Elver Park
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Elver Park is a highly-rated, year-round family entertainment destination offering a diverse range of activities. It's particularly lauded for its well-maintained, scenic disc golf course, a splash pad for young children, an accessible playground, extensive walking paths, and a host of winter activities including sledding, ice-skating, XC-skiing, and snow-shoeing. The park is praised for its beautiful views and overall cleanliness, providing excellent value despite the 'pay to play' aspect for disc golf.
Key Highlights
- ✓Year-round activities including summer (splash pad, accessible playground, hiking, disc golf) and winter (sledding, ice-skating, XC-skiing, snow-shoeing).
- ✓Well-maintained, scenic disc golf course with varied terrain (hills, woods) suitable for all skill levels.
- ✓Features a dedicated splash pad for little ones.
- ✓Includes an accessible playground.
- ✓Offers plenty of walking paths throughout the park.
- ✓Disc golf course provides multiple play options with both short/long tee pads and dual pin placements.
- ✓Known for its beautiful views, especially from the hills and for sunset watching.
- ✓Facilities are clean, well-kept, and grass is cut, with good signage for the disc golf course.
- ✓Opportunities for less common activities like shooting a BB gun/bow and arrow (user experience) and foraging for mulberries at the top of a hill.
Standout Features
- ⭐Dedicated splash pad for younger children.
- ⭐Accessible playground catering to various needs.
- ⭐The 'pay to play' model for disc golf ensures high maintenance, well-kept fairways, and good signage.
- ⭐Disc golf course features concrete tee pads, dual pin placements, and short/long tee pads for varied play.
- ⭐Comprehensive disc golf signage with distances for all pads/pins and 'Next Tee' directions.
- ⭐Extensive walking paths run throughout the park and interweave with the disc golf course.
- ⭐Scenic views, particularly from elevated areas and the north/north-west end.
- ⭐Offers a mulberry tree at the top of a hill.
- ⭐Provides year-round recreational opportunities, including specific winter activities like sledding, ice-skating, XC-skiing, and snow-shoeing.
- ⭐Location behind softball and soccer fields offers great spots for quick hikes and sunset viewing.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →For disc golf, aim to visit early morning on fair-weather Sundays to avoid crowds, as it starts getting busy around noon.
- →First-time disc golfers should pay close attention to the 'Next Tee' signs, especially after holes 7 and 17, to avoid navigation confusion.
- →If traveling a significant distance for disc golf, plan to play multiple rounds (e.g., 2 rounds for 3 people took 150 minutes using short tees/dual pins) to maximize the trip.
- →Consider the time of year for disc golf; open fairways might become overgrown by mid-summer, adding complexity.
Things to Consider
- ⚠The park's distance may be a complaint for visitors coming from far away (one reviewer noted a 90-minute drive).
- ⚠Specific disc golf holes (7-8 and 17-18) can be confusing for first-time players when navigating to the next tee if 'Next Tee' signs are overlooked.
- ⚠Open disc golf fairways might become overgrown by mid-summer, potentially adding complexity to the game.
Price & Value
The disc golf course is 'pay to play', but reviewers explicitly state it's 'worth it' due to the high level of maintenance and upkeep of fairways and signage. No specific monetary cost is mentioned, but the perceived value is high enough to justify long drives for some visitors.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •Features an 'accessible playground'.
👥Crowd Levels
- •The disc golf course starts to get 'busy around noon on a fair weather Sunday'.
- •'Early morning' is suggested as the best time to go to avoid crowds for disc golf.
🛡️Safety Features
- •The park and disc golf course are described as 'clean of garbage' and 'well kept' with 'grass cut', implying a generally safe and maintained environment. No specific active supervision or first aid mentioned.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Mid-day on a fair weather Sunday for disc golf if you prefer fewer crowds and a quicker pace.
- • Potentially mid-summer for disc golf if you specifically dislike playing on open holes with potentially overgrown fairways.
Pricing/Package/Events
Pricing & Packages
Cross-Country Skis - first hour
$9/Adult; $5/YouthDuration: First hour
Includes skis, boots, poles and a daily ski permit.
Includes:
- •Skis
- •Boots
- •Poles
- •Daily ski permit
Cross-Country Skis - each additional hour
$5/Adult or YouthDuration: Each additional hour
Applies after the first hour.
Includes:
- •Skis
- •Boots
- •Poles
- •Daily ski permit
Cross-Country Ski - all day, per day
$30/Adult; $15/YouthDuration: All day, per day
Includes skis, boots, poles and a daily ski permit.
Includes:
- •Skis
- •Boots
- •Poles
- •Daily ski permit
Cross-Country Ski - each additional day
$15/Adult; $8/YouthDuration: Each additional day
Applies after the first day.
Includes:
- •Skis
- •Boots
- •Poles
- •Daily ski permit
Cross-Country Ski - weekly
$70/Adult; $50/YouthDuration: Weekly
Includes skis, boots, poles and a daily ski permit.
Includes:
- •Skis
- •Boots
- •Poles
- •Daily ski permit
Sit Skis - first hour
$9/Adult; $5/YouthDuration: First hour
Includes skis, boots, poles and a daily ski permit.
Includes:
- •Skis
- •Boots
- •Poles
- •Daily ski permit
Sit Skis - each additional hour
$5/Adult or YouthDuration: Each additional hour
Applies after the first hour.
Includes:
- •Skis
- •Boots
- •Poles
- •Daily ski permit
Skate Rentals - Adult
$6Duration: Per Hour
Ice skate rental for adults.
Skate Rentals - Youth
$3Duration: Per Hour
Ice skate rental for youth.
Skate Rentals - Each additional hour
$2Duration: Each additional hour
Applies after the first hour for skate rentals.
Hockey Stick Rental
$3Hockey stick rental available at Elver, Tenney & Vilas warming shelters.
Sled Rental
$2Duration: By the hour
Sled rental from the staffed warming shelter at Elver Park.
Sled Purchase
$20Sled purchase from the staffed warming shelter at Elver Park.
Snowshoe Rentals - Adult (first hour)
$5Duration: First hour
Snowshoe rental for adults.
Snowshoe Rentals - Youth (first hour)
$3Duration: First hour
Snowshoe rental for youth.
Snowshoe Rentals - Each additional hour
$2Duration: Each additional hour
Applies after the first hour for snowshoe rentals.
Snowshoe Rentals - Adult (daily)
$25Duration: Daily
Snowshoe rental for adults for a full day.
Snowshoe Rentals - Adult (each additional day)
$15Duration: Each additional day
Applies after the first day for adult snowshoe rentals.
Snowshoe Rentals - Youth (daily)
$10Duration: Daily
Snowshoe rental for youth for a full day.
Snowshoe Rentals - Youth (each additional day)
$5Duration: Each additional day
Applies after the first day for youth snowshoe rentals.
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Elver Disc Golf Course Closure
Sunday, October 19, from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
Closed due to a permitted special event.
Winter Events & Group Outings
Dependent on weather and conditions
Attend a winter event open to the community or reserve a winter recreation party for your group. Subject to change.
🍎Food Policy
- • Alcohol is prohibited in Elver Park on July 4, unless an alcohol permit is obtained through the Parks Administrative Office.
- • Alcohol is permitted in most Madison Parks; glass is never allowed. In alcohol-free parks (Elver on July 4), an alcohol permit is required with a shelter reservation.
- • Concessions available at Elver warming shelter during winter season for ski, skate, and sledding activities.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • No ice is completely safe. Always check ice rink/lagoon status online or call the Parks office before skating.
- • Rinks/lagoons will close if meltwater is visible to prevent extended closures from damaged ice.
- • Playgrounds are routinely inspected to assess equipment conditions and repair safety concerns. Replacements scheduled through 2033.
- • Slacklining or hammocking is allowed only from sunrise to 30 minutes prior to sunset.
- • Slacklining or hammocking must be temporary and never left unattended or overnight.
- • Slacklining or hammocking is only allowed on trees greater than 1 foot in diameter and 4.5 feet high.
- • Tree protection (minimum ¼ inch thick by 10 inches wide fabric padding) is required at connection points for slacklining/hammocking.
- • Never tether slacklines/hammocks on Oak, Hickory, or Birch trees, or in any conservation park.
- • Park Rangers have authority to remove any slackline or hammock deemed harmful to trees or a danger to park users.
- • Firearms or weapons are not permitted at any of the shelters. Violators may be considered trespassers and subject to forfeiture or arrest.
- • Pets (including well-behaved dogs) and bikes are never allowed on any ice rink or lagoon.
- • Do not walk on a designated cross-country ski trail. Hiking or snowshoeing is allowed ANYWHERE except on cross-country ski trails and off-trail in a conservation park.
- • Skiers must stay on groomed trails only.
- • No dogs, horses, snowboards, motor vehicles, hiking or snowshoeing on groomed ski trails.
- • Slower skiers should stay to the right on ski trails.
- • DO NOT snowshoe off-trail in a conservation park due to potential harm to small rodents' snow tunnels and disruption of wildlife.
📅Booking Policy
- • Basketball courts are mostly first-come, first-served, but leagues or tournaments must reserve online.
- • Open or Multipurpose Fields (used for soccer, ultimate, lacrosse, football) are reservable online or available first-come, first-served if not reserved.
- • Softball fields and backstops can be reserved online.
- • Pickleball courts are available for individuals first-come, first-served; all leagues and lessons must reserve in advance online.
- • Tennis courts are available for individuals first-come, first-served; all leagues and lessons must reserve in advance online.
- • Shelters and pavilions can be reserved online, in person, or by phone (608-266-4711). Full payment is due at time of processing.
- • 2026 shelter reservations open on Monday, November 3, 2025.
- • Required permits (e.g., amplified sound, alcohol) must be obtained at the time of shelter reservation processing.
- • Picnic shelters, if not reserved, are available on a first-come, first-served basis, with day-of signage posted.
- • Madison Parks does not guarantee absolute privacy for groups; reservations cover the facility, not the entire park or other amenities.
- • Field reservation cancellations are notified by email to the user who made the reservation (by 2:00 pm M-F, by 9:00 am weekends/holidays).
🚗Parking Information
- • Parking lots are available in parks during regular park hours: 4:00 am to 10:00 pm.
- • Driving or parking motorized vehicles is not allowed on the grass or near a shelter and is subject to a citation.
- • Three-hour limit in all parks, as posted.
- • No parking after hours: 10pm to 4am. Overnight parking is not allowed.
- • Follow all onsite parking regulation signs.
- • Violators are subject to a fine.
What People Say
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 3 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Courtney Jacob
8 months agoBeautiful course! Pay to play, but it's worth it! Very well maintained, beautiful views making it a very scenic place. Great for disc golf and plenty of walking paths. There is a splash pad for the little ones also. Highly recommend making a pit stop.
Michael Graeve
3 years agoDisc golf review. By no fault of its own, my only complaint is the distance this course is from home. Well worth the 90 minute drive if you plan to play a few rounds. The course is built on a hill and your first concrete tee shot it looking up into a nice backdrop of trees. From there, you'll play across the hill zigzagging your way up. After hole 5, you begin your trek into the woods where more technical shots begin and it isn't just a game of who can throw the farthest. With both short and long tee pads coupled with dual pin placements, this course offers multiple unique ways to play the course that might never get old. This course is great for beginners and skilled disc golfers. The course is pay to play which helps in the maintenance and up keep of the fairways and signage. Signage is in good shape and calls out distance for all tee pad and pin placements. They also include "Next Tee" on the signs, though I would forget to look until it was too late. There are also walking paths running through the course so if you do forget to check the sign for the next tee, there are a few holes that get confusing after completing (7 to 8 and 17 to 18 to be specific for first time players). The course was clean of garbage and well kept. Grass was cut and the fields were not yet overgrown. I imagine by mid summer the overgrown fields, on the more open holes, will add some complexity to the fairways. The course appeared to be popular as it was beginning to get busy around noon on a fair weather Sunday. Early morning seemed to be the best time to go. For three people, it took roughly 150 minutes to play two rounds using both pin placements from the short tee pads. Again, great disc golf course with a variety of looks and options. If you drive out of your way to play here, plan on playing a few rounds here and possibly other Madison parks.
Alex & Chelsea Thomason
3 years agoBest "year-round" park in the City. Splash pad, accessible playground, hiking, and disc-golf in the summer. Sledding, ice-skating, XC-skiing, snow-shoeing in the winter. The north and north-west end of the park behind the softball and soccer fields are great for a quick hike or to catch a sunset.
Valentine Okaa
8 months agoHas one of the best views, water park and a nice climb up the hills for nature lovers
Lonnie t
3 years agoWe lived half a block from here and it truly was a nice resource to have at our immediate use. It was a delight in summer a and a snow fight in the winter! My daughter had so much frlun sledding for the first time, being from Florida. We shot the bb gun and bow and arrow there and I lived the mulberry tree at the top also. I k none the disc golf was very popular also.