Dane County Parks and the City of Madison Parks are offering a permit-free weekend on June 1st and 2nd. Many activities that normally require a permit will be free so Dane County Park visitors can try out new activities.

This includes:

Lake Access: Dane County lakes, rivers, and streams offer abundant opportunities for boating, fishing and paddling adventures.

Dog Parks: The Dane County Park system has eight off-leash dog parks, totaling 268 acres, each with its own unique features and terrain. All dogs must still be legally licensed and vaccinated and follow the dog park rules.

Disc Golf: Dane County Parks provides two premier disc golf courses:

• Vallarta-Ast Course at Token Creek (27 holes): recognized as one of the top courses in the United States and hosts national and world-wide competitions.
• Capital Springs (18 holes): laid out over rolling glacial drumlins surrounded by picturesque prairie areas. This course offers bicycle access off the Capital City Trail.

Tenney Locks: is the largest lock and is located on Lake Mendota within the City of Madison. The lock is operated by a lock attendant during specific park hours and typically requires a permit to use.

National Trails Day takes place on June 1, providing yet another reason for Dane County residents and visitors to enjoy the benefits of Dane County’s robust network of trails.

During the permit-free weekend of June 1 and 2, visitors can explore:

Capital City Trail: one of the most popular shared-use bicycle/pedestrian trails in the county.

Mountain Bike Trails: Dane County Parks offers a variety opportunities for mountain bikers and includes single-track mountain bike trails at three locations throughout the year (including winter). The free permit weekend includes the CamRock County Park and Seminole mountain bike trails.

Equestrian Trails: Equestrians have access to more than 26 miles of trails in five different parks, each with its own unique features and terrain.

For information about City of Madison Parks, visit their website.