Highly recommend hiking here!…read more There is a small parking lot. It helps to come early otherwise you may have to find parking somewhere else. We noticed cars just parking on the side of the county road. After you park you have to pay for a ticket and stick it on your dashboard. This ticket will also get you into Devil's Lake which is awesome so you don't have to pay for both. Right by the parking lot they have some area/trail/hiking information as well as bathrooms. This is the start for 2 different trailheads. You can go right for the Parfey's Glen State Natural Area or you can go left on part of the Ice Age trail. We decided to do both with our dogs. We first did the Ice Age trail which was a narrow wooded trail. Beautiful with a good amount of uphill. We did about 3 miles out and back. We could have gone much farther. It was so nice, we only saw 2 other people on the trail. Then we went over and did about a mile in Parfey's Glen. Everyone we saw in the parking lot seemed to do Parfey's Glen, it wasn't too crowded late morning but we saw a good amount of people. Lot of families so definitely a kid friendly hike. It was such a nice hike, it starts on a paved path and then goes to gravel, and then dirt. Along the way there are streams (that you have to cross so bring your hiking boots or shoes you don't care about). Towards the end I believe there is a waterfall but we didn't make it that far with the dogs. I look forward to going back and doing the entire hike.

Loved this area! We've been a few times over the years and it's always so calming…read more We were there for memorial day weekend so it was pretty busy. Prepare to bring extra shoes if you opt to hike beyond the end of the trail. Plenty of stepping stones and logs but still a chance to slip. Lots of people came back with wet shoes. Definitely recommend if you're in the area!

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!)

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.

As a relatively short person, 5', I love the feeling of being immersed in sunflowers!read more

Hoyt park is one of many sneaky natural treasures tucked away within the city of Madison. Easy to…read moremiss, but absolutely worth searching out. I hadn't been to the park in ages, in fact, when looking at the map earlier in the day I'd forgotten that I'd been there before. This is probably because we'd stopped and spent some time at the main shelter, but didn't really check out the rest of the park. Shame on me! We missed out back then; not only does the trail make for a lovely and mostly shady walk, but the history here is fantastic. The park was once a quarry, and it shows because this local stone was used throughout. You can access the park from three areas. First is a footpath next to Hoyt School on Regent Street (street parking only here). The primary entrance is a bit farther up Regent Street, and here is where you'll find the parking lot and the main facilities for the park. Lastly, you can hike down from the the scenic outlook at Owen Parkway. There is limited parking up there and on the street by Hoyt School, so I'd suggest the main lot. Hoyt offers a bit of something for everyone. As you pull into the parking lot you'll notice the stone shelter and restroom facility. There are enough picnic tables in the shelter for a good sized get together (reservable) and a large fireplace on each end. While we were there I saw two different groups cook up something on a teeny fire in there. There's a children's playground near the parking lot, more picnic tables scattered about, and a large open grassy area for soccer, lawn games or frisbee. A basketball court and softball field round out the sporting options. Also, as of June 2015, this is one of 10 Madison parks that will be participating in a pilot program for slacklining sites in the city. Neat! The trail (about a mile total) is a mix of paved and unpaved surfaces. It weaves through the trees and rock formations in a way that really maximizes the 31 acres the park sits on. There are picnic areas with stone fireplaces and tables tucked here and there, and a second shelter full of picnic tables down the path into the woods. A smaller clearing past this shelter opens to a restored prairie area, which was loaded with flowers and butterflies when my friend and I walked through. I noted a few benches here and there where one could sit and watch the pollinators at work. There were raspberries everywhere! At one point we walked past old mossy quarry walls, and up/down stone stairways. There were wildflowers all along the trail, which always makes me happy. We shared the trail with a number of people running through the park or walking their dogs. But beware! Technically dogs are only allowed along Owen Parkway and must be leashed while there (via City of Madison website). I don't know how strict they are at the park if you're caught. Regardless, I was pleased to see so many people using the park in a couple hours time. Unfortunately there are some signs of vandalism once you get into the woods. There are not-so-pretty patches in the fencing where people have tried to get through to the blocked off lower quarry area, and some of the beautiful stone tables have been spray painted. Hopefully the Friends of Hoyt Park are on top of these things; from what I read they're pretty active.

We stumbled upon this while staying nearby. It's a nice place to go to forget you are in a city and…read morehas many hidden gems if you have time to look around. There is a pyramid hidden there if you are fortunate enough to find it.

Cherokee Marsh is a good place to enjoy trails. The Parking lot and driveway area has been…read more regraded so it's no longer full of potholes. You can see a lot of birds there. It's a good place to hike with kids. Rolling terrain in a few areas yet a very easy trail system . Be aware it gets a lot of mosquitoes in the summertime if you're on the grassy trails. Great place to snowshoe in winter

It's a bit of a drive to get out there and the road is very small but there's plenty to be seen,…read moreand it's not far away from Center City

A great place to walk or jog. The trail is flat. It's a beautiful scenic topography. I heard active…read morefrogs, saw different types of birds and animals. Overall, it's a peaceful place to enjoy nature.

This is such a sweet little park. Really unique playground equipment and beautiful views. There was…read moreno one there when we went on a warmer winter day and it was just a short walk from our home off of Atwood Avenue. Another one of those hidden gems in the neighborhood that you should definitely check out!

Yahara Place Park is such an incredible zen spot to relax, people watch, bird watch, and get a…read moregreat view of Lake Monona. I live a few blocks from YPP and it is on my regular walking route around the neighborhood. Each season brings the best our of YPP. In the summer, there are always families hanging out in/around the playground or basketball court. The Waterfront festival happens here each summer, which really brings the neighborhood together, with local musicians and artists. In the spring and fall, seeing the changing of the seasons and leaves really makes for a great stop. There is a road that goes by the park, which always has bikers on it (part of the lake loop). I really find YPP to be a tranquil place to take a walk, sit on a bench and enjoy the world around you.

This is a great little park on Lake Monona. I perfect place to hang out with nature. There's a…read morelittle car traffic that comes by, but its mostly bikes, walkers and runners moving through. You can land kayaks here to venture out to Lake Monona or sit along the shore and people watch those out on the lake for the day. There's lots of trees that provide shade and quite a bit of green space for the kids to play. There was a gentleman out with a hammock along the water. Now, that's what I need to do next time I come out. We met up with some friends to walk to Olbrich Park and back. This was a lovely start and end place for our morning walk. It was so green and lush and the flowers in bloom were so fragrant. What a nice little park right in the middle of the residential area.