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Things to do in Verona, WI: trails, Epic campus tours and Hometown U.S.A.

Verona, about 15 minutes southwest of downtown Madison, calls itself "Hometown U.S.A." It sits on the Sugar River, two state trails meet here, and it's an official Ice Age Trail Community. It's also home to the Epic campus, which you can tour. Checked with the Verona Area Chamber, Dane County Parks, the DNR, the Ice Age Trail Alliance and Epic in November 2026.

Checked against official sources · Updated November 2, 2026

Trails

  • Ice Age Trail, Verona Segment: 6.3 miles from McKee Road to Prairie Moraine County Park, past kettle ponds and through three county parks, ending at an overlook of the Sugar River Valley. Leashed dogs welcome. Park at the Ice Age Trail Junction Area, the Verona Public Library or Badger Prairie Park.
  • Military Ridge State Trail: a 40-mile former rail line from Fitchburg to Dodgeville that runs right through downtown Verona; the first 2.5 miles to Verona are paved. Bikers 16 and older need a state trail pass. A stretch near Epic Lane is closed for construction until September 2027, with a detour.

More in our hiking and running guides.

Parks and the beach

  • Badger Prairie County Park: 317 acres just east of town, with an 8-acre dog park plus a small-dog area, mountain bike trails, paved and unpaved paths, and a big play area.
  • Prairie Moraine County Park: 160 acres on the Johnstown Moraine, with an 83-acre off-leash dog park and the end of the Ice Age Trail segment.
  • Fireman's Park Beach: a swimming beach in a former limestone quarry, with a splash pad and waterslide in summer.
  • Hometown Junction Park, Railroad and Main streets: a depot-style shelter beside the trail, home of the Wednesday-afternoon farmers market from May to October.

Tour the Epic campus

Epic opens its campus at 1979 Milky Way for free self-guided tours: Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and weekdays 2 to 5 p.m., about an hour. Reserve a time slot ahead at epic.com/tour (walk-ins only if a slot is open) and pick up a map at reception. Closed Thanksgiving, December 24 and 25, and New Year's Day.

Events

  • Christkindlmarket, December 11 to 13, 2026, at Century School Park, 400 W. Verona Ave.: a three-day holiday market (hours on its website).
  • Hometown Holidays Kick-Off, Friday, December 4, 4 to 7 p.m., at Century School Park: a tree lighting, ice skating, a trolley and a fire department chili supper with Santa.
  • Verona Hometown Days, Memorial Day weekend: a carnival, music, a kids zone and a parade. 2027 dates are coming.
  • Verona Public Library, 500 Silent St., is open seven days a week.

Verona's chamber visitor center is at 120 W. Verona Ave. For more nearby, see our Middleton guide and day trips.

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Sources

Rules and dates can change. Check the official source before you rely on them, and suggest a correction if something is out of date.