HomeWisconsinFitchburg › McGaw Park

McGaw Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 189 Google reviews · Running trail in Fitchburg, Wisconsin · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
1.5 mi
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from McGaw 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.

1.5 miShadedLit at nightScenicRestroomsTrailhead parking

Recreation site offering baseball, softball, tennis, and volleyball courts, plus picnic facilities, and a playground.

What runners say about McGaw Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (189 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 5 mentions

“Great park and (at least when I was there) the bathroom were actually clean.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 4 mentions

“It has a nice basketball court, big enough for fives, softball field around 300ft fence, a beautiful playground, sand volleyball court, a pavilion.”

🌳 shaded & cool 3 mentions

“It is under construction and hopefully will have shade and water when it’s all done.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 3 mentions

“It is a nice and quiet park with fewer people, which makes it a good spot for a peaceful ride.”

It has a nice basketball court, big enough for fives, softball field around 300ft fence, a beautiful playground, sand volleyball court, a pavilion. A path that runs through it and connects to other paths and neighborhoods. Very nice park!

★★★★★ — Christian , Aug 2021

Beautiful Park. Had lots of parking. We were there for a softball tournament. It's surrounded by a lot of big mature tree's, has walking paths, bathrooms and a concession stand.

★★★★☆ — Danny , Oct 2019

A great place from softball, volleyball, a walk, or to just let the family play.

★★★★★ — Luke , Jul 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 189 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.

🚻 Restrooms 7 mentions

“this park is extremely large, had plenty of room for us to set up our own games and had functioning restrooms.”

More trails like this →

🏞️ Scenic views 4 mentions

“It has a nice basketball court, big enough for fives, softball field around 300ft fence, a beautiful playground, sand volleyball court, a pavilion.”

More trails like this →

🌳 Shaded / tree cover 3 mentions

“It is under construction and hopefully will have shade and water when it’s all done.”

More trails like this →

💡 Lit for night running 3 mentions

“The lights are very nice for evening games on the fields.”

More trails like this →

🅿️ Trailhead parking 3 mentions

“One small room for growth is that electronic map navigation can drop you off in neighborhood rather than a parking lot.”

More trails like this →

Plan your run at McGaw Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • Distance1.5 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
  • Websitefitchburgwi.gov
  • Phone+1 608-270-4200
  • Social Facebook

Hours

Monday 5 am–10 pm
Tuesday 5 am–10 pm
Wednesday 5 am–10 pm
Thursday 5 am–10 pm
Friday 5 am–10 pm
Saturday 5 am–10 pm
Sunday 5 am–10 pm

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 McGaw Park

5236 Lacy Rd, 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.

Fitchburg Recreation & Parks

4.8 ★★★★★ 6 reviews

Fitchburg, WI

1.1 miles away

Gunflint Trail Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 50 reviews

Fitchburg, WI

1.3 miles away

Rosecommons Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 35 reviews

Fitchburg, WI

2.2 miles away

Knollwood Conservation Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 32 reviews

Madison, WI

75 miShadedScenicDog-friendly

2.5 miles away

Indian Springs Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 29 reviews

Madison, WI

LoopMixedScenic

2.7 miles away

Dawley Conservancy

4.7 ★★★★★ 66 reviews

Fitchburg, WI

LoopShadedScenic

Hiking and biking space with a marsh and scenic views.

3.0 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.