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Dawley Conservancy

4.7 ★★★★★ 66 Google reviews · Running trail in Fitchburg, Wisconsin · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Loop distance
Not reported
Shape
Loop
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Dawley Conservancy's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

LoopShadedScenicRestroomsTrailhead parking

Hiking and biking space with a marsh and scenic views.

What runners say about Dawley Conservancy

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (66 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“Great well maintained bike trail.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 5 mentions

“Small parking lot with bathrooms, bike repair station, and a gorgeous view of the marsh.”

🌳 shaded & cool 3 mentions

“From Dawley eastward, there are Twisties, some shade, and small hills.”

This is a nice place to walk or bike and there are bathrooms and some interpretive signage near the small parking lot. It's on the marsh and the path connects to the bike path and arboretum. There is a significant hill back to the parking lot so keep that in mind if you want to pace the rest of your walking or biking.

★★★★★ — Rachel , Nov 2021

Good place to start a bike ride with easy access to the roundabout and several bike paths, parking lot, restrooms, and even bike tools. The one downside is that when you return to your vehicle, and are tied from a nice ride, it is uphill from the bike path (Capital City) to the parking lot.

★★★★☆ — John , May 2019

So many trails to choose from. I saw a beaver, grabbed a book from the little free library, and watched a pond full of mallards. I go here all the time but this is just my review of this time. Sound off for the beaver because I was listening to an audiobook.

★★★★★ — Becky , Nov 2025

Used the parking lot here to access the trailhead for the capital city state trail. Clean restroom. Adequate parking for a weekday. Might be crowded on weekends. The trail itself heading east and north was well-maintained and a delight.

★★★★★ — David , Oct 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 66 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 10 mentions

“Small parking lot with bathrooms, bike repair station, and a gorgeous view of the marsh.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 10 mentions

“Good place to start a bike ride with easy access to the roundabout and several bike paths, parking lot, restrooms, and even bike tools.”

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🚻 Restrooms 6 mentions

“Good place to start a bike ride with easy access to the roundabout and several bike paths, parking lot, restrooms, and even bike tools.”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 3 mentions

“From Dawley eastward, there are Twisties, some shade, and small hills.”

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🔁 Loop trail 2 mentions

“About a mile of an easy loop and a shorter medium loop.”

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Plan your run at Dawley Conservancy

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
  • Websitefitchburgwi.gov
  • Phone+1 608-270-4200
  • Social Facebook

Hours

Monday 8 am–4 pm
Tuesday 8 am–4 pm
Wednesday 8 am–4 pm
Thursday 8 am–4 pm
Friday 8 am–2 pm
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Dawley Conservancy

2656 South Seminole Hwy, Fitchburg, WI 53711

Get directions

Running trails near Fitchburg

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Dawley Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 9 reviews

Fitchburg, WI

under a mile away

Knollwood Conservation Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 32 reviews

Madison, WI

75 miShadedScenicDog-friendly

under a mile away

Rosecommons Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 35 reviews

Fitchburg, WI

1.0 miles away

University of Wisconsin- Madison Arboretum

4.8 ★★★★★ 26 reviews

Madison, WI

17 mi

1.1 miles away

Gunflint Trail Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 50 reviews

Fitchburg, WI

1.8 miles away

Fitchburg Recreation & Parks

4.8 ★★★★★ 6 reviews

Fitchburg, WI

1.9 miles away

All running trails in Fitchburg, WI →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.