3.3
(2)
24
hikers
00:39
2.33km
40m
Hiking
The Owen Conservation Park Loop offers a delightful journey through Madison's diverse natural landscapes, blending peaceful wooded areas with open fields of tall grasses and vibrant prairie sections. You'll find yourself on varied paths of packed dirt, grass, and wood chips, with the highlight being the three wildlife ponds that…
Last updated: June 9, 2026
Waypoints
Start point
Parking
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2.33 km
End point
Parking
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
1.34 km
919 m
< 100 m
Surfaces
1.34 km
973 m
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Elevation
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Weather
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Monday 6 July
29°C
17°C
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Max wind speed: 10.0 km/h
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This route was planned by komoot.
Parking is available directly at Owen Conservation Park. The trail starts from the park's designated parking areas.
No, dogs are typically not permitted on the trails within Owen Conservation Park. It's best to leave your furry friends at home for this hike.
The park offers diverse foliage and changing colors throughout the year. Early fall is particularly highlighted as an ideal time for wildlife viewing, but the trail is enjoyable across all seasons.
No, there are generally no entrance fees or permits required to access Owen Conservation Park or its trails.
The Owen Conservation Park Loop is generally rated as easy. While some shorter inner loops are relatively flat, the outer trail can be more challenging with hills, making it suitable for those seeking a more vigorous workout. Overall, it's accessible for most skill levels.
The terrain is varied, featuring packed dirt, grass, and wood chip paths. Some sections may be uneven. You'll traverse a mix of reclaimed prairie, savanna, and wooded areas.
The park is excellent for nature observation and birdwatching. Frequent sightings include wild turkeys, various birds, squirrels, deer, turkey vultures, herons, and wood ducks. Three wildlife ponds also provide habitat for migratory waterfowl.
Yes, from certain points along the trail, you can catch glimpses of the city skyline. The park also features three wildlife ponds established in 2008, and diverse plant life like goldenrod, coneflowers, and bluestem throughout its prairie, savanna, and wooded areas.
Yes, the route also passes through sections of the Dogwood-Elder Greenspace, Cedar-Dogwood Greenspace, Elder-Forsythia Greenspace, Crestwood School Path, and Bittersweet-Cedar Greenspace.
Yes, as its name suggests, the Owen Conservation Park Loop is a true loop trail, bringing you back to your starting point without needing to retrace your steps.
While the specific Komoot route is approximately 2.3 km and takes around 38 minutes, a full hike combining the inner and outer trails within Owen Conservation Park can extend to about 3 miles and typically takes 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on your pace.
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