Penn Park park
Community Reviews
Been here? Share the conditions.
Reviews, ratings & photos are added in the free Snoflo iOS app — rate a spot, tag the conditions, and your visit is verified by location. Add or manage your reviews from the app.
Penn Park
One of the best reasons to visit Penn Park is its extensive network of walking and biking trails. The park has over 14 miles of trails that wind through lush forests, open meadows, and picturesque wetlands. The trails are well-maintained and offer stunning views of the surrounding landscape. Visitors can also enjoy activities such as fishing, birdwatching, picnicking, and playing sports at the various fields and courts located throughout the park.
Another point of interest in Penn Park is its historical significance. The park was created in the 1930s as part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), a federal program that aimed to provide jobs for unemployed Americans during the Great Depression. Many of the park's original structures and features, such as the stone shelters and retaining walls, were built by WPA workers and are still standing today.
Interesting facts about the park include its location on the former site of the University of Wisconsin's first football stadium, which was built in 1895. The stadium was later demolished in 1915, and the land was converted into a park. Penn Park is also home to a large and diverse population of wildlife, including deer, foxes, and numerous bird species.
The best time of year to visit Penn Park depends on personal preferences and interests. Spring and summer are ideal for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and picnicking, while fall and winter offer a quieter and more peaceful experience for those who prefer a more contemplative atmosphere. The park is open year-round, and visitors are encouraged to check the weather forecast and park conditions before planning their visit.
Park & land designation reference
A quick legend for the federal and state land categories Snoflo tracks. Each designation comes with different rules around access, recreation, and resource extraction.
- National Park
- 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 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.
- 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.
Plan your visit down to the hour
Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Area campgrounds
Snoflo-tracked campgrounds within reach of Penn Park, with reservations status.
| Campground | Reservations | Toilets | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Babcock County Park Campground | ✓ | ✗ | → |
| Badger Prairie Park Dca | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Token Creek County Park | ✓ | ✗ | → |
| Andersen Preserve Dca | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Springfield Hill Dca | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Eastern Lodi Marsh Dca | ✗ | ✗ | → |
Plan a longer trip
The closest parks, lakes, fishing spots, and POIs so a park visit can grow into a full weekend.
Responsible recreation & Leave No Trace
- Know before you go
- Check the operator's site for hours, permit requirements, seasonal closures, and fire restrictions before heading out.
- Stay on trail
- Stick to marked paths to protect vegetation, prevent erosion, and avoid disturbing wildlife habitat.
- Respect wildlife
- Observe from a distance, never feed wildlife, and store food securely if camping is permitted on-site.
- Pack it in, pack it out
- Carry out all trash, food scraps, and gear. Many parks have limited or no trash service.
- Leave what you find
- Don't take rocks, plants, or artifacts. They make the park what it is for the next visitor.
Set push alerts in the Snoflo app
Save Penn Park as a favorite, set a custom threshold (precipitation, freezing temperatures, fire-restriction days), and the iOS app will push the moment conditions cross.
About Penn Park
What can I do at Penn Park?
Most Snoflo-tracked parks support hiking, picnicking, and wildlife viewing. Check the operator's site for activity-specific rules (camping, fishing, paddling, hunting).
How fresh is the weather data?
The hourly forecast updates throughout the day from NOAA / yr.no. Streamflow comes live from USGS streamgauges.
When is the best time to visit?
Use the 15-day temperature & precipitation outlook on this page to plan -- pick a window with comfortable temperatures and low precipitation.
How do I get to Penn Park?
Tap Directions in the hero above to open driving directions in Google Maps, or Open in map to center the Snoflo interactive map on the park.
Can I get alerts when conditions change?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this park, set a threshold (temperature, precipitation), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses.
Other parks near here
Snoflo-tracked parks within driving distance of Penn Park.