Hiking near Madison, WI: the best trails, from the Arboretum to Devil's Lake

In the city

• UW–Madison Arboretum, 1207 Seminole Hwy.: more than 17 miles of trails through woods, wetlands and Curtis Prairie, regarded as the oldest restored prairie in the world, plus effigy mounds. Free, open 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. No dogs and no bikes on the trails.
• Picnic Point and the Lakeshore Nature Preserve: 12 miles of trails along Lake Mendota on the UW campus, including the walk nearly a mile out onto Picnic Point. Leashed dogs are welcome. Lot 130 is paid on weekday daytimes and free on weekends.
• Cherokee Marsh – North Unit, 6098 N. Sherman Ave.: 4.1 miles of trails and boardwalks over the upper Yahara River in Dane County's largest wetland. Look for sandhill cranes and eagles.
• Owen Conservation Park, 6021 Old Sauk Rd.: restored prairie and oak savanna on the west side, with restrooms open all year.
• Turville Point: 2.3 miles of trails through big oaks and pines down to the Lake Monona shore, next to Olin Park.
• Edna Taylor Conservation Park, 802 Femrite Dr.: 1.4 miles and a boardwalk on a glacial drumlin above a marsh, with seven effigy mounds, including a panther.

Dogs aren't allowed in any of the city's conservation parks.

Just outside town

• Pheasant Branch Conservancy, Middleton: 682 acres of prairie and wetland, with springs that feed Lake Mendota and hilltop views. It's shared by the county, the state and the City of Middleton, so check the posted dog rules before you bring one.
• Pope Farm Conservancy, Town of Middleton: seven miles of trails, a Capitol viewing area and restored prairie. No dogs.
• Capital Springs and Lake Farm County Park, on Lake Waubesa about five miles from the Capitol Square: more than 6 miles of trails and boardwalks, an observation tower and the Lower Yahara River Trail.

State parks within a short drive

• Governor Nelson State Park, Waunakee: 8.4 miles of trails on Lake Mendota "within sight of the State Capitol," through restored prairie and savanna, with a 358-foot panther effigy mound near the Woodland Trail.
• Lake Kegonsa State Park, Stoughton: short trails through oak woods, prairie and a wetland boardwalk, including the 1.2-mile White Oak nature trail (no dogs on that one).
• Blue Mound State Park, Blue Mounds: more than 20 miles of trails on the highest point in southern Wisconsin, with two observation towers.
• Devil's Lake State Park, Baraboo: the big day trip. About 29 miles of trails, with steep climbs up 500-foot quartzite bluffs over the lake on the East and West Bluff trails, or the easier Tumbled Rocks trail along the shore.

All state parks need a vehicle admission sticker: $28 a year or $13 a day for Wisconsin plates ($13 a year for residents 65 and older). Dogs must stay on a leash no longer than 8 feet and aren't allowed on beaches, in picnic areas or on observation towers.

The Ice Age Trail and county parks

The Ice Age National Scenic Trail follows the edge of the last glacier across Dane County. Leashed dogs are allowed unless signs say otherwise.

• Verona Segment: 6.3 miles from McKee Road to Prairie Moraine County Park, past kettle ponds and along the Johnstown moraine. Prairie Moraine also has an 83-acre off-leash dog park.
• Cross Plains area: the Cross Plains segment and the Table Bluff segment, with ridgetop views where glaciated land meets the unglaciated Driftless Area.
• Indian Lake County Park: trails all the way around the lake and a climb to the hilltop St. Mary of the Oaks chapel, built in 1857, with a view over the valley.
• Donald County Park, near Mount Vernon: 775 acres of oak woods, trout streams and the 110-foot Donald Rock sandstone outcrop.

Dogs in Dane County parks need a county dog permit and a 6-foot leash. Permits for 2027 are $55 a year for county residents or $13 a day. See our pets guide for more.