This Off-The-Beaten-Path Park In Wisconsin Is The Perfect Place To Escape
By Ben Jones|Published July 12, 2023
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Ben Jones
Author
Ben Jones is at heart an adventurer who delights in inspiring others. A former reporter and photojournalist, he explored towns large and small as a Wisconsin correspondent for USA Today. He later became a lead photographer and senior copywriter for an award-winning destination marketing agency, before founding Boldland Creative, a company that produces photography, video, and other content for travel destinations. Jones has completed photography and content projects in more than 15 states and when he’s not looking through a camera or at his Macbook you’ll find him exploring the world’s lakes and forests.
While Wisconsin has scores of gorgeous state parks, there are many more parks maintained by cities, counties and towns that are also remarkable. In Madison, there’s a gorgeous little park that offers pretty lakefront hiking trails and a gorgeous Capitol view. It’s not far from the bustle of downtown Madison, yet most city visitors never escape over to this side of the isthmus. Here’s what you need to know about Olin Park, one of Wisconsin’s best city parks.
You’ll find Olin Park on John Nolen Drive, about two miles from the Capitol and Monona Terrace. It’s connected to downtown via the Capitol City Trail, and it’s one of the prettiest stretches of the trail – it skirts the lake's edge for the entire trip. It’s a nice trail for biking, walking, and running.
If you choose to drive, Olin Park has two expansive parking lots, as well as street parking. A road winds up a hill in the park – there are public bathrooms and an enclosed pavilion at the top of the hill. It was built back in 1884.
The park is right on the lake, and it’s a hub for recreation on the water. There’s a boat launch used by anglers, boaters and paddlers. Triathlons and swim events are also sometimes held in the park.
The park has large athletic fields and a playground area. On weekends, you’ll see families gathered, watching kids play soccer. The recreation spaces are used for other activities as well – it’s Madison, so you may encounter something unexpected, like a group of Medieval re-enactors, or a couple playing handmade instruments.
If you would rather get away from it all, just head for the trees. Hiking trails wind through this 47-acre park, and you might forget you’re in the state’s second-largest city. They are a great place for a nature walk, and in the winter, some even use the trails for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
Up on the hill, you’ll want to pause to take in the view. You can see the Captiol across the water. It’s one of the prettiest views of the city, and it’s such a beautiful vista, special events like weddings are sometimes held here.
I’ve spent a lot of time in this little park – it’s one of my favorite spots in the city. Learn more about Olin Park on the City of Madison website. If you need some hiking gear, don’t forget to visit REI. Once you’ve explored Olin, here are some more of the best hikes in Wisconsin.
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