The University of Wisconsin Arboretum is an essential component of the Madison landscape and culture. It is a 1300-acre forest and wildlife preserve set along the shore of Lake Wingra at the geographical center of urban Dane County. Its primary purpose is for research and teaching as a living laboratory of the University. That said, it is among the most important recreational hubs for the citizens of Madison. Few Madisonians can say that they have never, drove through, walked through, ran through, or biked through the Arboretum. It features a network of 20+ miles of hiking trails, 3 miles of biking roads, and 10-miles of trails dedicated to cross country skiing.
In some respects, the Arboretum, a botanical gardens, is like a tree museum. Longnecker Gardens displays various species of trees grouped in "galleries" on a manicured grass lawn. Here, over 5000 plants of 2,500 taxa are displayed including trees, shrubs, vines, and herbs. The Arboretum also displays plant communities, types of prairies, savannas, marshes, wetlands, oak forests, maple forests, conifer forests, and other mixed woodlands.
The Arboretum was founded in 1932 and originally cared for by internationally recognized conservation leaders G. William Longnecker and Aldo Leopold. Much of the ecological establishment of the UW Arboretum was installed by the labor of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) workers during the Great Depression.
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| Boardwalk through Wingra Oak Savanna |
Two of my favorite areas at the Arboretum are the least well known, which speaks to the enormous size of this preserve. The first, is the Wingra Oak Savanna. I frequently walked the trails at Wingra Woods as I lived directly across the street for several years. And, I'm pretty sure that I was the only person to walk those trails, I never saw another walker on the overgrown Wingra trails. There is a fun boardwalk that starts in the oak savanna and crosses out to the Wingra lake shore, or more properly, the Ho Nee Um Pond. You can pick up these trails at Wingra Park behind the boat rentals building, and wind your way to the Viburnum collection off Manitou Way. Some of the preserve's oldest landscape architecture structures are featured beside the ponds here; their age adds a certain nostalgia to an exploration of the Wingra Savanna section.
My second favorite area is across the Beltline at the Grady Tract. I used to jog and trail run here frequently. The trails through the Grady Tract feel the most like being out in an authentic nature landscape. I mean that with all do respect. This area feels a lot like being in an up-north woods. Some of the trails are single track and have a decent length, enough to be totally immersed in the landscape. The soil is sandy and soft, a good running surface. This is also a less used part of the Arboretum which affords a bit a of privacy or at least the space a trail runner needs to stretch out the stride without fear of running down a group of walkers on the trail.
The most popular areas are the trails emanating from Mccaffery and Arboretum Drive, a driving route through the preserve. Longnecker Gardens and Curtis Prairie are something that every visitor to the arboretum must see at least once. Every time I walk in Longnecker Gardens I am reminded of how privileged I am to be able to live in the Madison area and to be a UW alum. This is a very special place, a big idea, and it is open to public fee free. They really hit the Wisconsin Idea ball out of the park on Longnecker Gardens.
Joggers and bikers enjoy taking the loop on the lightly trafficked parkway that crosses through the center of the Arboretum. Many bikers and runners begin at Henry Vilas Park beside the beach just outside the back entrance to Henry Vilas Zoo. From there, run counterclockwise through the Edgewood College property, then along Monroe, Nakoma, and Manitou Drive to reach the West Entrance at Seminole Drive. Then take Mccaffery Drive and Arboretum Drive through the Arboretum and finish back at Vilas Park. This route is approximately a six-mile loop, and paved the entire distance with wide pedestrian friendly asphalt paths.
Everyone can find something to love at the UW Arboretum. There are easy and short trails, but hikers can also put together long meandering routes through an inspiring mix of terrain. If you live in Madison, you don't even have to leave the city to get the full wilderness experience. And, if I haven't mentioned yet, all visitors are welcome to explore this marvelous preserve fee free. The UW Arboretum is a Madison treasure shared by all.
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| Trail through Wingra Woods at the UW Arboretum |
UW Arboretum Hiking Trails
COUNTY: Dane
COMMUNITIES: Madison
TOTAL MILES: 20+ networked trails
DIFFICULTY: Easy
Directions and Trail Map
Click Map Image to load the full interactive map.
If viewing on a mobile device, open the trail map above to load into Google Maps App by touching the expand rectangle in the upper right corner.
Address for your GPS: 1207 Seminole Hwy, Madison, WI 53711
| coordinates: 43.041001, -89.430872 |
| From Milwaukee | 1.5 Hours |
| From Madison | n/a |
| From Green Bay | 2.5 Hours |
| From Wausau | 2.5 Hours |
| From Minneapolis | 6 Hours |
| From Chicago | 2.5 Hours |
Photos
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| Crane in the Viburnum Collection at the UW Arboretum |
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| Trail through Leopold Pines |
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| Trail through Leopold Pines |
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| Tunnel under the Beltline connects Leopold Pines to Evjue Pines trails |
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| Curtis Prairie at UW Arboretum |
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| Trail along Curtis Prairie at UW Arboretum |
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| Curtis Prairie and Visitor Center in distance |
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| Turkeys grazing in Longnecker Gardens |
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| Tree specimen in the Longnecker Gardens at UW Arboretum |
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| Tree specimen in the Longnecker Gardens at UW Arboretum |
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| Overlook in Wingra Woods at UW Arboretum |
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| Big Spring in Wingra Woods at UW Arboretum |
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| Pond in the Viburnum Collection at UW Arboretum |