While you’re visiting our hometown, we want your day to start off right. We’ve already poured over our love of local coffee shops, but if you’re planning to wake up with a morning run, you couldn’t pick many cities better than Madison. In addition to being America’s health IT hub, Madison has over 200 miles of trails that offer scenic views of the lakes, forests, wildlife, and, of course, the Capitol building. Here are a few suggested routes from the Nordic team to help you hit the ground running (or walking, or a little bit of both).
Lake Monona Path
Megan Farrell, Account Director – Client Partnerships
The Lake Monona Path is not for the faint of heart as it is a good 12 miles long, but what better accomplishment than to say you ran around a lake?! The route takes you in and out of Madison’s most unique neighborhoods, most of the time with a great lake view.
If you’re not feeling up to 12 miles, simply running from the Monona Terrace Convention Center to the Sheraton is a great five-miles of lake scenery as well!
Ice Age Trail
Scott Gierman, Marketing Manager
The Ice Age Trail runs across the state of Wisconsin, and this segment cuts through the western edge of Madison. If you’re staying in Verona, Fitchburg, or the southwest side of Madison, it’s easy to reach and adjacent to a free parking lot.
On this paved route, you’ll encounter virtually no traffic through the rolling hills. There are a few unpaved tributaries along the paved route if you’re feeling a little more adventurous or in the mood to get lost. While this route doesn’t have the amazing views you’ll get near the lakes downtown, it’s a little quieter and will give you a few more hills to tackle.
Pheasant Branch Conservancy
Lauren Griessmeyer, Practice Director
The Pheasant Branch Conservancy trail, located in Middleton, is a trail run through conservancy wetlands. Although it’s a 15-minute drive from the Capitol, it has a beautiful view of the Madison skyline along Lake Mendota. This three-mile route is perfect for your morning run. You’ll see wildlife and enjoy the lush landscape.