Capital Springs State Park is a state park located just south of Madison, Wisconsin. This cooperatively managed area features diverse landscapes, including prairies, wetlands, forests, and extensive shoreline along Lake Waubesa. The park's geography, with its unique glacial landforms, marshes, woodlands, springs, and creeks, provides a varied environment suitable for several sports like hiking, road cycling, touring cycling, jogging, and more.
Capital Springs State Park offers a range of outdoor activities across…
79
Routes
4.7
(43)
Average rating
1031
People visited

3
hikers
7.33km
01:52
20m
20m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
hikers
4.45km
01:07
10m
10m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

1.99km
00:30
0m
0m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

2.01km
00:31
10m
0m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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69
riders
42.5km
02:01
170m
170m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

4.0
(4)
84
riders
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

82
riders
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(3)
38
riders
25.2km
01:04
120m
120m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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5.0
(2)
60
riders
41.2km
02:28
140m
130m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

34
riders
24.2km
01:26
60m
60m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

25
riders
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
17
riders
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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24
runners
12.0km
01:24
40m
40m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

11
runners
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

10
runners
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

11
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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10
riders
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.0
(1)
11
riders
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
10
riders
28.1km
01:40
150m
150m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Advanced riding skills necessary.

3.0
(2)
6
riders
32.5km
01:48
180m
180m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Capital Springs State Park offers a variety of outdoor activities including hiking, road cycling, touring cycling, jogging, and mountain biking. The park features an extensive trail system and diverse landscapes for exploration. It is cooperatively managed, blending natural preservation with accessibility near an urban center.
The park provides more than 6 miles (9.7 km) of dedicated trails and boardwalks for hiking and jogging. These paths traverse prairies, wetlands, and forests, offering generally easy and flat routes. Popular options include the Lake Farm County Park Loop and the Lower Yahara River Boardwalk loop. For more details, see Hiking in Capital Springs State Park.
Yes, the Capital City State Trail runs through Capital Springs State Park and connects to other regional trails like the Lower Yahara River Trail and the West Waubesa Trail. The Lower Yahara River Trail includes a 0.9-mile (1.4 km) boardwalk bridge. For cycling routes, refer to Road Cycling Routes in Capital Springs State Park.
Many trails in Capital Springs State Park are easy and flat, making them suitable for families. The Jenni and Kyle Preserve within the park is designed to be fully accessible. For family-friendly options, consult Family-friendly hikes in Capital Springs State Park.
The park features over 3,700 feet of natural shoreline along Lake Waubesa, the Monona Conservancy Wetlands, and the MMSD Wildlife Observation Area. Visitors can observe unique glacial landforms like drumlins and explore habitats including marshes, woodlands, springs, and creeks. The Lower Yahara River Trail's 0.9-mile (1.4 km) boardwalk bridge is also a significant feature.
Capital Springs State Park has more than 14,000 visitors who have shared their experiences on komoot. The park's routes have an average rating of 4.52 out of 5 stars. There are 2 routes available for exploration within the park.
Komoot offers several guides for Capital Springs State Park, including Easy hikes in Capital Springs State Park, Road Cycling Routes in Capital Springs State Park, and Running Trails in Capital Springs State Park. Other guides cover family-friendly hikes, city hikes, and traffic-free bike rides.
The official website for Capital Springs State Park is dnr.wi.gov/org/land/parks/specific/capsprings/. This site provides additional information about the park's facilities and regulations.
The phone number for Capital Springs State Park is +1-608-224-3606. This number can be used for inquiries regarding the park.
Yes, Capital Springs State Park is home to the Lake Farms Archaeological District. This district preserves ancient Native American sites and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, adding cultural significance to the park.
Trails in Capital Springs State Park traverse diverse terrains including prairies, wetlands, and forests. The routes are generally easy and flat, with some sections featuring boardwalks, such as the significant Lower Yahara River Boardwalk.

