Area Trails

SkinnySki.com has complete and up-to-date collection of trails. We recommend reviewing their website – in particular the South West WI map and South East WI map.  Close to home, check-out the City of Madison Cross Country Ski page.  Check grooming status and buy your annual pass online (for Elver and Odana). 

SkinnySki.com is not associated with Madnorski. For local and regional trail conditions we recommend using our Madnorski website.  Other sources of local winter trail information: City of Madison Parks and Dane County Parks.  Following is a collection of information about area trails that may not be represented on SkinnySki.com.

In Madison

Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park – South Unit
3.1 miles, classic only, easy and intermediate. No trail fee. North side, 5002 School Rd.

Door Creek Park
1 mile, classic only, intermediate. No trail fee. Far east side, 7035 Littlemore Dr.

Elver Park
6.2 miles, classic and skate, all skill levels. City/County trail fee. Warming shelter, lighted loop. Southwest side, 1250 McKenna Blvd. Home to Madnorski Tuesday Night Races. Conditions typically very good despite heavy use.

Lake Farm Park
5.3 miles, classic and skate, easy. City/County trail fee. Restrooms. Southeast side, on Lake Waubesa, 3113 Lake Farm Road.

Monona Golf Course
No longer groomed.

Odana Golf Course
3.5 miles, classic and skate, easy. City/County trail fee. Shelter, rental (weekends), restrooms. Call the Odana Club House at 266-4724 to check on the availability of ski rentals. West side, 4635 Odana Rd.

Owen Conservation Park
1.5 miles, classic only, intermediate. No trail fee. West side, 6021 Old Sauk Rd.

Turville Point Conservation Park
3.1 miles, classic only, easy and intermediate. No trail fee. Restrooms. Near southwest side, 1156 Olin Turville Ct. Sheltered from wind and lots of ambient city light for night skiing.

University Ridge Golf Course
10.5 miles, classic and skate, all skill levels. Trail fee (discount for UW Employees). Clubhouse with food. Far southwest side, 9002 County Rd PD.

UW Arboretum
Extensive trail system on 1200-acre property, un-groomed, hiking and snowshoeing also allowed. No trail fee. Please stay on trails marked for skiers. Near southwest side, Arboretum Dr.

Yahara Hills Golf Course
4.1 miles, classic and skate, easy and intermediate. City/County trail fee. Far east side, 6701 Hwy 12 & 18 East.

Near Madison

McCarthy Youth & Conservation Park
180+ acres; East of Madison off of I-94. Approx. 9.5km groomed for skate and classic, with club-supported grooming. Park Homepage and trail map

CXC Outdoor Recreation & Sports Center
New venue in Middleton under development: With purpose-built cross country skiing and mountain biking trails, anchored by a public shared-use community building, the Center will offer a turn-key outdoor venue for sport events and training, and a year-round focus on recreation and educational programming.  Trail Fee.  Machine-made snow loop, weather permitting, for early season skiing.

BlackHawk Ski Area
Private club with classic and skate trails, ski jumps, downhill runs, and snowmaking. West of Madison, 10118 and 10222 Blackhawk Rd., Middleton.  Club membership required.

Governor Nelson State Park
5.2 miles, classic and skate, easy and intermediate. State Park entry fee. Restrooms. The multi-use trail allows snowshoes and leashed pets, including skijoring. On the north shore of Lake Mendota on county M west of Hwy 113. Address for navigating is 5140 Co Hwy M, Waunakee.

Pleasant View Golf Course
8 miles, all skill levels. Excellent grooming. Portable toilet on site. West of Madison.  Now managed and groomed by partnership between Middleton and CXC.  Access is now from the new CXC Center, 4355 Schwartz Road, Middleton.  

Token Creek
4 miles, classic and skate, easy. City/County trail fee. Portable toilet on site. North of Madison on Hwy 51. Address for navigating is 6200 US-51, DeForest.

East of Madison

Cam-Rock Park (Cambridge)
5 miles, classic and skate, all skill levels. City/County trail fee. Shelter, restrooms. Southeast of Madison, 68 County Highway B, Cambridge.

Lapham Peak (Delafield) Friends Snowmaking Page
17 miles, classic and skate, all skill levels. State Park entry fee. Warming house, restrooms, lighted loop. W329 N846 Co. C, Delafield.

North of Madison

Black River State Forest (Millston)
24 miles, classic and skate, all skill levels. State trail pass required.

Devils Lake State Park (Baraboo)
The park periodically grooms the Steinke Basin loop (2.5 miles, easy) for classic and the Johnson Moraine (2.8 miles, easy) for skate. Confirm trail conditions with park staff. State Park entry fee. In the Baraboo Hills. Trailheads are on HWY DL.

Iola Winter Sports Club
12.4 miles, classic and skate, all skill levels. Trail fee. Chalet and rentals (weekends). E398 County Rd MM, Iola.

Lodi Golf Club
3.8 miles, easy and intermediate. They try to groom 3-4 days a week and before all ski team practices. Lakeland Hills Country Golf Course, 300 Prospect Ave, Lodi.

Mecan River Outfitters (Princeton)
10 miles, classic and skate, all skill levels. Trail fee. Lodge, refreshments, rentals, cabins.

Mirror Lake State Park (Lake Delton)
17.6 miles, classic and skate, all skill levels. Requires both a State Park entry fee and state trail pass (16 and older). Restrooms. Address for navigating is E10320 Fern Dell Road, Baraboo.

Nine-Mile (Wausau)
18.3 miles, classic and skate, all skill levels. Trail fee. Chalet, restrooms, rentals.

Plover River Ski Trail (Green Circle State Trail) (Stevens Point)
6.2 miles, classic only. No trail fee.

Standing Rocks Park (Stevens Point)
9.3 miles, classic and skate, all skill levels. Trail fee. Ski lodge.

South of Madison

Lake Kegonsa State Park (Stoughton)
5 miles, easy and intermediate, classic and skate. State Park entry fee. Restrooms. Southeast of Madison, 2405 Door Creek Rd, Stoughton.

Rockport Park (Janesville)
3.1 miles, volunteer groomed. No trail fee. 2801 Rockport Rd, Janesville.

West of Madison

Blackhawk Ridge (Mazomanie)
11 miles, ungroomed, all skill levels. No trail fee. A former private ski area, now publicly owned. Hikers and snowshoers allowed on trails. Blackhawk Ridge Unit of the Wisconsin State Riverway, 6950 WI-78, Mazomanie.

Blue Mound State Park (Blue Mounds)
15 miles, all skill levels, most trails are groomed for classic when conditions permit. Requires both a State Park entry fee and a state trail pass (16 and older). Check first to find how this venue is groomed. Restrooms, warming shelter. Address for navigating is Mounds Rd, Barneveld.

Governor Dodge State Park (Dodgeville)
12.5 miles, classic only, intermediate and advanced. State Park entry fee. Restrooms. 4175 WI-23, Dodgeville.

House on the Rock Resort (Spring Green)
No longer groomed. Only resort guests are allowed to ski on the trails.

Indian Lake Park (Marxville)
9 miles, classic only, intermediate and advanced. City/County trail fee. Restrooms. Northwest of Madison on HWY 19, three miles west of HWY 12. Address for navigating is 8183 Hwy 19, Cross Plains.

Stewart Park (Mt. Horeb)
5 miles, ungroomed, challenging hills. No trail fee. Restrooms. Hikers and snowshoers allowed on trails. 3106 Cty Hwy JG, Mount Horeb.

Upcoming Events

  • October 5, 2023
    Social Ski Thursdays
    5:30 pm
    Location: Capital City Trail parking, 3121-2901 Lake Farm Rd, Madison, WI 53711, USA

    More details...