Elver Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Elver Park is a beautiful outdoor recreational area located in the city of Madison, Wisconsin.
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Summary
The park spans over 220 acres and offers a variety of activities for visitors of all ages.
One of the main reasons to visit Elver Park is for its extensive trail system. The park boasts over five miles of paved paths that are perfect for walking, jogging, or biking. There are also numerous hiking trails that wind through the park's natural areas, offering stunning views of the local flora and fauna.
In addition to its trails, Elver Park is home to several other points of interest. The park's playgrounds, tennis courts, and disc golf course make it a popular destination for families and sports enthusiasts. There is also a large pond that is perfect for fishing, and during the winter months, the park offers cross-country skiing and sledding.
Interesting facts about Elver Park include its history as a former landfill and its role as a host site for the annual Madison Winter Festival. The park is also home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, foxes, and birds of prey.
The best time of year to visit Elver Park depends on your interests. During the summer months, the park is bustling with activity, and visitors can enjoy all of its outdoor amenities. In the fall, the park's beautiful foliage makes for a stunning backdrop for hiking and biking. And during the winter, the park transforms into a winter wonderland, with opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and sledding.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
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