Thirty-two kilometers of signed and groomed trails await cross-country skiers in 6 Madison Parks locations.  Trail difficulties range from easy to advanced.  

Ski Rental is available at Elver Park (daily) and Odana Hills (weekends/holidays and MMSD winter break only). 

A Cross-Country Ski Permit is required for Elver Park, Odana Hills and Yahara Hills.  This annual pass is also valid on Dane County Park Ski Trails Please note that the fee-based trails will have a higher level of grooming, which includes skate ski lanes, tracks and more frequent grooming. The free/non-fee ski trails will have tracks groomed at least weekly..

Please remember that Mother Nature (not the Madison Parks) decides when the cross-country ski trails can open. To groom the ski trails, we need at least 4 inches of snow. To keep updated on the ski trail conditions, subscribe to email updates on My Account.  

Trail Rules

• A trail pass is required at Elver Park, Odana Hills and Yahara Hills Golf Courses and groomed Dane County Park trails.
• For your safety, some trails are marked for one-way use. Please follow these directions.
• Trails are rated for difficulty at the trailhead.
• Dogs, horses, snowboards, motor vehicles and snowshoes are not allowed on designated cross-country ski trails.
• Skiers must stay on groomed trails. Off-trail skiing can damage greens and tees on the golf courses and harm wildlife and plants in conservation parks.
• Please report any safety hazard, vandalism, or damaged facilities to the Parks Office, (608) 266-4711.
• Where trails are groomed for both skating and diagonal striding, please respect each other's space.
• Slower skiers stay to the right.
• Please repair sitzmarks on downhill trails as a courtesy to your fellow skiers.
• NO HIKING OR SNOWSHOEING on the ski trails.

Ski trail grooming standards: 
Elver Park, Odana Hills and Yahara Hills ski trails require a permit, therefore have a higher level of grooming provided. When conditions allow, these trails will be groomed 3-5 times a week, including the weekends. These three park/trails systems will be groomed for both skate skiing and traditional/diagonal.

The rest of the trails are FREE for anyone to use. These trails will be groomed for traditional/diagonal skiing once a week as conditions allow.

The public may call (608) 266-4711 for more information.

March 6, 2014 - XC ski trails are open. March 9 will be the last day for ski RENTALS at Odana Hills and Elver Park. Staff will continue to groom trails as conditions warrant. Check the individual trail details to see when it was last groomed.