HomeWisconsinFort Atkinson › Dorothy Carnes County Park

Dorothy Carnes County Park

5 ★★★★★ 24 Google reviews · Running trail in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Dorothy Carnes County Park'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.

Open 24hScenic

What runners say about Dorothy Carnes County Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (24 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 6 mentions

“Beautiful gem of a park with restored prairie and oak savannah in a county otherwise dominated by industrial agriculture.”

🏃 great for running 2 mentions

“Would be great trail to take a jog for those who run.”

The trails are easy enough for all my kids to do but long enough to get a decent walk in. The views are beautiful. We try to go daily when it’s nice out. I also use this park for my photography.

★★★★★ — Cassandra , Nov 2022

While walking in Dorothy Carnes Park, we happened to upon a garter snake about 5 feet up in a tree! It never moved which is odd behavior so at first, I thought it was dead, dropped by a hawk or something, but it turns out it was alive.

★★★★★ — Jeff , Oct 2024

Beautiful gem of a park with restored prairie and oak savannah in a county otherwise dominated by industrial agriculture. I love running and walking here. Recently took my 6 year old camping here and had a great time with one major exception.

★★★★☆ — Bret , Aug 2023

Beautiful. They have paved the walkway to the viewing deck. Thank you so much. Now person's with wheelchairs, walkers, and other walking aids can experience the view of the lake and surrounding woods. We were treated by a fly over by a Bald Eagle. Amazing day!

★★★★★ — Sandra , Sep 2020

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 24 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 9 mentions

“Beautiful gem of a park with restored prairie and oak savannah in a county otherwise dominated by industrial agriculture.”

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Dorothy Carnes County Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • 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.

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

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 Dorothy Carnes County Park

W6509 Jones Ln, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538

Get directions

Running trails near Fort Atkinson

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

Dorthy Carnes Trails

5 ★★★★★ 34 reviews

Fort Atkinson, WI

ScenicDog-friendly

Picturesque park with trails for hiking and cross-country skiing, plus an old barn.

under a mile away

Rose Lake State Natural Area

4.8 ★★★★★ 79 reviews

Fort Atkinson, WI

ScenicDog-friendly

Nature preserve offering picnic tables, trails, an observation deck, and wetland views.

under a mile away

Dorothy Carnes County Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 257 reviews

Fort Atkinson, WI

MixedScenicDog-friendly

Landscaped park with a lake, trails, playgrounds and picnicking plus birding.

1.1 miles away

Rock River Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 191 reviews

Fort Atkinson, WI

Scenic

Park featuring grassy areas, a playground, picnic tables, an open-air pavilion and a shelter.

2.3 miles away

Jones Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 407 reviews

Fort Atkinson, WI

ShadedDog-friendly

Community park featuring baseball fields, a playground, picnic tables, and monthly car shows.

3.0 miles away

Arrowhead Island

4.2 ★★★★☆ 13 reviews

Fort Atkinson, WI

3.3 miles away

All running trails in Fort Atkinson, 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.