place to hike, nice combination of prairie grasses, woods, water and wildlife…read more Very scenic and inter weaves with other local trails. Nice place to hike and not difficult!

The Lakeshore Path and Preserve- how could one give it fewer than five stars! Lakeshore Path is a…read moreMadison and UW-Madison treasure, as it serves as an exercise and walking oasis between the Memorial Union, Lakeshore Dorms, Athletic Practice Fields, Graduate School Housing and Picnic Point. Walk, run, bike, the oaks and pines on one side, Lake Mendota on the other? Lakeshore Path is five stars all the way, U Rah Rah, Wisconsin!

I have been going to Indian Lake for several years. I love that it's a short drive from Madison and…read morehas some nice, moderate inclines for hiking. The trails are mostly shaded too which is great, especially when it's super hot out! There are several variations to check out. I typically follow the outer loop trail which is about three miles. I rarely run into people while on the trail; however it has definitely become more popular in the last couple of years. If you want an extra bonus, check out the short trail to the little church and lean about the history while enjoying the view. This gem is worth visiting!

Great place to take medium to larger dogs. There is ample space for them to run. The woods offers…read moreexcitement for them and the lake side is a great place for them to cool off on warm days. This is the best dog park we have ever used. There is a fee for those out of town folks who may wish to run their 4 legged friend. All the dog owners we have encountered are great. This is the place to socialize your dog, do not keep them on a leash because they can feel trapped when meeting other dogs. The dogs figure out how to relate to each other. The only mark against this place are the walkers who don't have dogs who choose to walk thru the park. They seem to be annoyed that dogs run up to them. I don't care because they have acres and acres of amazing paths in the woods to trek, the dogs only have this one smaller place. I say if you don't like dogs then don't walk thru THEIR part of the park!

Cute park for kids, port-a- potty, little old and rickety but still fun for little kids, not for…read morebig kids- for age 10 max

This is one of 5 "Dream Parks" in Dane County. They all were community built. The playground is…read moretruly huge and has tons for kids from 18 months and up to explore. Bring a picnic, there are plenty of places to sit.

I read about Sunflower Days in a recent summer piece on Madison, and was happy that my Madison…read morevisit coincided with opening weekend of this year's sunflower bloom. The sunflower bloom is definitely worth the trip and parking lot traffic and walk up the hill- it's simply amazing. Over 500,000 sunflowers will bloom in a one week period! There's a bit of an uphill climb to get from the parking areas to the sunflowers and the farmland, so expect that. This is a free event, so feel free to donate to the conservancy, cheapskates! There's as much or as little walking here as you want. Get a few pics of the sunflowers and go home, or walk around the whole sun field, walk past the oak savannah and prairie, or walk around the whole farm (which is quite a hike)! Bring water, bring a blanket, bring a picnic!

I cannot believe I didn't know this hidden gem existed. Their sunflower days are absolutely…read morestunning! It's definitely an attraction close to Madison that's not to be missed. To be honest, I have only ever been to the Pope Farm Conservancy for the sunflowers. But it seems like a beautiful place to stop year round for a hike or to cross country ski. It gets crowded during their sunflower days, so it's best to go during off hours. The Conservancy does an excellent job marking off parking spots and directing traffic. They have plenty of volunteers to answer questions and everything appears to be very well run and organized. People come to take family photos, have a picnic, or just go for a nice stroll to watch the sunset over a beautiful field of sunflowers. However, leave your dog at home because pets are not allowed. The sunflower days attraction is free however donations are accepted. Definitely worth a trip to the far west side of Madison.

This park is so cute and has bathrooms and shaded areas, sand volleyball and the cute lake to walk…read morearound. Fun for the whole family.

This is a small Middleton park that is a gem for those of us who live nearby. I spent my formative…read moreyears rollerblading along the paths (and having one of my worst blading wipeouts on said paths.) There are three different play structures (one of them a Dream Park,) and a splash pad. Plus there are tennis courts, shelters that you can rent for gatherings, ample parking and a full walking path that goes around a small pond. We ran into a pair of Sandhill Cranes and many a Canada Goose during our visit! For those who are interested, you can use the different outdoor exercise stations along the walking path. Not a bad idea if you want a low impact working while walking! Dogs are allowed on the paths (on leash!)

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.

Wonderful park for the little ones. There are two separate play areas. The park is fully fenced so…read moreyou don't have to worry about the kiddos running into the street. The equipment is unique and great for the little ones who love to climb.

If you have kids who are just walking, up to about 3 or 4, this is the best small park in Madison…read morefor them to play that I know of. It is extremely well designed for the toddler crowd. It is totally gated, so no one can make a run for the street. The equipment is interesting and exciting to kids without posing almost any danger, and from 18 months on, they can do almost everything themselves. There are no swings you have to push them on, no ladders you have to hover over while they climb. Just sit on one of the many benches and relax! If you live within a mile or two, and are in charge of some people in diapers, do yourself a favor and find this little patch of fun tucked just outside the elementary school grounds.