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Pheasant Branch Conservancy
4.8 ★★★★★ 985 Google reviews · Running trail in Middleton, Wisconsin · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Loop distance
- 200 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Pheasant Branch 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.
160 acres comprising a variety of landscapes, with hiking & biking trails & downtown views.
What runners say about Pheasant Branch Conservancy
“Absolutely stunning walking/running/biking trails in the middle of an urban/residential area with plenty of natural beauty and wildlife.”
What an amazing gem to have in our backyards! To be clear- as someone that plans entire vacations around visiting national parks and hiking through some of the most beautiful nature on the planet, PBC is not somewhere I would recommend going out of your way to visit.
Absolutely gorgeous urban park! I was reading through reviews and I found pretty much every single one of the low reviews to be laughable! People complain of getting 4 mosquito bites, being able to see houses and not feeling out of the city, and there being better prairies or trout streams or whatever in the area etc.
Love this place to walk with my dog, run, take pictures. Excellent for bird watching and wildlife watching. You can see the colors of the landscape and wildlife changing as seasons pass. The trails are long, some accessible (boardwalks), that majority are dirt/gravel/grass.
Pheasant Branch Conservancy is a wonderful resource for residents and visitors of Dane county. It's trails and water features can provide you with hours and hours of hiking and exploring. The wildlife is great as well. The Sandhill cranes definitely take advantage of the conservancy space.
Trail conditions & character
“Absolutely stunning walking/running/biking trails in the middle of an urban/residential area with plenty of natural beauty and wildlife.”
“There's a mix of gravel and grass trails through the woods, along the creek, across the prairie, and to an Indian mounds hill top.”
“There's a mix of gravel and grass trails through the woods, along the creek, across the prairie, and to an Indian mounds hill top.”
“Or you can skip the side paths and get through the main 3 mile loop in about an hour, but you'll be missing a lot of what makes it so special.”
“The conservancy also has Orchid Heights Park with facilities on the east side, and parking entrances along Pheasant Branch Road to the west.”
“With miles of dirt, paved, and raised wooden trails, you can come back several times and find new views.”
“Love this place to walk with my dog, run, take pictures.”
Plan your run at Pheasant Branch Conservancy
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- Loop distance200 mi back to where you parked. Long enough for a real long run.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitecountyofdane.com
- Phone+1 608-224-3730
- Social Instagram · 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 |
Running trails near Middleton
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Middleton Hills South Park
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