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    Pheasant Branch Conservancy

    4.9 (21 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Pheasant Branch Conservancy Photos

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    Spring fed creek
    Adam S.

    There is a 4.2 mile loop trail surrounding this spring fed creek on the outskirts of Middleton. Perfect for a walk or run, we saw quite a few people with doggies too! Very scenic and well maintained, with multiple parking areas around the conservancy.

    Pictures are worth a thousand words.
    Wendy P.

    I live right next to the conservancy. It is my favorite place to be. I love to walk around the entire thing. I can't always do that but I try to get out there as often as I can. I have never walked through the conservancy without seeing new things. Every single time I go something is exciting that I have not seen previously. It is a gem in our midst. I find the pathways extremely helpful and comfortable there are plenty of places to sit and rest. People are very thoughtful of one another whenever I come across them. There are endless things to draw your interest and compel you to return. Please see my photographs!

    Great trails for running, biking, and walking!
    Jason H.

    With approximately 3.5 miles of trails to walk, run, and/or bike, the Pheasant Branch Conservancy is a gem in the Madison area. The main loop passes through woods and prairie, past some neighborhoods, and is a mixture of wood planks, gravel, and dirt. Gravel/dirt offshoots go into the marshy areas, up some hills, and generally add to the outdoor enjoyment one can get from spending time in the Conservancy. With an abundance of wildlife, the Conservancy is also a prime bird watching destination (http://www.wisconsinbirds.org/trail/sites/PheasantBranch.htm). There's even a playground, some soccer pitches, tennis courts, and a shelter with water fountains and soda machines one one side of the Conservancy.

    Pheasant Branch in the Fall.
    Joshua J.

    I'd say this is the best park in Madison and one I've been going to quite regularly for at least 3 years now. The actual length of the path is quite generous and it takes a solid 50+minutes to walk the whole thing at a leisurely pace. The scenery changes from woods with streams to gorgeous meadows with flowers. There is a tall hill and other trails also that branch off the main loop. It is popular enough now that you might even find parking troubles on weeknights! There are many people traveling at different speeds from biking, running and walking but largely everyone is friendly and polite in this peaceful area.

    Amber L.

    Tons of trails. I walked along a field type path for a few miles then explored a more wooded area. I saw plenty of man made bird houses but not too many birds. I was really hoping to spot some cranes or owls..maybe next time. Great scenery!

    Great place to walk, run, hike, bike and snowshoe. The recent floods did some damage but amazing volunteers have patched up a lot of it. There is more work to do with the boardwalk but this is a definite favorite place to take walks.

    Wild flowers bloom all summer long.

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    5 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Love hiking these trails. Can spend an hour or more and the dog loves it. Nice variety which keeps it interesting.

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    6 years ago

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    7 years ago

    I've always loved the vast amount of areas the conservancy has! Lots of places to take great photos, see nature and just be free.

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    12 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    9 years ago

    Love coming here at least once a week! Its so beautiful and always well kept, while still a natural and safe environment for the wildlife!

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    10 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    Ask the Community - Pheasant Branch Conservancy

    Review Highlights - Pheasant Branch Conservancy

    I recently discovered this gem while looking for a place to hike with my young grandchildren.

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    Pope Farm Conservancy

    Pope Farm Conservancy

    (6 reviews)

    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!

    Free, just minutes outside of Madison, and having all the sunflowers your heart could desire. This…read morefarm is a lovely spot during Sunflower Days when thousands of sunflowers are in bloom. There are a couple of parking areas for your convenience and plenty of volunteers around to guide you into your spot an along the route next to the field. There are also shadier areas with some lovely views and wildflower growth bordering the sunflowers. Photos are encouraged, though do be sure not to touch the flowers. We went on what was likely one of the busiest days of the Conservancy's year, so I'm looking forward to returning when there aren't hundreds of other people clamoring for their own shot of the golden beauties.

    Donald County Park

    Donald County Park

    (11 reviews)

    Our friends live about 10 minutes from this park and recommended we check it out, so we stopped by…read moreafter 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.

    Discovered this park while looking for a hiking spot after visiting Mt. Horeb. Only 6 minutes drive…read morefrom 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.

    Indian Lake Park

    Indian Lake Park

    (14 reviews)

    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!

    Devil's Lake State Park

    Devil's Lake State Park

    (238 reviews)

    Definitely wear solid shoes with good traction if you plan to climb the rocky trail to the top. Oh…read moreboy. I only made it half way, it's quite challenging! Very steep in parts. If you don't want to climb up to catch the views, there is still beauty all around and you can walk by the lake or around the flatter trails. $16 was the daily fee for my car, as I have Illinois plates. I'm guessing it's cheaper for folks who live in Wisconsin. I will have to return in the spring to see the colors! But this state park was gorgeous, even on a chilly March day!

    DLSP is deceptive from the parking lot. It looks pretty chill, but once you venture forward, you…read morecome to find out that it is in charge, not you. If you have not read up on the history, please do, it is humbling how much time has transformed this place. There is a LOT to unpack. If you came here planning to trail run the park, you can try, but in my first experience, this is not the place, you would be better off doing that in Mirror Lake. We decided to explore the east bluff which is where the majority of the scenic points are located. I would not classify this hike as a casual jaunt, it was well earned. The scenic points were marked, but not explicit in their execution imho. Sometimes you got to a point marker only to find out that the scenic point was at the bottom of the bluff, so you had to hike down to the bottom of the bluff from the top of the bluff and then back up again, this was not obvious. The maps and trail heads could use some help imho, meaning that it was not obvious to the casual hiker where sh*t was exactly. Having said that, the park did not disappoint, it was amazing and I can't wait to come back again and experience additional aspects of it.

    Pheasant Branch Conservancy - hiking - Updated May 2026

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