Snowshoeing in Madison Parks

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 & Concessions

Concessions and snowshoe rentals are available from the staff warming pavilion at Door Creek, Elver and Vilas. 

Hourly Rentals 

Available from Door Creek, Elver and Vilas. 

Type	Price
Adult	$5/ hour
Youth - age 15 & younger	$3/ hour
Each additional hour (adult or youth)	$2/ hour

Daily Rentals

Longer-term snowshoe rentals are available from Elver and Vilas

Type	Price
Adult	$25/ day; $15 each additional day
Youth - age 15 & younger	$10/ day; $5 each additional day

Snowshoeing Tips 

• Designated snowshoe trails are offered in the following parks. 
  • Cherokee Marsh South
  • Door Creek Park
  • Elver Park
• Snowshoeing is allowed anywhere in a general park with good snow cover - typically about 4" or more, except on a marked cross-country ski trail. 
• Snowshoeing is allowed in any trail in a conservation park, except Owen, and Turville Point, which are designated ski trails. 
• DO NOT 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 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 a quiet refuge 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.