Maiden voyage at this location was quite the surprise. In the middle of rolling luscious green…read morehills. It felt pretty safe with the warden and Ranger making frequent passes. The host was very friendly and helpful with the 411. The sites are close enough together that it doesn't feel very remote though. Unfortunately, it was very extremely high temperatures so I didn't get to explore the hiking trails. But the beach and amphitheater were definitely worth checking out. Educational programs and food truck Saturdays. Wi-Fi is a little spotty so they recommend cash. The grounds are very clean as well as the restrooms and showers. Definitely feels like you're someplace else even if you're from the state of Wisconsin.

What a hidden gem of a state park. They have a beautiful beach with yellow sand. The lake was huge…read moreand looked perfect for skiing and fishing. There are tons of picnic tables and plenty of people had parties meeting up at the beach. The bathrooms by the beach were pits, but were well maintained. The pit toilets did have a good amount of coop flies. The campground had very nice bathrooms, and has showers for after your swim. Many of the campsites were further from the road which made it a bit more secluded and gave us a sense of privacy. Will definitely be back!

I had a terrific hike in this small, off the beaten path, park. It is located on the banks of Lake…read moreMendota, near Madison, WI. We were staying at the Holiday Inn in Middleton, and I decided to check out this park. I went there around 7am, and maybe it gets crowded later in the day, but there were just a few fishermen putting their boats in at the marina. The maintenance people have done a great job cutting trails through the fields. There is a paved trail also (for bicycles and hikers), but I didn't take it. I sure wish I lived closer to this little park! Living in Cincinnati, it is just a little too far for me to drive.

We were looking for a place not too far away to get out and enjoy our recent snow. Given we had…read morejust bought a state park pass we decided to go to the close-by Gov Nelson Park to cross country ski. There is no additional fees for using the trails unlike some other state parks. It was a weekday so it was pretty empty - good for us. There was a fresh inch of snow on top of a good base. We skied the un-groomed Woodlands trail which was very nice and then the groomed Morningside trail which was better. The grooming really helped. If it were windy that trail would be a bit exposed. We will definitely return to ski.

what a beautiful park! great at all times of day i assume, lots of green space to sit down and…read morestare at the lake!

We came for the beach. Maps said it had one. It was so tiny, filled with seaweed, dog poop, and…read moregarbage. A huge dumpster is sitting right next to it where people were dumpster diving. We did play at the playground for a few minutes. It was fine, but small and some parts were broken. There were spiders and wasps, but not many. There were a lot of young people there playing different sports and walking/running on the trail so if you are looking for that type of fun this will be a great place. It's a large space. We wouldn't go back. My kids kept asking to leave.

Bartel's Beach is a small park along Lake Mills that offers families plenty. There's a playground…read morewith your typical slides and swings. There are benches under shaded trees and some BBQ grills if you want to have a little cookout. But the big draw of Bartel's Beach is the actual beach part. Yes there is sand at Bartel's Beach but more importantly, it offers a safe spot to swim away from all the water sports found on Lake Mills. There's an area probably 100 feet out and 400 feet wide that's bouyed off just for families to enjoy swimming. Now, there aren't any lifeguards on duty so if you come here with the kids you know what to do. I'm not sure how deep the water goes but my kid isn't the most daring either lol. Oh, and there's also a public restroom so go there and not in the lake! And that's really it for Bartel's Beach. Whether you're looking for some sun where the cool breeze coming off the lake feels great or you're on the hunt for a little swim spot for the kiddos (or yourself), you can do way worse. It can get a bit crowded so come early and get yourself a cherry spot!

Tucked into a residential neighborhood, this place is good for a quick stop. Houses overlook the…read morebeach which is odd but they are pretty houses! There is one picnic table and restrooms. There is a lifeguard when the water is open but it is closed due to water conditions I think. And like someone else said, it's hard to find, its Norman ave and can only be accessed by walking. It's a fast 2 minute walk from the parking lot across the road. Not the best here but I got studying done!

This beach is very small, which is my biggest issue. I am 5'11" and by the time I reach the end of…read morethe swimming zone the water has barely reached my belly button. That being said, the water depth is great for kids and it being so small means you are not likely to lose track of them. The lifeguard is only on duty between 12pm-4pm, though the beach is open outside of those hours. I have come here on hot days and there have been 3 people here. I have come here on hot days and there have been 20 people here. It's really hit or miss. The difficulty with the size is that if someone is really annoying you, you can't get away from them! The state beach laws are very very poorly regulated here (have they forgotten about us?). College kids drinking, women dragging their dogs through the middle of the swim area... seriously? Not to mention the water is usually covered in something green and full of seaweed. There is also a boat launch right next to the beach, so there are constantly boats around. Though they do follow the "no wake" signs very well. But, because this is part of a larger lake, you will see lots of speed boats - something to keep in mind!

Henry Vilas Beach is ok. We went here during a girls trip and the beach was easy because it was…read moreright across from the zoo and has a nice walk through the park. It is pretty small compared to other beaches, but it is free which is nice. The sandy part got filled pretty quickly, but there is a little grassy area were able to sit by. There wasn't really any parking around the area, but you might be able to snag a spot by the zoo. The water was shallow, so if you have younger children, this might be a good option. Overall, it is definitely a decent beach to spend a couple hours after walking around the zoo.

What a great free place to spend summer days with or without kiddos! As I am of the kiddo side of…read morethe table, I highly tout it for family fun. Lol Located directly across the street from Henry Vilas Zoo, this beach sits on the small and peaceful Lake Wingra. In the summer months, the beach is staffed with lifeguards and offers restroom and shower/changing facilities. There is a fair amount of seating on the grassy area around the beach, but I recommend bringing chairs or blankets as the picnic tables fill up fast. Henry Vilas Park does have a lot of geese and ducks, so be mindful of goose poop on the grass, although the parks department seems to keep this area cleaner. Additionally, be mindful of the fact that since Wingra is a small lake, as the temps get higher and summer wears on, it is prone to blue-green algae blooms. Fortunately the parks dept. closes the beach at those times and posts warnings. We steer clear and instead continue to enjoy the Kona Ice treats from the truck that always parks nearby!

as a lifetime residence of madison, this is an ok beach. the water quality is mediocre, but since…read morethe city is doing a lot when it comes to phosphorus reduction and water quality efforts, it should improve soon. my main concern is the outdated and absolutely disgusting beach shelter, which could really use a renovation. that being said, the beach shore is really beautiful and there is a nice view of lake monona, so if the city put more effort into this park, it could really shine.

No dogs or alcohol allowed. Picnics here are my favorite 2020 activity. Before swimming, I have to…read morecheck the Madison website for water quality to see if there is an unsafe water advisory. I love this neighborhood beach. It's usually not too busy.

This park was one of our favorite places we have ever stayed. My husband and I came to stay here…read morewith our small Yorkshire terriers and our cat, and we had a wonderful time. Tim ( the host for the park) is friendly and helpful, and takes great pride in keeping it beautiful and orderly. He lent us an extension cord as the electrical hookups are fairly far away. The park was quiet and lovely. There were lots of friendly people, and it felt like a little community. It was very close to town which was really convenient. We travel in a 36 foot toy hauler with a one ton truck, and I do think that we were pushing it to try to get into some of the spots. Because we had not booked early ( we called the morning of) we had to move spots, and it was the hardest spot we have ever had to get into. Not the parks fault at all, our trailer was just a bit big. Both my husband and I really wished that we were traveling in a sprinter van. That would have been so easy. Lake Mendota is lovely and relaxing, and this is a special spot.

Good little campground for those with kids. Large play area near a beach. In town camping at its…read morebest! Bring lots of bug spray

Definitely wear solid shoes with good traction if you plan to climb the rocky trail to the top. Oh…read moreboy. I only made it half way, it's quite challenging! Very steep in parts. If you don't want to climb up to catch the views, there is still beauty all around and you can walk by the lake or around the flatter trails. $16 was the daily fee for my car, as I have Illinois plates. I'm guessing it's cheaper for folks who live in Wisconsin. I will have to return in the spring to see the colors! But this state park was gorgeous, even on a chilly March day!

Wanted to go hiking to see balanced rock and devils door. Had never been in the area before, but…read morewatched a few videos before going to try to get an idea of what id need to do when I got there. Got to the park around 5 and all the concessions were closed. Couldn't find anyone to speak to but there was a machine to buy a parking pass and found the map so I could figure out the trails. Made my way up to balanced rock but it was getting late and started to lose sunlight so didnt make it to devils door. Wouldn't say it's a easy hike but my girl never did anything like it and she did it just fine. Rocks slippery but I feel it was worth the views. Beautiful park and would definitely go back.