Badger Prairie Dog Park
Prairie trails and a full agility circuit outside Verona
About this park
Badger Prairie Dog Park covers a large stretch of Dane County land in Verona, with hard-packed trails, a full agility circuit for training, and a separate smaller run for puppies, seniors, and small breeds. Grass, woods, and restored prairie give the park distinct zones for different moods.
Amenities
Badger Prairie Dog Park reviews
What visitors consistently sayReviewers consistently rank this as a top-tier option in the Verona/Madison area. The wide hard-packed trails hold up through the spring melt when other parks are unwalkable, and the combination of agility equipment, shaded woods, and prairie is unusual for a single park.
A friendly, welcoming scene at Badger Prairie with picnic tables scattered along the paths for lingering while dogs play. Reviewers mention meeting other visitors on the walking loop and describe the crowd as calm and attentive.
Best for
Before you go
Requires a Dane County dog park permit. Bring your own water: there's no fountain on site, and the hard-packed trails make this one of the better spring options when other local parks turn to mud.
Frequently asked
- Is a permit required?
- Yes. An annual Dane County pass is what regulars carry, and reviewers pair that reminder with a second one: bring water, because there is no fountain on site.
- How long is the walking loop?
- Fifteen to twenty minutes around, on trails wide enough to walk two abreast. The sightlines stay open enough that a dog is visible through most of the park.
- Does it hold up in spring?
- Better than most. The hard-packed trails at Badger Prairie stay walkable through the melt when nearby parks turn slushy, though reviewers do report mud holes filling in after heavy rain.
- Is there a separate small-dog area?
- Yes. A smaller run sits adjacent to the main park, and reviewers point puppies, small breeds, and senior dogs there.
- Is there agility equipment?
- Yes, a full circuit for training, which is rare to find beside woods and prairie in the same park. Picnic tables line the paths for owners who would rather watch than work.
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Prairie Moraine Dog Park
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Odana School Park Dog Park
Near-west acreage with a second run for small and senior dogs