Olin-Turville Park, Turville Point, Olin Park, Madison Day Hikes

Olin-Turville Park and Turville Point are Madison, Wisconsin’s signature places to walk, relax, and think.

Olin-Turville Park

Olin-Turville Park offers an easy city park loop hike of two miles through pleasant woods and prairie. It’s the perfect spot to have a picnic in full view of the Capitol, Monona Terrace, and the shores of Lake Monona. Trail traffic is generally pretty heavy, as Madisonians use the park to swim or soak up rays on the beach, to jog, or to bike through it on their way to work. Olin Park is 46 acres and Turville Park 65 acres. It’s a popular place to stroll, read a book, or even lunch or socialize for eclectic groups of locals ranging from UW students to city employees.

Teeming with oak savanna, woodland wildflowers, acorns, walnuts, and hickory nuts, Olin-Turville Park provides good views of Lake Front Park along Lake Monona. It addition to a reservable shelter for picnicking and a pretty scenic view of downtown Madison, the park offers a beach which is open daily during the season from 12:30 - 4:30 p.m. Olin-Turville Park has a boat launch requiring a Lake Access Permit.

Other amenities include play equipment, a soccer field, and a softball field, which has a grass in-field with backstop, and is for recreational use only. The park is situated along the Isthmus Bike Trail, an enormously popular route for Madisonians of all ages and stripes. Madison Metro Routes 5, 12 serves Olin-Turville Park.

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The unique Olin Park Pavilion is one of the oldest buildings the City of Madison owns. Built in 1884, it was designed by Madison architect David R. Jones as 'Normal Hall' for the Wisconsin Sunday School Assembly.

Turville Point

Surrounded by walnut trees and graced by the occasional osprey or bald eagle, Turville Point is located on the shores of Lake Monona. Views of the lake and the city are attractive, varying from season to season as the foliage, weather, and scenery changes. Access is allowed from 4 a.m. to one hour after sunset.

From the Beltline Highway (US 12/18) go north on John Nolen Drive 0.7 miles to the Olin Avenue intersection. Turn right on Olin-Turville Court as it runs adjacent to John Nolen Drive. At 0.25 miles is the park entrance. Turn right at the park entrance, follow 0.25 miles, and stick to the right around the pavilion at the top of the hill. The trail is located at the lakeside corner of the parking lot.

© 2010 Brian D'Ambrosio Share Article