The Best 6 Dog Parks in Madison

Madison, also known as the City of Four Lakes, is Wisconsin’s capital city. It is famous for its extensive trails and parks, with the most playgrounds and parks per capita. Given this, it would be a shame if you and your pup didn’t visit at least a couple of the city’s dog parks, right?

Taking your dog outside is extremely important to their health. Even if your pup stays most of the time indoors, nothing compares to a playtime session in a park full of grass, surrounded by other canine companions.

You’ll find out more about Madison’s best 6 dog parks in the following lines. All you have to do is choose one (or more) and plan your pup’s next adventure.

1. Brittingham Park Dog Park

Brittingham Park Dog Park can be found near Capital City Trail. After a long walk on the shoreline of Lake Monona, you and your furry companion can stop and visit this park. Access to most dog parks in Madison is based on a daily or annual permit that can be bought online. There are frequent free dog park days – you can check when they occur here.

This dog park is not fenced, but dogs can be left off-leash here. If your puppy is a runner, you might want to keep a close eye on him. The designated dog area is small and gets quite busy in the evening. On weekends, you can expect to see pups all day long here.

2. Warner Park Dog Park

Warner Park Dog Park is housed by the park of the same name and opens to the shoreline of Lake Mendota. It features an inner lake that has 2 islands. The dog park is on the south side, near Marina Park. It usually gets crowded after 3–4 PM during the week. The park is most active on Sundays, when your pup will certainly find a playmate here.

The park has a surface area of 8 acres and is partially fenced. If you’re afraid your pup might run off, it’s best to keep them on a leash. However, the park features smaller areas for breeds of different sizes and ages–these areas are fully fenced. 

Warner Park Dog Park has plenty of grassy areas for pups. It also features water access, so if your pup’s a swimmer, this is the park for him!

3. Walnut Grove Park Dog Park

Walnut Grove Park Dog Park can be found within the park of the same name and is a couple of blocks away from Sunset Memory Gardens. The park is busy on Thursdays in the afternoon and Saturday mornings; the atmosphere is pretty calm the rest of the week. 

The park is a fully-fenced, designated dog area with a decent grass surface. There are plenty of shade trees inside the park for both owners and pups. Picnic tables and chairs can be found here as well.

Walnut Grove Park Dog Park features a double-fenced entry, water bowls for your furry companions, and plenty of sticks to fetch. The owners that frequent this place form a close group. This is good news if you plan to move to Madison and want to find a permanent dog park for you and your pup to visit.

4. Sycamore Park Dog Park

Sycamore Park Dog Park is located in the park of the same name and is famously known among locals for its dog run. The park is in the Burke Heights area and a couple of blocks away from Glacier Hill Park. 

The dog park is always busy, especially during the weekends. Fortunately, Sycamore Park is large, so you can take your pup on an on-leash venture if the dog park gets too crowded. Keep in mind that the designated dog area is not fenced but does require a permit for access.

Sycamore Park Dog Park is covered in dense grass and features several shade trees throughout the designated dog area. There are benches and tables available for the owners. Water bowls might not be available, so it’s best to pack some for your pup.

5. Capital Springs Dog Park

Capital Springs Dog Park can be found near Capital Springs State Recreation Area; you and your furry companion can have a great time here. The park is at its busiest on weekends. However, given its size, crowds shouldn’t be a problem. The main, larger area of the park can be looped in about 15 minutes, so the park is decently sized.

The dog park has a surface area of over 30 acres. It is often compared to a hiking trail due to its vegetation and the feeling of freedom it offers to pup owners. Small dog owners will rejoice to find that there’s a fenced-in designated dog area for small breeds only. You don’t have to worry about losing your pup in tall grass.

The only downside is that you might have difficulty finding shaded areas–trees are scarce in Capital Springs Dog Park.

6. Demetral Park

Demetral Park can be found on Packers Avenue, near Hartmeyer Ice Arena. It is crowded throughout the week, but it’s a large park with both on-leash and off-leash areas. The park itself is known for its athletic areas and playground. Your pup will have plenty of things to look at while walking through Demetral Park. 

The dog park is fenced and has plenty of shade trees for both owners and dogs. Several benches and tables are available in a concrete-covered spot in the park. The rest of the park’s surface features clean and well-maintained grass turf. Demetral Park’s dog park is one of Madison’s cleanest parks. 

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/EmilyOnTime