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Day Use Area
4.8 ★★★★★ 154 Google reviews · Running trail in Hartford, Wisconsin · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Day Use Area'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.
Popular outdoor recreation area featuring hiking trails through forests and prairies to a beach, a picnic area and a tower.
What runners say about Day Use Area
“Not big by any means but great sites, nice and clean bathrooms.”
“Beautiful state park with extensive, week maintained hiking trails that take you from hardwood forests to lakefront beach to open prairies.”
“The trails were clearly marked and were easy to follow.”
This is an absolutely lovely park with everything. There is a tower to climb and and view the entire landscape for 30 miles in every direction or more. There are wonderful hiking trails, bird observation areas on boardwalks for the handicapped, biking trails kayak launches swimming beach and Campground half of which…
Beautiful state park with extensive, week maintained hiking trails that take you from hardwood forests to lakefront beach to open prairies. The observation tower is a great way to get a bird's eye view of the park (and a good workout).
Pike lake is great. There is good fishing in all seasons, a nice swimming area, and the lake is quite shallow in many areas. There's a sandbar along the north side of the lake and you can walk from shore all the way to the center of the lake. There are also much deeper areas in the lake away from the sand bar.
My daughter is choosing from New Orleans and wanted to take a hike where she could see wild flowers. Pike Lake state park has many trails. We parked at the beach, walked along the lake than along the bird watching trail and finally into the wooded area. The trails were clearly marked and were easy to follow.
Trail conditions & character
“Beautiful state park with extensive, week maintained hiking trails that take you from hardwood forests to lakefront beach to open prairies.”
“Also, if you are handicapped, they won't let you park by the bathrooms, which is super difficult.”
“No dedicated dog trails or anything like that for your furry buddy, and dogs are not allowed on the beach & picnic area.”
Plan your run at Day Use Area
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.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitednr.wi.gov
- Phone(262) 670-3400
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–11 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–11 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–11 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–11 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–11 PM |
| Saturday | 6 AM–11 PM |
| Sunday | 6 AM–11 PM |
Running trails near Hartford
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Pike Lake Beach
4.7 ★★★★★ 232 reviews
Lake with hiking trails and beaches for swimming.
Powder Hill Observation Tower
4.9 ★★★★★ 89 reviews
Steep destination with an observation tower offering scenic views of forests and a lake.
Kettle Moraine State Forest- Pike Lake Unit
4.7 ★★★★★ 562 reviews
Forested park with hiking trails through glacial hills & valleys plus swimming, camping & fishing.
Rubicon River Bike Trail
4.7 ★★★★★ 3 reviews
Willowbrook Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 228 reviews
Park with a basketball court, a playground, picnic tables, and BBQ grills, plus a river.