Back

Get out and play!

  • Making Madison Home Menu


  • Area lakes, rivers, hills and valleys are great places for you to get in touch with nature and enjoy the local wildlife. There are hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails throughout Southern Wisconsin. The University of Wisconsin Arboretum is a popular destination for walks, bird watching, or getting away from the bustling city. And even on the coldest, snowiest day in January, Madison’s Olbrich Botanical Gardens are in full bloom.

    The University of Wisconsin Arboretum has:
    • 20 miles of trails over 1,260 acres

    Madison has:
    • 5 lakes: Kegonsa, Mendota, Monona, Waubesa, and Wingra
    • 260 parks

    Dane County has:
    • 6,000 acres of parks, 150 miles of bike trails, and 26,000 acres of lakes

    Wisconsin has:
    • 84,000 miles of rivers

     
    The Best Cities on Earth for Biking

    Yahoo Travel, June 2015

    10 great places to blaze a (bike) trail of good food

    Badger Herald, 2022

    Madison ranked in Top 12 for Water Conservation

    Wyland Foundation, May 2012

    Most Bike-Friendly States in the U.S.

    Fast Company, May 2014 

    #3 in Top Ten Healthiest Cities

    Livability.com, April 2015

    #4 Best Cycling Towns

    USAToday Travel, April 2014

    Madison Ranked #8 in Happiest, Healthiest Cities in America

    Prevention.com, September 2013 and Huffington Post , January 2014

    Madison ranked as one of 10 great places to try stand-up paddle boarding

    USA Today, August 2012

    Madison Ranked 5th most Bikeable City

    Walkscore, May 2012

     
     

       


  • Active 2

    Active 3

    Active 4

    Active 5