Silverwood County Park is Dane County's ultimate outdoor classroom. For Life long learners, homeschoolers, and field trippers the 300 acres of Silverwood provide visitors a sampling of Wisconsin's varied landscapes, ecosystems and connectedness with the Badger State's latest agricultural innovations.

It is only fitting that a lifelong educator is inspiration for the novel direction the park took

A former teacher, Irene Silverwood gifted the rambling historic farmstead (c. 1849) to Dane County in the spirit of education.

With three lakes (Rice Lake, and Sweet and Turtle), a captivating 60 acre, riparian forest, open flat plains of prairie and an incubator for small farm entrepreneurs Silverwood County Park is more than just a destination for hikers. The park is an ideal destination for field trips, horse riders, and canoeist/kayakers.

The central feature of the farmstead is the main house constructed of fieldstone. The home was owned by Irene Silverwood's father in law more than one hundred years ago, the legacy of the family immigrants from Yorkshire, England, George Silverwood who settled in the area in 1849.

Other out buildings on the property offer storage options for farm-preneurs, maintenance facilities and a home for area bats. There is also a test orchard for new techniques and cultivars. The Madison-based Savanna Institute is conducting research on agroforestry at the park  on nut bearing and fruit bearing trees. The saplings will take around 3 - 4 years to bear fruit. 

For those slipping on the their trail runners and hiking boots on site, parking closer to one of the out buildings orientation to the farmstead gives a visitor an almost behind the scenes perspective to this novel Dane County park. To get there, veer left and park near the county park sign in front of the largest out building, from there you can hike by the plots of small, agri-preneurs like Yellow Dog before heading into the restored prairie of native flowers.

Visiting Silverwood County Park any season reveals the subtle beauty of the Southern Wisconsin landscape. Hiking through the prairie in the fall, the dried massing of native plants swaying in the wind anchors you to the moment and the land. The grid like nature of these paths makes it easy to find your way into the dense riparian woods that hug the two lakes nearby. The trails  enter the forest at the very top of the wooded ravine which slopes down to the shoreline of the lake. The trail grades offer intermediate and beginner trails some slightly steep slopes down to the shoreline thanks to the kettles and drumlins formed from the glacier during the ice age as well as two vistas overlooking Lake. Note the Aldo Leopold benches built and donated by local boy scout troop courtesy of Brandon Aderhold, an Edgerton resident and longtime member of Edgerton Boy Scout Troop 422, Brandon earned his Eagle Scout ranking by leading "Brandon's Benches," a project to build 20 Leopold benches and place them along Silverwood County Park's hiking trails.

DETAILS:

Silverwood County Park is located at 771 Silver Lane, Edgerton, and open from

5:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

Restoration Workdays at Silverwood County Park

Tree cutting will be done by certified chainsaw users and volunteers are needed to pile the branches. Piles may be burned if there is at least 1 inch of snow on the ground. Dress in layers and wear old clothes. Wear warm gloves and boots. If we're burning piles wear non-synthetic clothing near the fire. RSVP to the email below to receive information about where to meet for the event.

Event Dates

01/26/2024 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

01/27/2024 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Contact

rjantigo@yahoo.com 

715-623-7277