Elver park

Elver Park is quite a drive for my family, but it’s worth it since it has it all; this park has pretty much everything you could want in a park. There is a nice playground, a splash pad, and wildflowers on the trail, which are mostly shaded, and you end with the splash pad in the summer. The parking lot is next to the playground, so while we wait for our friends, we spend time on the swing and slide.

I bribed my daughter with the splash pad, so she was excited on the trail knowing that we were going to the splash pad after a hike, and let me say we needed that break after a hike.

The trails are easy to follow, but I highly suggest you map out the park before you go and get an idea of what you will be doing. We attempted a hike with friends and finished at 2.5 miles.

Ups and downs with great turns, in and out of the woods. There are well-marked, groomed XC Ski trails that can be used for hiking in the summer, taking you through gorgeous prairie and Oak Savannah.

Running through all these spring flowers with the kids is like paradise.

The most beautiful Dandelion on the trail!

The end of this trail is walking down the ski hill and seeing the splash pad. After this hike, you feel terrific, and the view is gorgeous. So I suggest you pack a picnic basket when you visit this park because you will spend all your afternoon here. This park will get your kids ready for bed.

I carried my daughter the most and let her down whenever she was ready to hike. You can get away with a soft carrier for this hike; it’s pretty easy, and a four-year-old will be able to finish the hike on their own

This park has everything for everyone!

To learn more about this park visit:https://www.cityofmadison.com/parks/facilities/skiTrail.cfm?id=2

Splash Park: Madison Parks offers three splash parks – Cypress, Reindahl, and Elver featuring spray toys and fountains for children of all ages. They are free to use and open daily, 10:00 am – 7:00 pm, typically Memorial Day Weekend, and continuing, weather permitting, through Labor Day weekend.

Address: 1250 McKenna Blvd, Madison, WI 53719