wellness
Top Walking Trails in Madison Rated by Distance and Difficulty
Madison's park system lists routes from short flat paths to longer hilly sections measured in miles and elevation gain.
How we reported this
Madison parks staff released updated ratings this month for 12 local walking trails that break down each route by exact distance and difficulty level based on surface type and grade.
Summer demand for outdoor exercise has risen sharply in the city since the end of June when daytime temperatures first stayed above 80 degrees for more than a week running.
The University of Wisconsin Arboretum maintains the 1.8-mile Wingra Marsh loop that sits rated easy with a packed gravel surface and zero elevation change while the City of Madison Parks Division oversees the 4.7-mile Cherokee Marsh North Trail listed as moderate for its mix of boardwalk and dirt sections with one short hill.
City records show trail visits across Madison parks hit 1.4 million in 2025 according to the annual report issued by the Parks Division in March 2026 with the largest share recorded at sites along Lake Mendota.
Easy routes under two miles
The 0.9-mile path around the Monona Terrace Convention Center lawn carries an easy rating and stays fully paved with benches every 200 yards. The 1.4-mile loop inside Olbrich Botanical Gardens also lists easy and charges $5 parking for non-residents on weekdays.
Moderate and longer options
The 3.2-mile Lakeshore Path segment from Picnic Point to the Memorial Union runs moderate because of occasional root bumps and lake wind exposure. Hikers who want a 6.1-mile challenge can connect the Capital City Trail on East Wilson Street to the 2.9-mile spur through Tenney Park that adds two footbridges and a steady incline near the Yahara River.
Residents can download the free Madison Parks trail map updated June 30 2026 or stop by the office at 210 Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard to pick up paper copies before planning a visit.