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Door Creek Park

Door Creek Park
Address: 7035 Littlemore Dr.
Hours: 4:00am - 10:00pm
Park Type: Community
Acres: 159.97
Restroom: No
Drinking Water: No

Park Details

2021 UPDATE: Plans are underway for a multi-season reservable shelter with anticipated completion in 2023. See Parks Projects for more information. 
paved path down hill through parkDoor Creek Park is approximately 160-acres, located east of the I-90/39 and south of I-94, between Milwaukee Street and Cottage Grove Road (County Highway BB) in the Door Creek neighborhood. This large community park has been in the planning and acquisition stage since 1990. Door Creek Master Plan, approved in March 2008, includes both passive and active recreation and a shelter.

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. 

Alternate addresses: 6901 Bluff Point Drive, 851 Harrington Drive, 7202 Cottage Grove Rd., 625 Highcliff Trail, between 533 & 601 Highcliff Trail
 

Park Highlights

Winter Recreation
Door 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 Trail Map

At this Park

  • 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

  • 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). 
    • SNOW LOOP at Elver Park: Thanks to our partnership with the Central Cross Country Ski Association (CXC) and the support of the Madison Nordic Ski Club (MadNorSki), Elver Park has a regularly groomed machine-made snow loop. Ski trail conditions are posted by volunteers & users here.
      • Snow-making for the loops is on-going. Please stay clear of all equipment. Do not ski over power cords. 
    • SKI RENTALS: Classic ski rentals, sleds, and ice skates are available. See Elver Park for hours and rates. 
    • COVID-19 safety precautions: the shelter at Elver Park is closed to the public. 
    • Learn more about cross-country skiing in Madison Parks:

    2021 Permit Fees

    A daily or annual Cross-Country Ski Permit is required for all trails at Elver Park, Odana Hills, and Yahara Hills for skiers aged 16 and older. Due to COVID-19 safety precautions, permits are not available on-site and must be purchased online or by calling (608) 266-4711.
    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 around November 15 and is valid through December 31. 2022. 
    • Valid for Dane County Parks trails also. 

    purchase permit

     

    TRAIL STATUS DEFINITIONS
    • OPEN = trail is snow-covered, skiable with most recent grooming date listed. 
    • CLOSED = skiing is not advised or permitted
    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 (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

    View all Cross-Country Skiing
  • Cherokee Marsh kioskExplore the many scenic trails and pathways throughout Madison Parks.  Leashed & licensed dogs are allowed on most trails with a Dog Park Permit. See Dog Free Parks, for exceptions. Restrooms are open year-round at Cherokee Marsh, North Unit and Owen conservation parks. 

    Please observe the following COVID-19 safety precautions: 
    • Maintain a physical distance of at least 6' from anyone outside your household.
    • Share the path. Some trails are bike and pedestrian shared. Bicyclists, remain 6' from pedestrians and give a courtesy alert to others that you are passing on the left. 
    • MORE PATH TIPS 
    MAPS
    A number of parks are mapped for hiking. Look for a map onsite or on the individual park page, under the "About This Park" section.  View all Hiking

  • 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

  • According to the Trust for Public Land Madison ranks #1 in the nation for the number of playgrounds per capita - 7 playgrounds for every 10,000 people. That's a lot of options! In 2020, our overall ParkScore Ranking was #12 in the nation. 

    Madison Parks offers all-inclusive playgrounds in Brittingham Park and Elver Park. The Elver Park playground opened in July 2019. READ MORE. 
     

    View all Playgrounds

    • Door Creek Park - Playground

  • 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. 

    NEW - Snowshoe Rentals at Vilas Park
    When the ice rinks are open and we are staffed at Vilas Park, stop over for a pair of snowshoes to rent. Be sure to check the ice skating page for the status, select the Vilas frozen lagoon or rink for hours - Wednesday - Sunday. 

    RATES 
    Snowshoe Rentals Adult (16 & older) Youth (15 & under)
    Hourly $5 $2
    Additional Hour $2 $2
    Daily (24 hours) $25  $10
    Additional day $15 $5

    TIPS - Where is snowshoeing allowed?
    • 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 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:
    View all Snowshoeing

  • 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

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

    Shared Pickleball Courts
    Elvehjem, Heritage Heights, Norman Clayton, Northland Manor, Tenney, and Walnut Grove
     

    View all Tennis Courts

    • Door Creek Park - Tennis Court

      Surface: Asphalt
      Lighted: No
      Number of Courts: 8

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