Home › Wisconsin › Madison › University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum
University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum
4.9 ★★★★★ 442 Google reviews · Running trail in Madison, Wisconsin · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Boardwalk
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum'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.
1,200 acres of varied habitats including prairies, forests & wetlands plus trails & nature classes.
What runners say about University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum
“The arboretum is stunning with all the nature and ample walking space.”
“All trails are well-marked with posts at intersections so be sure to pick up a copy of the Trail Map before hiking.”
“It was so calm and still out on the ice :D One thing to keep in mind is that dogs are not allowed on the trails here, which is a bummer.”
UW Arboretum is a wonderous natural area, park, and learning facility. A variety of ecosystems, wooded trails, flowered prairies, lake, and a phenomenal collection of select trees and bushes.
I love this place! I spent a couple of hours walking the trails and enjoying all of the native plants. The mosquitos were very welcoming as well. That is natural for this kind of habitat though. I am just mentioning it so that you can be prepared. I also walked through some of the crabapple grove.
We came here to hike on a Thursday in January. The trails were well marked even with a touch of snow, wide and easy to follow. If the ground wasn't frozen it would have been muddy in a few areas. There was a long drive in to the visitors center, but several marked parking areas.
Incredible arboretum. Walking through the prairies was absolutely magical. So many beautiful flowers, grasses, and insects. The colors were incredible, the paths were nice to follow, and there were good signs around. The pond had such an amazing variety of colorful dragonflies.
Trail conditions & character
“2023 Update: I hiked the trails through the Curtis Prairie and Leopold Pines recently, an area that I've overlooked for too long.”
“Highly recommend if you want to have a peaceful nature experience in Madison.”
“There was a long drive in to the visitors center, but several marked parking areas.”
“All trails are well-marked with posts at intersections so be sure to pick up a copy of the Trail Map before hiking.”
“We loved seeing the magnolias in bloom and walking the boardwalk.”
Plan your run at University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceBoardwalk — flat and scenic, and slick when wet, so watch your footing
- 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 trailheadparking — reported by runners
- Websitearboretum.wisc.edu
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 4 AM–10 PM |
| Tuesday | 4 AM–10 PM |
| Wednesday | 4 AM–10 PM |
| Thursday | 4 AM–10 PM |
| Friday | 4 AM–10 PM |
| Saturday | 4 AM–10 PM |
| Sunday | 4 AM–10 PM |
Running trails near Madison
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Rosecommons Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 35 reviews
Hoyt Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 365 reviews
A former quarry, this recreational area has picnic shelters with stone fireplaces & a trail network.
Dawley Conservancy
4.7 ★★★★★ 66 reviews
Hiking and biking space with a marsh and scenic views.