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    Dr. J.S. Garman Nature Preserve

    5.0 (1 review)

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    Parfrey's Glen

    Parfrey's Glen

    4.7
    (20 reviews)
    34.1 mi

    Highly recommend hiking here!…read more There is a small parking lot. It helps to come early otherwise you may have to find parking somewhere else. We noticed cars just parking on the side of the county road. After you park you have to pay for a ticket and stick it on your dashboard. This ticket will also get you into Devil's Lake which is awesome so you don't have to pay for both. Right by the parking lot they have some area/trail/hiking information as well as bathrooms. This is the start for 2 different trailheads. You can go right for the Parfey's Glen State Natural Area or you can go left on part of the Ice Age trail. We decided to do both with our dogs. We first did the Ice Age trail which was a narrow wooded trail. Beautiful with a good amount of uphill. We did about 3 miles out and back. We could have gone much farther. It was so nice, we only saw 2 other people on the trail. Then we went over and did about a mile in Parfey's Glen. Everyone we saw in the parking lot seemed to do Parfey's Glen, it wasn't too crowded late morning but we saw a good amount of people. Lot of families so definitely a kid friendly hike. It was such a nice hike, it starts on a paved path and then goes to gravel, and then dirt. Along the way there are streams (that you have to cross so bring your hiking boots or shoes you don't care about). Towards the end I believe there is a waterfall but we didn't make it that far with the dogs. I look forward to going back and doing the entire hike.

    Loved this area! We've been a few times over the years and it's always so calming…read more We were there for memorial day weekend so it was pretty busy. Prepare to bring extra shoes if you opt to hike beyond the end of the trail. Plenty of stepping stones and logs but still a chance to slip. Lots of people came back with wet shoes. Definitely recommend if you're in the area!

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    Parfrey's Glen
    Parfrey's Glen
    Parfrey's Glen

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    CamRock Park

    CamRock Park

    4.6
    (8 reviews)
    12.6 mi

    I liked the mountain biking here a lot. As a beginner I found challenging trails but nothing…read moredangerous for me so that was good. I liked the mix of technical and flow on the different trails. Only lack of a star because the trails were not always labeled well causing us to get lost a couple times.

    Leo (the bulldog) and I enjoyed a hike at CamRock park. Dog park permit required, fyi. You can…read morepurchase annual passes through the city/county or else buy a daily pass on-site. This park seems predominantly geared (pun not intended, I swear!) towards mountain bike riders but there are several loops that hikers can also enjoy. (Mountain bikers need a trail pass too, fyi. Daily or annual passes can be purchased on-site). We didn't come across too many other people while we were here, despite it being a gorgeous fall day. We did meet up with one dog off-leash running with a biker. Scrraaappppe!! (dragging out soapbox) Argh! I get it - for many people they think their dog is well-behaved so they don't need to be on a leash. Well, there are rules for a reason and when people disregard those and let their dog off-leash when they shouldn't, parks crack down & change rules to not allow dogs at all (um, look at most Madison parks as a prime example). People with "well-behaved dogs" forget that #1) other people may be afraid of dogs and your off-leash dog is especially scary to them and #2) other dogs you encounter may be dog-aggressive or leash-aggressive so if your dog runs up to them, oooh boy! ANYway, back to CamRock. This was a fine spot for hiking and I'd go back if I were in the area. However, if I were driving from Madison I would probably opt for Indian Lake over CamRock for a hiking trip. I would definitely like to go back to CamRock in the spring though for some mountain biking, those trails looked like fun!

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    CamRock Park
    Ride the fatty on the trails!
    Ride the fatty on the trails!
    CamRock Park

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    Pheasant Branch Conservancy

    Pheasant Branch Conservancy

    4.9
    (21 reviews)
    24.8 mi

    As a lover of WI's dying prairies, having this remnant prairie so close to Madison, WI almost seems…read moretoo good to be true. A great place to watch the seasons change from the first hint of greens in the spring to the vibrancy of summer and the rich tones of fall. Go mushroom foraging, take a walk, take so many pictures you run out of storage on your iphone!

    I'm a bit amazed by how good all the reviews for the Conservancy are on Yelp and Google, given how…read morelittle of the conservancy gets you away from houses or streets. While a fairly nice space in and of itself, those that gush about it apparently have never seen the other 85% of the area that is much more beautiful. It is a nice place to take a hike if you don't have the time or means to get out of the city proper. However, Pheasant Branch itself is a brackish, polluted stream. There are plenty of trout streams within a 15 minute drive of town that are much cleaner and more picturesque. The trails themselves are usually pretty busy, so I've never really felt like I'm getting away from it all. That all said, have at it! If you want to get a hike or jog in, especially with your dog or your kids, don't let me rain on your parade. You can see enough of what it's like yourself from all the posted photos. I do encourage you to cast your net a bit wider, to Donald Park, Indian Lake, or any of the much more secluded and beautiful places just minutes away from Madison.

    Photos
    Detail is endless in the conservancy.
    Detail is endless in the conservancy.
    Lovely tiny things everywhere you turn.
    Lovely tiny things everywhere you turn.
    Chicory everywhere.

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    Chicory everywhere.
    Apple River Canyon State Park

    Apple River Canyon State Park

    4.3
    (9 reviews)
    73.2 mi

    Apple River Canyon (ARC) is my favorite campground in Illinois. No question. I'll start with a…read moreexcerpt from the Illinois DNR website: "Apple River Canyon State Park is in the hilly northwest corner of Illinois in Jo Daviess County near the Wisconsin border. Limestone bluffs, deep ravines, springs, streams and wildlife characterize this area. Once a part of a vast sea bottom that stretched from the Alleghenies to the Rockies, the scenic canyon area was formed by the action of the winding waters of the Apple River." My husband and I have been coming here since the late 90's. We love it here. Pros: + Only 2 1/2 hours from Chicago. + Did you read that paragraph above that I took from the website? It's BEAUTIFUL here. + 5 awesome hiking trails; some of them easier than others. + Hike (or drive) down to the river from your campsite. There's some good fishing. And our dogs love to swim in it. (Swimming for you is prohibited, however.) + 2 big loops in the campground. Most of them are nicely sized and thoughtfully spaced apart. + Only 15 minutes to Stockton (the closest town) for groceries and firewood. + Eight bucks per night for a non-electrical site. Cons: - I am not there right now. I am at my desk, rotting under flourescent lighting. This is the kind of place that, as soon as we arrive, I'm already saying, "I don't want to go home!" But I want to be completely honest - there are no showers here, and only pit toilets. There are, of course, 2 or 3 water stations in each loop (pump). So, if maintaining hygiene is the number one most important thing for you during a camping weekend, you may not find ARC as perfect as I do. Me? I try my best to make do. You're camping for God's sake! Shower when you go home! See you at Apple River Canyon!

    My review may be a bit different than other people but during my time here I absolutely enjoy the…read moreviews but what I did not enjoy here were the amenities featured. The bathrooms here were absolutely in shambles and the maintenance at the park is pretty bad. Please be cautious that your GPS will not work in this area either. Poorly labeled trails as well where you can get lost.

    Photos
    Nice little area over looking the bridge and rock face
    Nice little area over looking the bridge and rock face
    Apple River Canyon State Park
    Pine Ridge Trail

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    Pine Ridge Trail

    Dr. J.S. Garman Nature Preserve - hiking - Updated August 2026

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