Madison, Wisconsin

It is filled with effigy mounds, thousands of plant and animal species, and unlimited places to explore.  You can run, hike, bike, and even drive through the Arboretum.  There is a visitor center and you can host an event here.  Trail info  One of my favorite trails is in the Grady Tract area nea...

There are no specific trails in this conservancy, so just choose the path that looks the best to you.  It would be hard to get lost here and all the trails put together are only about 3 miles.   There are some hills, but nothing too serious. bathrooms in the parking lotsmall parking lotfreecommon...

This is an excellent trail right in the city of Madison and doing this portion made me very excited to continue hiking more of the Ice Age Trail in this area.  The Ice Age Trail is more than 1,000 miles long and it follows the edge of the last continental glacier in Wisconsin.   - - - - - For thi...

More info can be found about that here.  This is a beautiful 105 acre conservancy with several different trails.  It’s a great spot for a picnic and to bring the family.  There are interpretive signs so you can learn about the history of the land like glaciers and the different settlers.  They ev...

442 acre park just outside of Madison is a perfect spot to escape for awhile. About a 20 minute drive from Madison makes it easily accessible even on a tight schedule. It provides a great place for lots of outdoor activities, year round.I love this place enough that I have been there many times a...

Starting at the trailhead at the base of the hill, follow the paved asphalt path that ascends the backside of Gibraltar Rock. While the trail is paved all the way to the top, there are sections of it that are rather rough due to tree roots tearing the pavement up. There is also a slightly longer ...

Ferry Bluff is a 0.8 mile lightly trafficked, very steep out and back trail located near Sauk City, Wisconsin that features a river and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and birding and is best used from April until October. The entire no...

Five miles west from Sauk City lies another great natural area. According to the official website, it is about a 25-minute drive from Devil’s Lake State Park. There are a few trails you can take here at this park, they go up all of the bluffs in the area, the most popular one is Cactus Bluff. Fol...

Located next to the popular Devil's Lake State Park, Parfrey's Glen holds many of the same geographical features. Parfrey's Glen is unique, however, for the rock cliffs that tower over you on both sides as you make your way though the gorge.The mile hike from the trailhead to the glen requires so...

Park in the South entrance group camping lot to find the trailhead, just a few steps North of the parking lot. A few different paths you can take, but took grotto trail (.3 miles) to Potholes trail (.4miles) and looped back on the CCC trail (1 mile). Very steep climb for a decent amount of the tr...

Devil's Lake is one of Wisconsin's most visited and most beautiful state parks, offering many trails, activities, gorgeous scenery and more. There are various trails to explore in the park, including the East Bluff Trail and the Potholes & CCC Trail Loop, as well as camping that's offered. T...

This hike begins at the east end of the North Shore Visitors' area. The hike starts relatively level before turning to the right and leading you up steps. The spectacular views come quickly on this hike as immediately after you reach the top steps you will be treated to your first glimpse of the ...

Devil's Lake State Park in Wisconsin offers some of the craziest views in the midwest as well as an abundance of supreme bouldering sites. To start off this endeavor there is one key item: a parking sticker. You can obtain one of these by heading over to either the north shore or south shore park...

Devil's Lake State Park has over 22 miles of trails for all hiking skill levels. To hike the perimeter of the lake, Begin with West Bluff Trail, hook into Balanced Rock Trail, and finish with East Bluff Trail. The bluffs surrounding the lakes reach elevations up to 500 feet. West Bluff Trail is a...

Devil's Lake State Park has 29 miles of trail that vary in difficulty. The most popular trails are the East and West Bluff trails that circle Devil's Lake and offer some of the best views in the park. If you want a more relaxing day, head to the beach! It's a family-friendly spot that is the perf...

This segment of the Ice Age Trail features stairs, river views, pretty rocks, a nice park, and a golf course.  We started at the north end (not the park end) and enjoyed it.  If you have kids, I would recommend starting at the park end.  It is an out-and-back type hike.  From the south end of the...