I moved to Madison about three weeks ago, and I've been trying to find parks and trails in my…read moreneighborhood. This is a tucked-away gem that I would recommend to others! I found it after I stumbled upon a connection point into the South Arboretum trail, at a connection to the Cannonball trail. It's a short walk through the forest, but there's no rush. Enjoy the walk!

I've been trying to check out different parks and natural areas near my home now that it's warming…read moreup again, and Knollwood, over in the Arbor Hills neighborhood, is a nice little gem. There's only about a mile of trails, but the black oaks and sand prairie are beautiful to wander through on a warm spring day.

Beautiful, Peaceful . Changes every few weeks as new, seasonal perennials bloom. Ornamental…read morestructures are impressive.

Go there. It's a lovely neighborhood garden in Mansion Hill. The place was once an abandoned space,…read morebut now a beautifully restored garden/urban oasis thanks to generous efforts of volunteers.

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.

Owen Conservation Park is a great park right in the heart of Madison. It's open from dusk till…read moredawn, has a paved parking lot, and restrooms on site. The well-maintained hiking trails wind through both shaded wooded areas and open prairie sections. In the winter, the trails are designated for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, with maps at the parking lot and throughout the park showing the routes. In the summer, the prairie trails are mostly grass, while the wooded paths are dirt. Wildlife is abundant--you'll often see wild turkeys and occasionally find mushrooms along the trails. I enjoy this park for its accessibility and being so centrally located. The only downside is the road leading from the main street to the parking lot--it's narrow in places, has many potholes, and sometimes requires pulling over in the grass for oncoming cars. Despite that, Owen Conservation Park is a wonderful spot for hiking and enjoying nature in Madison.

Love this place for walking short or long walks. Interesting things to find. Love taking pictures…read morefor my Grandkids who live far away. Once I saw a pair of turkeys walking down path together.

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.

Great little secret/intimate spot along the lakeshore where you can watch the sunset... It's small…read moreand only has one park bench, and it can get muddy at times, but don't worry -- you'll clean up good, kid! Amateur (and professional!) photographers start to appear with their tripods and fancy cameras for the Spring and Fall Solstice sunsets, as those are the 2 times in the year when the sun is aligned perfectly across the lake from the park and sets behind the Capitol building. Beautiful! Dogs are allowed in the park, on a leash (owners must pick up poo, of course!).

We heard about this park from a neighbor and decided to check it out since it's only about a 10…read moreminute drive away. It's a cute little spot near the neighborhood with a pond and a small swing set. The path is pretty well maintained, and it's a nice place for a short walk or an easy loop around the area.

Love hanging out at Stricker Park in Middleton! The park itself includes a playground and swing…read moresets, tennis courts, a basketball hoop, and a short soccer field. There is also a bubbler and portable bathroom available in the summer months. The best part about this park is that it is next to Stricker pond and has a nice trail that goes all the way around it, perfect for nature watching- which includes lots of turtles and birds and blooming lily pads in the summer. The pond is away from major roads so it is a very peaceful place to hike and has lots of benches to sit on.

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!