Door Creek Park

Address: | 7035 Littlemore Dr. |
Hours: | 4:00am - 10:00pm |
Park Type: | Community |
Acres: | 159.97 |
Restroom: | Yes |
Drinking Water: | No |
Park Details
2021 SHELTER UPDATE: Plans are underway for a new multi-season reservable shelter with anticipated completion in 2023. See Parks Projects for more information.
The land is adjacent to Dane County Parks, Blooming Grove Drumlins Natural Resource Area, North Unit.
Door Creek runs through the park and continues south to Lake Kegonsa.
DOOR CREEK MAP
Alternate addresses: 6901 Bluff Point Drive, 851 Harrington Drive, 7202 Cottage Grove Rd., 625 Highcliff Trail, between 533 & 601 Highcliff Trail
Park Highlights
Winter RecreationDoor Creek Park offers a free-to-use, intermediate ski trail through hilly woods. As snow conditions allow, the trail is groomed for classic skiing. Snowshoeing is not allowed on the groomed trail but is allowed elsewhere in the park with good snow-cover.
Door Creek Winter Trail Map
At this Park
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Basketball Court
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.
View all Basketball Courts-
Door Creek Park - Basketball Court
Surface: Asphalt
Lighted: No
Number of Courts: 2 full
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Cross-Country Skiing
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, the type, and 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. To learn more about the grooming process, please see Winter Recreation: Cross-Country Skiing. You may also visit Madison Nordic Ski Club for trail conditions posted by volunteers and trail users.
Elver Park 2021-22 Update: Through a mutual decision, there will be no machine-made snow loop at Elver Park this winter season. The MadNorSki, CXC and Parks team are focusing efforts on improvements to the natural ski trails and grooming, as conditions allow. READ MORE ABOUT THIS DECISION
Winter Recreation: Cross-Country Skiing
Seven designated and groomed cross-country skiing trails throughout the park system.- FREE-TO-USE: Four groomed trails are free-to-use (Cherokee Marsh South, Door Creek, Owen and Turville Point).
- PERMIT REQUIRED: Elver, Odana Hills, and Yahara Hills are groomed more regularly as conditions allow and require a daily or annual Cross-Country Ski Permit for anyone aged 16 years or older. (scroll to green Purchase Permit button).
- RESTROOMS: Available at Elver, Owen, Odana (portable) and Yahara (portable).
- SKI RENTALS: Classic ski rentals, sleds, snowshoes and ice skates are available. See Elver Park for hours and rates.
- Learn more about cross-country skiing in Madison Parks:
- Read Winter Fun: Cross-Country Skiing
- Subscribe to Winter Recreation News
2022 Permit Fees
Daily $7 Annual $30 Senior (65+) & Disabled $15 Replacement $12 - A 2021 Permit is valid from the time of purchase through December 31, 2021.
- A 2022 Permit will be available for purchase on November 15 and is valid through December 31. 2022.
- The permit is valid for Dane County Parks trails also.
TRAIL STATUS DEFINITIONS
- OPEN = trail is snow-covered, skiable with most recent grooming date listed.
- CLOSED = skiing is not advised or permitted
- Ski trails typically open after the first snowfall over 4" depending on the type of snow and trail conditions.
- Fee-based trails (Elver, Odana Hills and Yahara Hills) are groomed more frequently, as conditions allow and for both skate and classic skiing.
- Free ski trails are tracked or roll groomed for classic cross-country skiing.
- We may not be able to groom or we may need to close a trail to preserve the trail condition. This website is updated as soon as information from the field is available.
- Permit fees are non-refundable
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
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Door Creek - Skiing
Location: 7035 Littlemore Dr.
ClosedCross-Country Skiing at Door Creek Park
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Hiking
Explore the many scenic trails and pathways throughout Madison Parks. Year-round restrooms are available at Cherokee Marsh, North and Owen conservation parks.
MAPS
Some of the parks have a trail map on-site or in the "About This Park" on the individual park webpage.
Dogs
Most parks allow leashed & licensed dogs with a Dog Park Permit. However, dogs are prohibited in all conservation parks and a number of Dog Free Parks. View all Hiking -
Open Field
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!
View all Open Fields-
Door Creek Park - Open Field Games
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Parking Lot
Parking lots are available in these parks for the programs or events in these parks. Parking lots are available from 4:00 am to 10:00 pm. Overnight parking is not allowed. Parking regulations specific to that park are posted at the entrance of the park. View all Parking Lots -
Pickleball Court
GARNER COURT CLOSURE NOTICE (03/22/2022): Courts 5 and 6 are closed until further notice. Cracks reopened following last season's repair work and will remain closed until known deficits are corrected by the contractor. We anticipate this work will start in late May or early June and at that time, all courts will need to be closed.
Garner Park offers Madison's only dedicated pickleball courts, in addition, a number of tennis courts are also lined for pickleball. Learn more about the game and rules adopted by the USA Pickleball Association.
Pickleball courts may be reserved ONLINE. View all Pickleball Courts-
Door Creek Park - Pickleball Court
Surface: Asphalt
Lighted: No
Number of Courts: 4
Notes: Tennis/Pickleball Courts (4)
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Playground
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
View all Playgrounds
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
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Restroom
Open public restrooms are listed below. All portable restrooms are accessible.
View all Restrooms
Year-Round: Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park - North, Warner Boat Launch, and Owen Conservation Park have restrooms that are open throughout the year.
Late April through First October Weekend, 10am to 8pm daily: seasonal restrooms are open the first Saturday on or after April 20 and closed for the season on the first Monday in October.
Winter: 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
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Snowshoeing
Experience winter in Madison Parks like never before with snowshoeing! This silent sport is a fantastic way to explore many of our parks during the winter months and is easy to learn.
Snowshoe Rentals at Vilas and Elver
New this year: Snowshoe rentals at Elver Park! Snowshoe rentals are available Wednesday - Sunday at Elver (map) and Vilas parks when the shelter is staffed and we have good snow cover.
RATESSnowshoe Rentals Adult (16 & older) Youth (15 & under) Hourly $5 $2 Additional Hour $2 $2 Daily (24 hours): Vilas Only $25 $10 Additional Day: Vilas Only $15 $5
SNOWSHOEING TIPS- DO snowshoe anywhere in a general park with good snow-cover, except on a cross-country ski groomed trail (Door Creek, Elver, Odana Hills, and Yahara Hills).
- DO snowshoe at Elver Park on the marked trail only - MAP.
- DO snowshoe at Yahara Hills on the marked trail only - MAP.
- DO snowshoe on a trail in any conservation park, except those groomed 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
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Tennis Court
Madison Parks has nearly 100 tennis courts. Most of the tennis courts are available on a first-come, first-serve 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
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Practice Wall Locations
Bordner, Brittingham, Elver, Olbrich, Tenney, Waunona and Westmorland
Shared Pickleball Courts
Brittingham, Door Creek, Elver, Heritage Heights, Kennedy, Nakoma, Norman Clayton, Northland Manor, Richmond Hill, Tenney, Walnut Grove, Waunona, and Westhaven Trails.
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Door Creek Park - Tennis Court
Surface: Asphalt
Lighted: No
Number of Courts: 4
Notes: Tennis/Pickleball Courts (4)
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