Hartford Dog Park - Hartford, WI
Hartford Dog Park in Hartford, WI, offers a welcoming and accessible space for dog owners and their pets to enjoy. This dog-friendly park features wheelchair accessible entrances and parking, making it convenient for all visitors. The park is well-maintained with clean bathrooms and a quiet, spacious area where dogs can run freely, including some shaded spots with trees and benches for owners to relax.
Known for its community-friendly atmosphere, Hartford Dog Park is a great spot for families and pet lovers alike, with good facilities for kids and plenty of room for dogs to socialize. While some visitors have noted occasional issues with dog behavior and owner responsibility, the park remains a popular local destination for dog-friendly outdoor activities and pet-friendly trails. Whether you’re looking for a safe place for your dog to play or a peaceful spot to enjoy nature with your pet, this Hartford dog park provides a valuable resource for the community.
FAQ for Hartford Dog Park in Hartford WI:
- Are dogs allowed off-leash at this park? Yes, dogs are allowed off-leash in the designated dog park area.
- Is the park wheelchair accessible? Yes, the park has a wheelchair accessible entrance and parking lot.
- Are there benches or seating areas for owners? Yes, there are benches available in the dog park area for owners to sit on.
- Are restrooms available for owners? Yes, restrooms are available, but some reviews suggest the women’s restroom could use maintenance.
- Is the park regularly cleaned and maintained? The park is generally clean and well-kept, although occasionally some dog waste is not picked up by owners.
- Is there shade or shelter available? Yes, the park has some trees that provide shade.
- Is the dog park a good size? Yes, the dog park is of decent size with space for dogs to run around and enjoy.
- Is the park good for children? Yes, the park is good for kids and family-friendly, with annual local events such as a harvest picnic.
- What should I do if there’s an aggressive dog? Some visitors have reported aggressive dogs and lack of owner control, so it is advisable to closely watch your dog and be cautious with unfamiliar dogs.
Reviews
Decent size dog park. Have some trees and a bench to sit.
M.K. Wilcox Park is located in Bloomfield, CT. It’s approximately 118 acres with about 2.3 miles of trails. There was a medium sized parking lot and a path up to the kiosk. On the kiosk, there were some information and maps of the area. There was a large lawn which would be a great spot to picnic on. I went in December so I didn’t see any picnic tables, unless they put it away for the winter. There are a few hiking trails, lookout areas, and it connects to the larger Metacomet Blue Trail.I walked across the field to the yellow blazed trail entrance. Based on the map, it’s a loop trail with an overlook area. At the fork, to the left goes to the overlook, to the right goes to an old chimney.The trail was pretty easy and wide. It’s winter so no greenery or ticks, yay! I decided to go left at the fork and saw a large hill.It was a warmer winter day, around 38 degrees. I saw some black shadows on the hill so I stopped to investigate. I noticed it moved a little bit and I decided to zoom in on my camera; it appeared that I came across a mama bear and some cubs! So I decided to walk back to my car, very slowly.Overall, it was an enjoyable and easy hike, from what I completed. I didn’t get to do the whole trail because of the Bear scare. I do look forward to going back and exploring some more, hopefully without bears next time.
It was very nice and clean except for a few deposits that dogs have left behind that the pet owners did not clean up.
Very disappointed. We took our two dogs here. Our 18 month old started running around, so happy to be free. Three dogs took off after her with one of them growling and mouthing her. It wasn’t the dogs I had a problem with but the owners…they did nothing.our happy girl dropped her tail and ran for us as quickly as she could. I was telling her to come here, you’re ok, still nothing from the owners. Control your dogs!!!!
Clean area with space for my dog to run around and enjoy. We went when it was cold and after dark but it was perfect for a dog who loves to run after his tennis ball!
As other reviews have mentioned, the park is out of the way, but worth the trip to avoid crowds. As of July 2022, there is a porta-potty and trash can in the parking lot. The walk to the trails is through the picnic area. Given the prevalence of ticks in the area, I think the open space is better served for running with dogs or playing frisbee.The woodland trails are behind the grassy fields. The cliff trail is left, and meets up with the blue Metacomet trail. Elevation here is at 400 feet, so don’t get too close to the edge. The yellow trail on the right was followed to the power line fields. Bird song was heard in the evening.Update November 2022: The poorly marked red trail was the subject of today’s visit. The path was slippery due to the fallen leaves. No wildlife other squirrels and wild turkeys.
I only go to this dog park if I absolutely have to like being limited for time. Over 12 years of owning dogs, it’s a crapshoot on whether or not you’re in a run into responsible owners and dogs without behavior problems at this park. Compared to other parks I’ve been to, I don’t know what it is, but there seems to be an odd disproportionate number of irresponsible owners with aggressive dogs that come to this park. And these dogs lack of manners very obviously reflect a lot of the owners that come up there.
Peaceful, relaxing, quiet, beautiful. This is a great hidden gem away from the overcrowded Penwood ( and Hublein Tower trail south of that) just to the south. Some of the trail sections are borderline overgrown due to lack of use, but the reward is you and your group will be the only people liking the trails pretty much any given time.I would say anybody over the age of six can manage the trails, the cliff trail is so named only because it takes you to a beautiful ledge where it meets up with metacomet.I probably walked through 15 or 20 spider webs on the way up, which tells me the cliff trail does not get much use, this was on a Sunday just before noon. There were no evidence of footsteps or prints on the trail, so while you will occasionally hear a jet overhead on the approach to Bradley, you probably won’t hear or see anyone else until you reach the Metacomet.There is a beautiful wide meadow just about the parking area that’s perfect for a picnic, or even to toss a frisbee, football, or baseball around. Hard to believe such a quiet and beautiful place is so near civilization.Highly recommended!!