After testing out several dozen hikes within an hour of Madison, these are at the top of our list!
All distances from Madison are from the Madison State Capitol (2 E Main Street) to the trailhead.
Blackhawk Ridge
Distance from Madison: ~35-40-minutes by car
Mileage: There are 11.4 miles of trail total at Blackhawk Ridge. There’s a nice 6-mile loop that we like to do (on AllTrails here). Park at Blackhawk Unit Parking lot along Highway 78.
What makes it special: Blackhawk Ridge is located at the edge of the Driftless Area, a region of the Midwest that was bypassed by glaciers during the Ice Age, leaving sandstone and limestone bluffs and ravines undisturbed. This hike’s immediate steep ascent is a reminder of this geological history and a great way to warm up right away! The next sections of the hike are equally lovely but much flatter, passing through old forests and prairie.
The Battle of Wisconsin Heights also took place here. There’s a small historic marker commemorating it near the trailhead, but it barely scratches the surface of the fascinating and tragic history of the Black Hawk War (which Abe Lincoln fought in) and Sauk leader Black Hawk’s defeat.
This thorough blog post by Kenneth Casper of Wisconsin Explorer provides more details.
Insider tips:
➜ Stop by the shelter at Lower Wisconsin Riverway to fill up on water and use the bathroom.
➜ Combine a hike at Blackhawk Ridge with a shorter hike at nearby Ferry Bluff if you’d like some more sweeping views!
➜ Visit the original Culver’s in Sauk City, just a 6-minute drive from the trailhead, for a well-deserved ButterBurger, custard, and cheese curds.
➜ Wollersheim Winery in Prairie du Sac also just 6 minutes up the road if a rolling hillside vineyard is more your speed.
Brooklyn Wildlife Area
Distance from Madison: ~30 minutes by car / 1 hour and 40 minutes by bike via the Badger State Trail
Mileage: 6.5-mile out and back (adjustable). Park in the small lot off of County Highway D.
What makes it special: This hike is relatively close to Madison but feels remote, with relatively little foot traffic every time we’ve done it. The drive to the trailhead offers farm views, and Brooklyn Wildlife Area includes a nice balance of wooded areas and meadows, with plenty of benches to take in the scenery. It’s also a great spot for cross country skiing in the winter.
Insider tips:
➜ Dogs must be on leash from April 15 to July 31 but can run free in the fall and winter if they’re well-behaved!
➜ In the fall, there is hunting in the vicinity, so be sure to read any announcements posted at the trailhead and to wear brightly colored clothes (blaze orange is highly visible.)
➜ There aren’t bathrooms near the trailhead. There’s no potable water at the trailhead, either, but a hand-crank well just off the trail a couple of miles in. It’s best to plan ahead!
➜ Combine this hike with a jaunt on the adjacent Montrose Segment of the Ice Age Trail for a fun twofer. 🙂
Cross Plains (Ice Age Trail Segment)
Distance from Madison: ~26 minutes by car
Mileage: 3.6 miles out and back
What makes it special: Get a taste for a small portion of the Ice Age Trail, a 1,200-mile footpath that traces the path of ancient glaciers across Wisconsin. This hike begins with a relatively steep climb up a bluff. You’ll be rewarded with an early view and a bench to have a snack or sip of coffee on. Then, take in beautiful prairies and relatively flat terrain for the remainder of the hike before turning and descending.
Insider tips:
➜ Fun fact: The Cross Plains Ice Age Trail Segment does not go through Cross Plains State Park, despite the fact that the Ice Age Trail itself does go through Cross Plains State Park. The Ice Age Trail Segment starts from the town of Cross Plains and goes north, while the State Park is south of the town. Sadly, it took us a couple of years to realize this difference. That being said, the two hikes are relatively close together and can be easily combined!
➜ The town of Cross Plains is home to the Ice Age Trail headquarters. It’s worth a visit whether you’re considering through-hiking the Ice Age Trail someday or simply want to learn more about the natural and human history of the area.
➜ We recommend doing this hike in the fall (especially mid to late October) for some spectacular foliage.
Cross Plains State Park
Distance from Madison: ~24 minutes by car
Mileage: There are several trail options, but we generally like to hike a combination of the outer loop (2.8 miles total) and the Wilke Gorge loop (~1.5 miles total).
What makes it special: We love Cross Plains State Park. As with many of the other hikes on this list, the area’s terrain was shaped by glacial formations. Wilke Gorge, formed by meltwater, is an especially cool feature. Visitors to Cross Plains have the option of walking on boardwalks, through the woods, or across prairies. It’s a relatively new park and is cooperatively managed by the Wisconsin DNR, National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Dane County Land and Water Resources Department and the nonprofit Ice Age Trail Alliance (IATA). (That’s a lot of cooperation!)
Insider tips:
➜ Cross Plains is great for mushroom foraging throughout the spring, summer, and fall. (⚠️ Remember that foraging should always be done with caution and expertise. There are old mushroom hunters, there are bold mushroom hunters, but there are no old, bold mushroom hunters.)
➜ Backcountry skiing (the trails are ungroomed) and snowshoeing are great winter options.
Devils Lake – Bluff-to-Bluff
Distance from Madison: ~1 hour by car
Mileage: ~5 miles round-trip
What makes it special: Ah, the classic bluff to bluff hike at Devils Lake. It’s a popular one due to its picturesque 500-foot quartzite bluffs surrounding a mile-long lake. Although the trails can get crowded, it’s absolutely worth your while for the good climbs and views.
Insider tips:
➜ To beat the crowds, head to Devils Lake on a weekday in the early evening, in the early morning, or when the weather gets cold. When we’re feeling ambitious, we like to book a campsite there on a Wednesday or Tuesday night, drive over after work, and wake up for a sunrise loop before driving to town in time to log on to our computers for the work day.
➜ We like to start at either the North Shore or South Shore parking lot and hike counter-clockwise, covering about 5 miles and getting two good ascents, one on each bluff. We prefer going counterclockwise because the climbs are steeper but the descents are gentler.
➜ If you’re climbing up the bluffs when it’s icy, we highly recommend crampons or shoes that have good grip. Lots of hikers also find hiking poles useful.
➜ Tumbled Rock Brewery & Kitchen is located just outside the park, has live music on the patio in the summertime, and allows dogs outside.
➜ Read our Devils Lake post for more details and pointers on how to beat the hubbub in the most popular state park in Wisconsin!
Devils Lake (Ice Age Trail Segment)
Distance from Madison: ~50 minutes by car
Mileage: The Ice Age Trail segment of Devils Lake is 10.8 miles point to point, but we generally do an out and back depending on how much time we have!
What makes it special: This is an extended opportunity to take in the wonderful rock formations of Devils Lake without all of the crowds. Park at the Ice Age Trail lot instead of the North Shore or South Shore parking lot and enjoy the ups and downs of the terrain!
Insider tips:
➜ Visit well-known structures like Balanced Rock and Devil’s Doorway as you circle the bluffs.
➜ Ride the Merrimac Ferry on your way to the park if you’re driving over from the Madison area. The free-of-charge ferry, named Colsac III, crosses the Wisconsin River in 7 minutes between April and late November.
➜ For more tips, check out our Devils Lake post!
Ferry Bluff
Distance from Madison: ~45 minutes by car
Mileage: 0.8 miles round-trip
What makes it special: Although this isn’t a long hike, the views are spectacular. Sandstone bluffs rise over the expanse of the Wisconsin River below, making this an excellent hike to go on for visitors who are also visiting Spring Green sites like Taliesin or American Players Theater.
Insider tips:
➜ Ferry Bluff is closed December 1 through March 31 to protect roosting eagles, so plan accordingly!
➜ Continue past the first viewpoint up the trail to your right to climb along a ridge to Cactus Bluff for even better views.
➜ Pack a hammock, a book, or a journal on a sunny day and post up for a while at the tippy top of the bluff.
➜ Bring a canoe or kayak to explore the Wisconsin River around Ferry Bluff—there’s a boat launch along the road to the trailhead. Or better yet, use the sweeping views at Ferry Bluff as inspiration for a day trip or overnight down the Wisconsin River. You can camp on the many sandbars. DIY this adventure or book a trip with Wisconsin Canoe Company.
Gibraltar Rock
Distance from Madison: ~40 minutes by car
Mileage: ~1.5 miles round-trip
What makes it special: This trail offers a short, steady climb up interesting cliff formations. It’s well-maintained, with plenty of parking at the trailhead, making Gibraltar Rock a great hike option for families. It’s also dog friendly. 🙂
Insider tips:
➜ So you’ve done the loop around Gibraltar Rock and you still have energy. Drive up to the Slack Road Trailhead and continue on the Ice Age Trail through Steenbock Preserve to 113 and back for a nice 3.5-mile addition.
➜ So you’ve now done the loop around Gibraltar Rock and the trail at Slack Road and you still have energy! If you’re coming from Madison (or south in general), walk the Lodi Ice Age Trail segment starting from here for about 5.5-mile up-and-back potential. The trailhead is right along the way home.
Governor Dodge State Park – Pine Cliff
Distance from Madison: ~55 minutes by car
Mileage: ~2.4 miles (although you can combine Pine Cliff with connecting trails for a longer hike; there are around 40 miles of trails at Governor Dodge State Park)
What makes it special: Pine Cliff is our favorite loop at Governor Dodge because of the topography and the chance to enjoy the scent of the majestic white and jack pines lining the single-track path.
Insider tips:
➜ Sign up for the Tour de Dodge 50k in April or The Guv’nor Frozen 50 in December to experience most of the trails at Governor Dodge in a single day!
➜ Hunting and trapping takes place in the park in October and November. You can stay up to date about when to wear your blaze orange here.
Montrose (Ice Age Trail Segment)
Distance from Madison: ~30 minutes by car / 1 hour 28 minutes by bike via the Southwest Commuter and Badger State trails
Mileage: The full segment is ~12 miles but we generally do a out and back based on how much time we have!
What makes it special: You’ll find a variety of terrain along the Montrose segment as you pass through woods and prairies and climb up small hills and bluffs. In the spring and summer, the prairie flowers are lovely, as are the fall colors.
Insider tips:
➜ This is a great place to find golden oyster mushrooms in early summer. (⚠️ Remember that foraging should always be done with caution and expertise. There are old mushroom hunters, there are bold mushroom hunters, but there are no old, bold mushroom hunters.)
➜ Combine a hike at Montrose with the adjoining Brooklyn Wildlife Area trails for an extended adventure.
➜ For a quick escape from the Madison area, you can hike to a dispersed camping area along the trail (approximately 2 miles from the trailhead.) It’s first come, first served.
Parfrey’s Glen to Devils Lake
Distance from Madison: ~52 minutes from Madison
Mileage: ~12.5 miles out and back (although you can add some on some trails at Devils Lake for a longer hike and a quick out-and-back through only Parfrey’s Glen is only 0.7 miles)
What makes it special: This is one of our favorite longer weekend hikes. Parfrey’s Glen is a magical State Natural Area (the first in Wisconsin!) with a gorge winding through steep sandstone and quartzite cliffs. As you walk to a waterfall you’ll pass mossy boulders and lush ferns. The glen is often crowded on a nice day, but when you continue on the trail to Devils Lake it thins out, presenting a great opportunity for an extended hike. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can hit all of the popular Devils Lake sites before turning around.
Insider tips:
➜ Be sure to stay on the trail (especially around Parfrey’s Glen) to protect vulnerable species.
➜ Take advantage of the public restroom at the Parfrey’s Glen trailhead. There’s also a big parking lot, making this a great alternative to trying to find parking at Devils Lake on a beautiful day.
➜ It can get dark fast on the way back to the trailhead if you start out late, so consider bringing a headlamp or starting a bit on the early side with a thermos full of strong coffee!
Ridgeway Pine Relict State Natural Area
Distance from Madison: ~45 minutes by car
Mileage: ~3.6 miles round-trip
What makes it special: Someone recommended this off-the-beaten-path hike to us a few years into our time in Madison and it didn’t disappoint. The trail takes hikers through a beautiful ravine and passes several impressive bluffs. It’s truly a hidden gem!
(What’s a pine relict, you ask? It’s an isolated stand of pine trees — an island of sorts — from the post-glacial era that has survived fires and warming climates. There are eight in this area.)
Insider tips:
➜ The trails here can feel a bit wild and rustic, so consider wearing long pants and socks for protection against ticks and thorns!
➜ Combine this hike with a visit to Governor Dodge if you’re looking to do some more mileage.
Table Bluff (Ice Age Trail Segment)
Distance from Madison: ~35 minutes by car
Mileage: 5 miles out and back
What makes it special: This segment of the Ice Age Trail is generally popular, especially on a sunny summer or fall day. After an initial climb up to a bluff, there are a series of viewpoints and rocks to perch on and enjoy the topography of the Driftless Area. This is also a great spot for birdwatchers!
Insider tips:
➜ This is a prime picnicking spot, so we recommend packing a lunch. Don’t worry if the first couple of viewpoints are busy; there are lots of other options along the trail.
➜ Pair this hike with a trip to Cross Plains if you’d like to do some more mileage.
Honorable Mention: UW-Madison Arboretum
Distance from Madison: The Arb is right in Madison but it’s about 15 minutes by car from the state capitol to the visitor center (and it’s even quicker to get to other trailheads via the east or west entrances.)
Mileage: There are more than 17 miles of trails in the Arb, but we generally like to park at the Wingra Springs parking lot and hike the Big Spring Loop (~2.4 miles).
What makes it special: The UW-Madison Arboretum is a teaching and research facility of the university and has played a central role in the ecological restoration field. A trip to the Arb is a great way to escape the city for a while; admire prairies, wetlands, savannas, and woods; see turkey, deer, eagles, and muskrats.
Insider tips:
➜ Swing by the visitor center to get oriented when you first arrive and check out the nearby horticultural and native plant gardens.
➜ One of the best ways to get to various trailheads is to bike (there are bike racks throughout the area) or run!
➜ Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed in the Arb.
➜ Exploring the area near Big Spring is our favorite thing to do if we’re short on time but want to do some forest bathing. The rest of the Arboretum sits between the path and the beltline, so road noise is at a minimum compared to other parts of the Arboretum. Hikers will spot effigy mounds, and the springs are ethereal and relaxing.
Let us know how you like these trails—and if there are any you would add—in the comments. Happy hiking!
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