Cross-Country Skiing News

• As of Monday, February 27, all designed Madison Parks ski trails CLOSED & grooming operations ended for the 2022-23 season.
• In the event of a significant snowfall after Feb. 27, trails may become skiable again, however, the website will NOT be updated and trails will not be groomed. 
• See MadNorSki for area trail conditions posted by volunteers and trail users. 
• Ski rentals & concessions are CLOSED for the 2022-23 season. 

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. 

• 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

• Owen Conservation - Skiing

  Location: 6021 Old Sauk Rd.
  
  Closed
  Cross-Country Skiing at Owen Conservation Park
  

Following a July 2023 unanimous vote of the Board of Park Commissioners, leashed dogs are allowed in all general Madison parks. Staff are working to educate park visitors and revise onsite signage. This process is expected to continue throughout the summer and fall of 2023. 

• Must be licensed.
• Must have a valid daily or annual Dogs in Parks Permit.
• Must be leashed and under the owner's control at all times.
• Must pick up dog waste. 
   

Dog Prohibited Areas 

• Conservation parks 
• Burial mounds 
• City of Madison Golf Courses (during the golf season) 
• Olbrich Botanical Gardens 
• Playgrounds and areas within 20 feet of a playground surface 
• Splash parks, fenced areas(s) surrounding a splash park, and areas within 20 feet of the splash park surface 
• Goodman Pool and Breese Stevens Field (except for special events where dogs are specifically invited) 
• Programmed sports fields and facilities that are enclosed or substantially enclosed by a fence, whether in use or not 
• Programmed, non-fenced sports fields such as soccer, ultimate fields or softball/baseball diamonds while they are in use for programmed activities 
• Inside park shelters or other City buildings 
• Groomed cross-country ski trails 
• In the water or on the beach at designated beach locations 
• Park special events except where the sponsor has requested to allow dogs, with the Park Superintendent's approval

• Owen Conservation Park - Dog Free Park

  Location: 6021 Old Sauk Rd.
  

Parking lots in parks are available for park programs or events during regular park hours: 4:00 am to 10:00 pm. 

Parking Rules

• Driving or parking motorized vehicles is not allowed on the grass or near a shelter and is subject to a citation.
• Three-hour limit in all parks, as posted.
• No parking after hours: 10pm to 4am. Overnight parking is not allowed. 
• Conservation park hours are 4am until one hour after sunset
• Follow all onsite parking regulation signs.
• Violators are subject to a fine.

OPEN RESTROOMS
The system-wide process to close restrooms for the winter season begins Oct. 1. Listed on this page are OPEN restrooms. All other restrooms are CLOSED. 

SPRING THROUGH FALL

• April - October
  • Restrooms throughout the park system are open seasonally from mid/late April through early to late October. The systemwide process of opening/closing restrooms takes several weeks and depends on the weather and staffing. 
• Open Daily 10am to 8pm
  • Open restrooms are listed on the page and open daily approx. 10am to 8pm.  
  • Beach restrooms are also open daily, approx. 10am to 8pm from May 27 through September 4, 2023. *This date may be extended based on seasonal staff availability to maintain daily cleaning. See BEACHES for any season updates.*

• Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park - North
• Elver Park enclosed shelter
• Owen Conservation Park
• Tenney Park at the John Wall Family Pavilion
• Warner Park boat launch

• Owen Conservation Park

  Location: 6021 Old Sauk Rd.
  
  OPEN
  
  Notes: open year-round