You Can Swim With The Dogs At Viking County Park In Wisconsin
By Ben Jones|Published April 25, 2022
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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.
Wisconsin has scores of beautiful swimming beaches, but the many of the best have a sign with three words that might disappoint your furry friend: “No Dogs Allowed.” Fortunately, there are some beautiful places that welcome four-legged swimmers, and there’s one little park in Dane County that’s a total pup pleaser. Pack the tennis balls and beach towels and load up your sand-loving friend – here’s what’s waiting for you at Viking County Park.
The park is located about 20 minutes south of Madison on the east side of the city of Stoughton. It’s the perfect destination for dogs that need to beat the heat, or just feel a little sand on the paws.
The expansive park has lots of trails for dogs and their owners to explore, as well as pleasant open spaces for dogs to run and play - or just relax and watch the sunset!
One of the best parts of this park is the water access. The park is just south of Lake Kegonsa and the Yahara River passes right by the park. The Yahara is a 62-mile-long tributary of the Rock River that runs through Madison and the surrounding countryside.
There’s a fenced dog area on a scenic peninsula that extends into the Yahara River and there are two dog beaches. The water is especially clear early in the season, so it’s a good bet in the late spring or early summer.
Humans will also find a lot to love about the park. It has plenty of multi-use trails, a canoe/kayak launch, restrooms, a reservable picnic shelter, and plenty of good spots for shore fishing. Anglers can catch panfish, largemouth bass, and northern pike.
Viking Park is open daily. Learn more about the park on the county website and use this map to plan your next adventure. If you need a place to relax after a big day at the beach, here’s a beer garden that your pooch just might like.
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