OPEN WITH PRECAUTIONS: (Updated 05/14/2020) On May 13, 2020, the Wisconsin Supreme Court voted to invalidate the Safer at Home order issued by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, effective immediately. As a result, Public Health Madison & Dane County issued an order PDF  that incorporates the elements of the statewide Safer at Home order PDF  for the city of Madison and Dane County, effective immediately. When spending time outside during COVID-19, please follow these recommendations from Public Health Madison & Dane County:

• Do not use parks or trails if you are sick with symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath.
• Maintain a social distance of at least six feet from people other than your household members.

MORE INFORMATION: 

• Using the Outdoors While Maintaining Social Distancing
• Social Distancing while using shared pathways 

View all Hiking

Additional information on historic buildings or district questions may be found in the Department of Planning & Community & Economic Development Planning Division website.

View all Historical Features

• Edna Taylor Conservancy Native American Mounds

  Built: ca. 700 - 1200 A.D.
  
  Description: Six linear mounds and one panther effigy are located on a high glacial drumlin along the eastern side of the Edna Taylor Conservancy. Originally another linear mound followed the hill crest to the north of the existing group and a conical mound and another very long linear mound extended to the south.
  
  Wisconsin has the highest concentration of effigy mounds in the United States and the Madison area has one of the highest concentration of effigy mounds remaining. Most mounds were lost to 19th century agricultural practices and city development. The mound builders were farmers who also engaged in hunting and gathering. They lived in small villages and migrated from one to another based on the seasonal availability of natural resources. The mounds often, but not always, have burials associated with them, but their exact purpose is not entirely understood. Mounds tend to have been built in places with beautiful views of the surrounding countryside. The mounds are considered sacred by modern Native Americans and should be treated with respect.
  
  The mound group was designated a City of Madison landmark on May 7, 1990 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
  
  More Information: Landmark Nomination
  

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

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. 

Trails of various lengths and terrain are suggested below, in addition, snowshoeing is also permitted anywhere with good snow cover with the exception of any groomed ski trail and off-trail in a conservation park.
   
TIPS

• Snowshoeing is allowed anywhere in a park that is snow-covered and ungroomed and on ungroomed trails only in conservation parks. Snowshoes are not allowed on groomed cross-country ski trails at any time.
• Sufficient snow (typically 4" or more) is needed to create a base for snowshoeing. The woods generally need more snow to fall due to the trees protecting the trails.
• 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.
• Snowshoeing, hiking, and skiing off-trail destroys 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.

View all Snowshoeing