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City of Madison Parks Facilities Cross-Country Skiing Elver Snow Loop

Elver Snow Loop

Cross-Country Skiing
Address: 1250 McKenna Blvd.
Park: Elver Park
Status:
Open
Permit Required: Yes
Terrain: Open, mostly flat, machine-made snow
Grooming: Skate, Classic
Difficulty: Easy, Intermediate
Last Groomed: 03/08/2021

Winter Activity Updates

Icon of ice skate
Elver Park snow loop remains open, all other cross-country ski trails are CLOSED for the season. • A huge shout-out to everyone who came out to Madison Parks this season and to all the dedicated Parks staff and volunteers! Thank you!

Details

Elver Park is Madison's winter recreation destination! Ice skating, cross-country skiing, and of course, sledding!* Elver Park offers miles of groomed trails from easy to difficult. Click to see MAP or scroll to the bottom of the page. East, West (lighted), and the machine-made snow loop. A Cross-Country Ski Permit is required for all trails at Elver Park.  
 
SKI PERMIT REQUIRED
If you rent skis (see rates below), a daily permit is included. All trails at Elver Park, including the snow loop require a daily or annual ski permit, which may be purchased online or by phone (608) 266-4711. Due to COVID-19 safety precautions, the on-site kiosk is closed. A 2021 annual permit is valid through 12/31/21 and Dane County Parks ski trails.  
 

purchase permit
 
What to Expect 
Due to COVID-19 safety precautions, park users will see a number of adjustments this season.
  • Wear a mask.
  • Restrooms open, with limited capacity.
  • Warming shelters are closed to the public. No personal items may be left inside. 
  • No hot chocolate or concessions. 
  • Limited outdoor seating provided.
 
RESTROOMS OPEN 
Monday - Friday: 11am-8pm 
Saturday: 12pm-8pm 
Sunday and MLK: 12pm-6pm

MACHINE-MADE SNOW LOOPS
Thanks to our partnership with the Central Cross Country Ski Association (CXC) and the support of the Madison Nordic Ski Club (MadNorSki), we are making snow for the regularly groomed snow loops. This is an on-going process and is anticipated to be nearly 2km once completed (see map). PLEASE STAY CLEAR OF ALL SNOW-MAKING EQUIPMENT AND POWER CORDS. Ski trail conditions are posted by users here. 
 

RENTAL HOURS

January 6 – February 21, 2021*
Wednesday - Friday Saturday Sunday
4-8pm 12-8pm 12-6pm
No rentals available on Mondays and Tuesdays. 

 
RENTAL RATES 
XC Ski Rentals Adult (16 & older) Youth (15 & under)
Hourly $9 (daily ski permit incl.) $5
Additional Hour $5 $5
Daily (24 hours) $30 (ski permit incl.) $15
Additional day $15 $8
Weekly (7 days) $70 (ski permit incl.) $50
  • Cross-Country Classic Accessible Sit-Skis (1 person)
    • Adults: $9/hr, $5 each additional hour
    • Youth: $5/hr, $5 each additional hour
  • Sleds – by the hour or purchase 
    • $2/per hour, or $20/sled
  • Ice Skates 

PHONE: (608)288-6148

*All winter activities are weather dependent. Rentals and/or restrooms may not be available if an amenity is posted as closed. 

elver winter trail map









 









 

Also At This Park

  • 2021 Ice Skating Season
    19 designated rinks and lagoons at 13 locations throughout the park system.  

    • FREE-TO-USE: All designated rinks and lagoons are free to use. No reservation required! 
    • SKATE RENTALS AVAILABLE (first-come, first-served): Elver, Tenney and Vilas
    • No rentals on Mondays and Tuesdays. 
    • CHECK THE STATUS: Is the rink open? See the status below.
      • DO NOT skate, walk, or otherwise go on a rink or lagoon until it is declared open. Doing so is not safe and slows the opening process by damaging the ice.
      • While ice is never 100% safe, staff monitors the ice depth to be at least 5" to safely support humans and grooming equipment.
    • LEARN MORE about winter recreation in Madison Parks:

    WHAT'S DIFFERENT THIS YEAR 
    Due to COVID-19 safety precautions, park users will see a number of adjustments this season.

    • Wear a mask.
    • Restrooms open, with limited capacity.
    • Warming shelters are closed to the public. No personal items may be left inside. 
    • Skate rentals available with modified hours. See each location for equipment, rates, and hours. 
    • No hot chocolate or concessions. 
    • Limited outdoor seating provided.

    A big thank you to our many volunteers and the ADOPT ICE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM! 

    View all Ice Skating

  • 03/05/2021 UPDATE: Sledding in Madison Parks is winding down for the season. Numerous locations are closed for the season, including Berkley, Hiestand and Olbrich, among others. For your safety, and to uphold the quality of our landscapes, please do not use a sledding hill without a significant snow base. 

    The Elver Park sledding hill is one of the most popular and is lit for nighttime sledding during the open season. 

    For the safety of others during COVID-19, please wear a mask or face-covering and do your best to maintain 6' from anyone outside of your household. 

    Madison Parks offers many hills perfect for winter sledding. The locations listed below are few suggestions for ideal sledding with a good snow base. With the exception of Elver Park, sledding hills are not maintained by park staff. 

    View all Sledding

    • Elver Park - Sledding

      Warming House: No
      Concessions: No

      Notes: By far the most popular, Elver Park's hill is also lit for nighttime fun.

Winter Activities

Cross-Country Skiing Updates