Madison Parks ranks #1 in the nation for the number of basketball hoops per resident, come check out the hoops in your neighborhood! Most of the basketball courts are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you are planning a new league or tournament see Athletic Field Reservations. 

• Door Creek Park - Basketball Court

  Surface: Asphalt
  Lighted: No
  Number of Courts: 2 full
  

DOOR CREEK TEMPORARY PARTIAL SKI TRAIL CLOSURE (updated 1/31/2023): A gas pipeline company, as part of their 75-foot easement, needs to remove trees & vegetation for safety and access, in Door Creek Park. The work is anticipated the week of February 5, 2023, and portions of ski trail will be closed during this time. We anticipate their work will be completed in 3-4 days. The easement (signed in 1966 by prior owners of the land) allows the gas pipeline company as an easement holder to remove trees and shrubs as needed for access and safety purposes. See MAP for location. 

Cross-Country Skiing in Madison Parks

Seven (7) winter trails are designated and groomed for cross-country skiing. Four are free-to-use and three require a daily or annual cross-country ski permit. 

• PERMIT-FREE DAYS - No Cross-Country Ski Permit Required
  • Saturday - Sunday, January 21-22, 2023
• FREE-TO-USE: Cherokee Marsh Conservation - South, Owen, Turville Point and Yahara Hills.
  • Groomed weekly, and as conditions allow. 
• PERMIT REQUIRED: Door Creek, Elver and Odana Hills Golf Course.
  • Groomed several times per week, and as conditions allow
  • A daily or annual Cross-Country Ski Permit is required for anyone aged 16 years or older and may be purchased ONLINE. 
• TRAIL STATUS DEFINITIONS
  • OPEN = trail is snow-covered, skiable with the most recent grooming date posted. 
  • CLOSED = skiing is not advised or permitted
• RESTROOMS: Available at Elver, Cherokee Marsh - South (portable), Odana (portable), Owen and Door Creek (portable).
• DOGS: Dogs are NOT allowed on cross-country ski trails. Please walk your leashed dogs on designated hiking/snowshoeing trails. 
• HIKING/SNOWSHOEING: Do not walk on a designated cross-country ski trail. Hiking or snowshoeing is allowed ANYWHERE except on cross-country ski trails and off-trail in a conservation park. See SNOWSHOEING for suggested locations. When in doubt, don't. 

• Elver Park Wednesday - Sunday 
• Odana Hills Saturday & Sunday

2023 Fees 

Daily	$7
Annual	$30
Annual Senior (65+) & Disabled	$15
Annual Military/Veteran (New!)	$15
Replacement	$12

• 2023 permit is available Nov. 1 and is valid through December 31, 2023. 
• The permit is valid for Dane County Parks trails also. 

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*New* Door Creek Park Added as Cross-Country Ski Permit Site

Earlier this year, Madison Common Council approved a revised ordinance for the Cross-Country Ski Permit Program, which allows the Board of Park Commissioners to designate fee-based locations. A cross-country ski permit is required for Elver Park, Odana Hills Golf Course, and new this year, Door Creek Park. Yahara Hills is a free-to-use site. 

For those not familiar with the ski program in Madison Parks, typical free-to-use ski trail sites, offer limited grooming, about once per week, and as conditions allow. Fee-based sites require a Cross-Country Ski Permit and use funding from the program to provide more frequent grooming, typically 3-4 times per week or as conditions allow. 

Grooming the Trails: How & When  

The type of grooming performed depends on a few things to make the most of both long and short-term skiing opportunities. The amount and type of snow, as well as, the ground condition at the time of the snow event all play a part in the grooming equation.

Did you know Parks staff is responsible for priority snow removal areas? These priority areas are roads, more than 400 bus stops, bike trails, sidewalks, and parking lots. We always appreciate your patience and understanding as safety will always come before fun.  

TRAIL CONDITIONS & GROOMING

• Ski trails typically open after the first snowfall over 4" depending on the type of snow and trail conditions.
• Fee-based trails are groomed more frequently, as conditions allow and for both skate and classic skiing.
• Free-to-use ski trails are tracked or roll groomed for classic cross-country skiing. 
• We may not be able to groom or we may close a trail to preserve the trail condition. The website is updated as soon as information from the field is available.
• Permit fees are non-refundable
• You may also visit Madison Nordic Ski Club for trail conditions posted by volunteers and trail users.

TRAIL TIPS & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Follow directional arrows. Some trails are marked for one-way use
• Trails are rated for difficulty at the trailhead
• Skiers stay on groomed trails only
• No dogs, horses, snowboards, motor vehicles, hiking or snowshoeing on groomed trails
• Slower skiers please stay to the right

• Door Creek - Skiing

  Location: 7035 Littlemore Dr.
  
  Open
  Cross-Country Skiing at Door Creek Park
  

Madison Parks are a unique blend of active recreation and passive recreation spaces.  Open Fields are just that - open, not pre-designed as a softball diamond, or football field.  These open fields are available in these parks to spark your imagination, play a game of tag, or follow the leader - or anything you can think of!  Enjoy your parks!

• Door Creek Park - Open Field Games

In addition to the dual stripped (tennis & pickleball) locations, Garner Park offers Madison's only dedicated pickleball courts. Learn more about the game and rules adopted by the USA Pickleball Association. 

Pickleball courts may be reserved ONLINE.

• Door Creek Park - Pickleball Court

  Surface: Asphalt
  Lighted: No
  Number of Courts: 8
  
  Notes: Tennis/Pickleball Courts (4)

With more than 175 playgrounds throughout Madison, you are never too far from a playground. According to the Trust for Public Land, Madison ranks #1 in the nation for the number of playgrounds available. The traditional swings and slides are always an option, as are new play elements and fully accessible playgrounds. 

PLAYGROUNDS FOR EVERYONE
Through the Madison Parks Foundation initiative, Madison Parks offers all-inclusive playgrounds in Brittingham Park and Elver Park, opening in 2019.  The Foundation has a goal of 5 fully accessible playgrounds. 

PLAYGROUND REPLACEMENTS: HOW AND WHEN
Madison Parks is responsible for maintaining more than 175 playgrounds and began a system-wide replacement initiative in 2013. With current staff and funding resources, replacements are scheduled to continue through 2033. Playgrounds are routinely inspected to assess the equipment's conditions and repair any safety concerns. Based on the age of the equipment and current conditions, each is given an audit score. The number of playgrounds replaced each year is based on budget allocations, staffing resources, and using the current playground audit score for prioritization. 

REPLACEMENT PROCESS: NEIGHBORHOOD INPUT
At the start of the replacement process, notices are sent to the District Alder, neighborhood association representatives, and surrounding residential addresses. Information is also posted to the project website. Generally, two public meetings are held to review surfacing and equipment options and make final selections.

If you have questions about a specific playground or see something broken, please let us know. 

• Door Creek Park - Playground

Open public restrooms are listed below. All portable restrooms are accessible. 

Year-Round Open Restrooms
Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park - North, Warner Park Boat Launch, and Owen Conservation Park are open daily, from approximately 10am to 8pm. 

Spring - Fall  
Most restrooms are open daily from approximately 10am to 8pm, opening the first Saturday on or after April 20 and closing for the season October - November. Locations and dates vary. 

Winter
Once winter recreation begins, in addition to the year-round locations, Elver, Tenney, and Vilas have open restrooms when the winter recreation amenity of that park is open. Please check Winter Fun for the status of winter recreation at a specific park. Other portable restrooms are also added in a number of popular winter recreation locations. 

• Door Creek Portable Restroom

  OPEN

• Candlelit Snowshoe Hike, Jan. 14
• Candlelight Snowshoe Hike, Jan. 21

• DO snowshoe anywhere in a general park with good snow cover, except on a cross-country ski trail. 
• Do snowshoe at Door Creek Park on marked trails - see *new* MAP.
• DO snowshoe at Elver Park on the marked trail - see MAP.
• DO snowshoe at Yahara Hills on the marked trails - see MAP.
• DO snowshoe on a trail in any conservation park, except those designated for cross-country skiing (Cherokee Marsh South, Owen, and Turville Point) 
• DO snowshoe with sufficient snow (typically 4" or more).
• DON'T snowshoe off-trail in a conservation park. 
  • Snowshoeing, hiking, and skiing off-trail can destroy snow tunnels used by native small rodents (deer mice, shrews) by the trampling effect. These small mammals are an important part of the wetland and grassland ecology in our conservation parks. Destruction of these tunnel networks makes the small mammals more vulnerable to predation.
• When in doubt, it's always best to stay on a trail.
  • Our trail systems are designed to facilitate controlled public access while protecting environmentally sensitive areas and providing quiet refuges for wildlife away from people. Disruption of wildlife by human activity during the winter puts additional stress on them during a challenging time for their survival.
• Learn more:
  • Read Your Guide to Snowshoeing in Madison Parks
  • Subscribe to Winter Recreation News

Madison Parks has nearly 100 tennis courts.  Most of the tennis courts are available on a first-come, first-served basis. When courts are reserved, at least one must be left available for pick-up play. Please note that all tennis leagues and all tennis instructors must pay for a reservation, no matter the location. Go to: Athletic Field Reservations

Practice Wall Locations
Bordner, Brittingham, Elver, Olbrich, Tenney, Waunona and Westmorland
 

• Door Creek Park - Tennis Court

  Surface: Asphalt
  Lighted: No
  Number of Courts: 8
  
  Notes: Tennis/Pickleball Courts (4)