Get Outside & Play

The Watonwan River runs along the edge of town, and you can expect to reel in walleye, northern pike, or catfish here. Probably the best walleye lake in the area is the 1,700-acre Lake Hanska, just 10 miles northwest.

Madelia is located on a section of the Watonwan River designated as a State Canoe Trail. The city park has a canoe-landing site. Detailed maps for canoeing and boating are available from the Department of Natural Resources.

Ten miles to the northwest is the 1,700-acre Lake Hanska, with three ramps to accommodate trailers. Lake Crystal is a short 15 minutes from Madelia, offering additional recreation opportunities.

A tennis court just south of the pool was converted into two basketball courts. Lighting is available for those who wish to play after dark.

With help from the Baseball/Softball Association and the local Boy Scout troop, the City of Madelia made significant improvements, including new fencing, rail guards, pitcher’s mounds, batters boxes, and a new electronic scoreboard. The fields are in Watona Park.

A 120-foot-long water slide towers over the Madelia Pool. The complex also includes a wading pool, concession stand, pop vending machine, picnic table, and additional seating. Swimming lessons from preschool through lifeguard training, as well as adult water aerobics, are available. All employees are Red Cross Certified Lifeguards. This facility is open June through August, seven days a week, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., weather permitting. For more information, contact city hall at 507-642-3245.

A nine-hole Frisbee golf course is located at Watona City Park.

Madelia Youth Sports Organization coordinates T-Ball, softball, soccer, and baseball leagues which are offered to appropriate age groups from kindergarten to age 16. During the school year, the high school is open for fitness walking five days a week.

Located on the banks of the Watonwan River, it features a multitude of amenities. A spacious picnic area near the playground includes numerous open-air sites with grills or fire pits and three covered picnic shelters offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Two enclosed picnic shelters are furnished with refrigerators and stoves and require reservations. The four lighted sand volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, and three baseball diamonds are open for public use. A modern campground has access to fishing and canoeing on the river. The park is adjacent to a nine-hole golf course, a public swimming pool, basketball courts, the county historical center, and our historic bridge. It is next to the School to Nature Area Project to the east. This area consists of walking trails, various plant life indigenous to this floodplain area, and an observation deck overlooking the Watonwan River.

The SnoHawks Snowmobile Club of Madelia and St. James groom trails around Madelia’s perimeter, connecting Madelia with other cities.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources includes Madelia in their Southwestern Region. Due to an abundance of wooded creeks found in this part of Minnesota, you can generally find good pheasant hunting and quite a bit of opportunity for white-tailed deer hunting. Waterfowl hunting opportunities in the area include geese around St. James Lake, resident Canadian geese on Fedji Lake, ducks on Lake Hanska, and other area lakes and marshes. The Bergdahl Wildlife Management Area near 150-acre Fedji Lake is three miles north and 1 1/2 miles to the east of town. It encompasses approximately 180 acres with many wooded areas along with marshland. WMAs are managed for wildlife production and are open to public hunting and wildlife watching.

Public Hunting Access

The Madelia Riverside Ski Trail covers eight miles around town and Watona Park next to the Watonwan River. A ski pass is required by law on most public ski trails in Minnesota for skiers ages 16 to 64.

The Madelia Golf Course is a challenging 9-hole, par 36 course nestled along the edges of the Watonwan River and Watona City Park. The facility includes a driving range and a clubhouse serving sandwiches and snacks. Clubs and pull carts are available for rent, and motorized carts are available for rent or lease.

Horseshoe pits are available at Watona City Park.

This sport has grown in popularity over the last few years. The SNAP area and Watona Park are both great places to explore.

Madelia’s campground has an on-site manager, tables, fire pits, modern comfort station with showers, and full RV hookups. Primitive sites for tents are also available. The fees are very reasonable, and there are sites for tents, electric-only sites, and full hookups. For more information, call 507-642-3314 or 507-380-9440.