Dane County and Wisconsin have a long history of land preservation. Thanks to the foresight of conservation-minded citizens, our parks, trails, and protected spaces will be here for generations to come. We're lucky to have such an abundance of natural beauty to explore — and conservation work continues so it stays that way.

If you're looking to get outside and get curious about the world around you, here are three apps we love for exploring and learning more about Wisconsin's natural spaces.

(the Ice Age Trail at Prairie Moraine Park)

Three apps for enjoying beautiful Wisconsin

FarOut for the Ice Age Trail

The FarOut app helps you plan your hiking trips on Wisconsin's Ice Age Trail. If you're feeling ambitious, you can track each

It's springtime in Dane County, the perfect time to get out and explore the natural world and the beautiful landscapes of South Central Wisconsin. Here's our quick guide to a few of our favorite hiking spots in the Madison area. 

(Ice Age Trail, Gibralter Rock Segment)

The Ice Age Trail 

Wisconsin's Ice Age Trail traces 1,200 miles of varied terrain, winding throughout the state. Many beautiful segments are located within and around Dane County, including the Valley View, Verona, Table Bluff, and Gibralter Rock segments. If you're feeling ambitious, you can download the app and track every segment of the trail you hike. Who knows, you might even set a goal to hike the entire trail and become a thousand-miler. 

Dane County Parks 

Looking for a bike-friendly neighborhood in the Madison area? Whether you love to road bike, mountain bike, commute by bike, or simply bike for fun in a beautiful setting -- Dane County is a wonderful place to call home. Here are just a few of the bike routes and trails that make Greater Madison a true biker's paradise. 

(the Lower Yahara River Trail, managed by Dane County Parks) 

The Lake Monona Loop

The Lake Monona Loop offers 13 miles of scenic views through the city of Monona, Downtown Madison, and Madison's near east side. You'll find many places to stop and enjoy the surroundings along the way, including Monona Terrace and a handful of parks with panoramic views of the lake. 

The Lake Wingra Loop

Another classic Madison bike

Thinking of buying a home near Madison but within a small town setting? Maybe you're seeking a slower pace, a quaint downtown with locally-owned shops and restaurants, or a closer connection to nature. Or maybe you'd like to live in a city that offers a little more affordability. Here are eleven small towns near Madison for your consideration, all within a 60-minute drive of the city. 

(Eagle watching in Sauk City, Wisconsin)

Stoughton (28 minutes from Madison)

Stoughton is known for its Norwegian heritage and downtown corridor along the Yahara River. Residents enjoy a lively calendar of community events—including the famous Syttende Mai festival—plus a growing collection of restaurants, coffee shops, and local boutiques. The combination of

Our team loves to help buyer clients find homes closer to family - even multigenerational housing opportunities. These buyers not only desire an affordable home, but a home that allows them to navigate life's many seasons with their loved ones near. In this spirit, it's our pleasure to highlight Hope and a Future, a nonprofit organization pioneering a new intentional form of community.

Hope and a Future currently operates within a beautiful farmhouse off High Point Road in Madison. Multiple generations live together in this Adult Family Home with a unique "Family of Friends" staffing model: the on-site nurse, other care workers, and sometimes their children live in the home in exchange for their help. Even Karin Krause, the Executive Director, lives

We've run the numbers, and 3 Dane County communities stand out as offering the best affordability in the area. Here's our quick overview, along with our analysis of 18 Dane County communities (see the chart at the end of this post). 

Stoughton

Just 15 miles south of Madison, the city of Stoughton offers good affordability compared to many other Dane County communities. Both the median and average home price in 2025 came in at around $400,000. A number of sub $400,000 new construction homes have improved the options for first time home buyers. 

Belleville

Located just south of Verona, the smaller village of Belleville also offers a number of sub $400,000 homes. Like Stoughton, Belleville offers a nice mix of both newer construction and

The feeling of true community is unmistakable. Maybe you’ve felt such mutual respect and love walking into your home during the holidays, when you get together with a dear group of friends, or at your place of worship. This same sense of belonging was immediately noticeable when I visited Yahara House earlier this year.

Yahara House is a ‘clubhouse-style’ recovery center for individuals with mental health struggles. It is one of over 330 clubhouses in 30 countries that use this model. You probably have driven by Yahara House many times if you live in Madison. Behind its doors at 802 East Gorham Street is a group of members and staff focused on recovery through hope, dignity, and community. Members of Yahara House can spend 8:30 am to 4:30 pm at the

Written by Amber Kolner, Communications and Stewardship Manager of Madison Area Community Land Trust

Madison Area Community Land Trust (MACLT) is a nonprofit organization committed to providing affordable and sustainable homeownership opportunities for low-income families in Dane County. MACLT is Dane County's only non-profit focused on permanently affordable homeownership, and part of a movement of over 300 community land trusts across North America. 

Through their innovative land trust model, MACLT helps individuals and families purchase homes at below-market rates, while preserving long-term affordability of the homes in the land trust. MACLT’s resale formula ensures that these homes remain affordable for future generations, which helps to

Supply is improving for Madison area buyers, as mortgage rates have been improving, too. Here's an up-to-date look at available homes in Dane County priced at $500,000 and less. Note all listings shown are active listings without an accepted offer, per the South Central Wisconsin MLS. 

Madison homes $500,000 and under

• Downtown Madison 
• Madison near east 
• Madison east 
• Madison near west 
• Madison west 
• Madison far west 
• Madison southwest  

Surrounding communities $500,000 and under

• Baraboo
• Belleville 
• Black Earth 
• Cambridge 
• Cottage Grove 
• Cross Plains 
• Deerfield 
• Deforest 
• Edgerton 
• Evansville 
• Fitchburg 
• Janesville 
• Lake Mills 
• Lodi 
• Marshall 
• McFarland 
• Middleton

While many of us enjoy backyard gardening, not everyone has access to land to grow their own gardens and there are barriers to successful community-based gardening efforts. Rooted, a local nonprofit based in Madison, is helping to create “healthy, equitable, and sustainable neighborhoods'' that embrace the positive impact of sharing fresh, quality food through community gardening. Rooted’s Community Gardens Network is just one of the organization’s programming efforts focused on food, land, and learning.

The Community Gardens Network is a partnership between Rooted, UW Madison Extension Dane County, and the City of Madison that connects people with the land, education, and resources to create and sustain community gardens. There are 72 gardens in the