Let your dog run free at one of the area’s off-leash dog parks

Most of the 275-plus parks in the city of Madison are open to dogs on leashes. That wasn’t the case before a rule change in 2020. Prior to that year, there were heavier restrictions regarding dogs in Madison parks. The city still has 35 dog-free parks, which include places with burial mounds, golf courses, playgrounds and splash pads. But it also has nine special off-leash parks where your dog can socialize.

Dane County Park System allows on-leash dogs at all of its parks, but it has eight off-leash options as well. Dane County Parks was the first park system in the U.S. to create an off-leash dog program. Dogs can run free in Dane County Parks across 268 acres of land.

Madison & Dane County Off-Leash Dog Parks:

• Anderson Farm County Park, 804 Union Road, Oregon
• Badger Prairie County Park, 6270 Highway 151, Verona
• Brittingham Park, 326 S. Broom St.
• Capital Springs Recreation Area, 3398 Lake Farm Road
• City of Middleton Dog Exercise Area, 5209 County Highway Q, Middleton
• City of Sun Prairie Dog Exercise Area, 1025 S. Bird St., Sun Prairie
• Demetral Park, 2297 Commercial Ave.
• Indian Lake County Park, 8381 State Highway 19, Cross Plains
• McCormick Park, 702 N. McCormick Ave.
• North Star Dog Park, 439 Milky Way
• Odana School Park, 678 S. Segoe Road
• Penni Klein Park, 8780 Airport Road
• Prairie Moraine County Park, 6676 Wesner Road, Verona
• Quann Park, 1802 Quann-Olin Parkway
• Sycamore Park, 4517 Sycamore Ave.
• Token Creek County Park, 6200 Williamsburg Way
• Viking County Park, 1583 Highway N, Stoughton
• Walnut Grove Park, 202 N. Westfield Road
• Warner Park, 2301 Sheridan Drive
• Yahara Heights County Park, 5428 State Highway 113, Waunakee

Small Dog-Friendly:
Anderson Farm County Park, Badger Prairie County Park, Capital Springs Recreation Area, Odana School Park, Warner Park, Sycamore Park and Token Creek County Park

Private Dog Park:
The Dog Park at BT Farms is a private dog park on Madison’s east side. Guests can schedule appointments in 45-minute slots to explore 3 acres of land.

Park for Dogs (and Their Humans):
The Boneyard combines a dog park and a biergarten. While dogs run off-leash in the park area, owners can sit and socialize over local brews and food cart fare. Even for those without pets, it’s a great spot for dog watching.