Staying Active Through a Wisconsin Winter Without a Gym Bill: Free Ski Trails, Candlelight Hikes and $25 Trail Passes

Wisconsin winters are long, but they don’t have to mean months on the couch or a pricey gym contract. The state’s parks, trails and city ski areas stay open, and many of the best winter workouts here, from snowshoeing to classic cross-country skiing on a city trail, cost little or nothing.

What you actually need to pay for

Wisconsin has two separate DNR passes: a vehicle admission sticker for state parks and forests, and a state trail pass for certain activities on state trails [2][3]. You may need one, both or neither.

The free part: “A state trail pass is not required for walking or hiking on state trails,” and snowshoers count as pedestrians [3]. The trail pass also applies only to specific state trails, not county or city trails [3]. If your winter plan is walking or snowshoeing on a state trail you can reach without parking in a state park lot, it can cost nothing.

Ways to skip the sticker:

• Free Fun Weekend. All DNR-owned properties waive vehicle admission and trail pass fees, and fishing licenses, on the first full weekend in June [4].
• Military and veterans. Wisconsin disabled veterans and former prisoners of war can apply for an admission waiver, and Wisconsin resident active-duty service members are eligible too. Exemptions also apply on Veterans Day and Memorial Day weekend [4].
• Your library. The DNR says a state park daily pass may be borrowed from participating libraries [5]. Ask your local branch.

Candlelight hikes, skis and snowshoe nights

Each winter, the DNR holds candlelight events at state parks, forests, trails and wildlife areas. They usually start around sunset and include hiking, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, depending on snow. Some have bonfires and open warming shelters, and you don’t need experience to hike or snowshoe [5]. Most properties require a vehicle admission pass or a state trail pass unless the listing says otherwise, and some events depend on the weather, so check before you go [5].

City ski trails in Madison

The City of Madison maintains cross-country ski trails in its parks. Three are free: Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park - South, Owen Conservation Park (nearly 2 miles) and Turville Point Conservation Park (2 miles). Elver Park and Door Creek Park need a city ski permit for anyone 16 or older [6].

For 2027, a permit is $13 a day or $30 a year for Dane County residents, $53 for non-residents, and $15 for Dane County seniors 65 and older, military members, veterans and people with disabilities. 2027 permits went on sale November 1, 2026, and are good through December 31, 2027 [6].

A rail-trail for the rest of the year

The Elroy-Sparta State Trail follows a 32.5-mile route between Sparta and Elroy and goes through three rock tunnels. It’s open year-round. Bicyclists need a state trail pass; walkers don’t [7][3].

Cold-weather safety

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ advice for being outside in winter [8]:

• Wear loose layers under a wind- and water-resistant coat. Choose synthetics over cotton, which dries slowly and pulls heat from your body.
• Take a layer off before you start sweating, since damp clothes chill you.
• Don’t ignore shivering. It’s an early sign your body is losing heat, and steady shivering means it’s time to go inside.
• Tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll be back.

Deer season

Wisconsin’s 9-day gun deer season runs November 21 to 29, 2026, followed by a muzzleloader season from November 30 to December 9 [9]. If you hike on public land those weeks, wear bright colors, or stick to city parks and paved trails.

How much to aim for

The federal Physical Activity Guidelines call for at least 150 to 300 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity for adults, plus muscle-strengthening work on at least two days [1]. An hour of snowshoeing or classic skiing a few times a week goes a long way toward that.