Madison, the capital of Wisconsin, is an eclectic college town seated on the isthmus between lakes Mendota and Monona in the south of the state. It’s cultural feel is largely influenced by the University of Wisconsin and the surrounding beauty of the Wisconsin woods, lakes, and prairies. It’s a city that takes its outdoors seriously. With bustling central streets, gorgeous waterfront neighborhoods, extensive bike paths, and nearby natural spaces, there are plenty of options that make running in Madison a particular treat.
Some of the best places to run in Madison include the loop around the University of Wisconsin Arboretum, the loop around Lake Monona, and the beautiful Mendota Lakeshore Path to Picnic Point. Runners can also explore downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods with the State Street, Yahara Parkway, Capital City Trail, and Maple Bluff routes. Or, get outside the city and find fresh air at Pheasant Branch, the Military Ridge Trail, the Glacial Drumlin Trail, or Devil’s Lake.
Madison is not a large city, so getting around is fairly simple. The only form of public transport is the bus, which runs pretty extensively throughout the city center and will deliver you to most of our central routes. Running routes outside the immediate city may require renting a car. Better yet, bring a bike and use some of our rail trail routes to expand your route options!
