Door County, Wisconsin has no shortage of parks and recreation areas. Within these parks in Door County, you’ll find scenic views, plenty of hikes, wildlife spotting opportunities, and so much more. While I’ve already written a post talking about the best hikes in Door County, I instead wanted to focus on the various parks throughout Door County. Because while some parks may not have an exciting hike, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t worth a visit.
I will be breaking out this post by park type because there are so many different types of parks around here. While I’ve covered a large variety (and what I think are the best parks in Door County), there are undoubtedly some areas that I may have neglected. Not out of malice, but because there are just so many parks in Door County that I just haven’t gotten to all of them yet.
State Parks in Door County
There are five state parks in Door County, but I’d only consider four of them easy to reach. Still, I’ll touch on all of the state parks in Door County because when planning a trip, everyone (myself included) tends to start with the most well known parks. Wisconsin doesn’t have any national parks, but we do have our state parks.
Newport State Park
Newport State Park is in the very north of the Door County peninsula and has a wide variety of hikes to choose from. Of all of the state parks that I visited in Door County (I visited all except Rock Island State Park), Newport was my favorite. While it’s true that many of the hikes will take you through the woods and out to views of Lake Michigan, there feels like there’s more variety here than there is at other hiking areas in Door County.
At Newport State Park, you’ll have plenty of options of hiking trails. Of these, my favorites were the Fern and Lynd Point Trails and the Hotz and Europe Bay Trails. The Fern Trail is a boardwalk that take you out into the forest. Along the way, you’ll find signs explaining the local flora and fauna and history of this area. At the end of the trail, you can either return the way you came or continue on to the Lynd Point Trail which takes you out on the small isthmus between Europe Lake and Lake Michigan and offers nice views of both lakes.
Of course if you don’t like hiking, there is a beach here as well. Plus, Newport State Park was the first area in Wisconsin to have a protected dark sky, so if you’re into stargazing, plan a late night visit here.
Peninsula State Park
Peninsula State Park is located on the western coast near the top of the Door County Peninsula. Like so many of the parks in Door County, the highlight is the views of Lake Michigan and the bluffs. I have two hikes listed here, though there are other hiking trails at the park. But with all of the other parks throughout Door County, I recommend looking for variety instead of doing every single mile of trail at one park.
For a great view of Lake Michigan and Horseshoe Island, I recommend climbing the Eagle Tower. Don’t like stairs? Don’t worry, there is a long, steady ramp that you can use instead. For hiking, I recommend the Eagle Trail and the Skyline Trail. The Eagle Trail follows the shoreline and you can easily loop in a visit to the Eagle Tower. The highlight of the Skyline Trail is reaching the viewpoint of Sven Bluff (though there is an option to drive to Sven Bluff if you don’t feel like hiking).
Potawatomi State Park
Potawatomi State Park is located just west of Sturgeon Bay. While there is plenty of hiking that you can do at Potawatomi State Park, many hikers choose to visit because of the Ice Age Trail.
The Ice Age Trail is a 1000 mile National Scenic Trail that stretches from Potawatomi State Park in Door County, down through eastern Wisconsin, before heading west to Madison. It then heads north again before finally cutting to the west and finishing right near the Minnesota-Wisconsin state line. The trail was created to help to highlight the unique areas that were carved out by the glaciers that once covered most of Wisconsin. Throughout the entire trail you’ll hike through forests, prairies, small town (arguably not carved out by the glaciers), lakes, and so much more.
So, if you’re visiting Potawatomi State Park, it only makes sense to hike a section of this trail. In fact, during my visit to Potawatomi State Park, the mile and a half that I did on the Ice Age Trail was one of my favorite sections of trail in all of Door County. While the Ice Age Trail isn’t the only trail within Potawatomi State Park, it was by far the busiest (and probably the busiest trail I was on in Door County).
Even if you don’t plan to hike, I recommend stopping by the Eastern Terminus of the Ice Age Trail for a fantastic view. Also nearby is “The Tower” which you can climb for a great view of the Bay of Sturgeon Bay.
Rock Island State Park
Of all of the state parks in Door County, Rock Island is the most difficult to get to. Like the name suggests, Rock Island is an island and to get here you’ll need to take a ferry. If that wasn’t enough, the ferry doesn’t run all year round. Typically, the ferry doesn’t begin running until Memorial Day Weekend, even if there’s plenty of nice days in April or early May.
No vehicles are allowed on Rock Island, so already you’ll be in for a more tranquil visit. Rent a bike (or bring your own) to explore the island. Visit the lighthouse or hike one of its several trails. Or if you just want to relax, there’s a beautiful beach to enjoy.
Rock Island is the one state park in Door County that I haven’t visited yet. It’s on my list but the logistics of getting to the island have prevented me from getting there.
Whitefish Dunes State Park
If you’re looking for some time spent on the beaches of Lake Michigan, add in a stop at Whitefish Dunes State Park. Yes there is hiking, and I’ll cover it in just a minute, but there’s also some great shoreline here. So for a day that’s more than just hiking and involves a little relaxing on the beach, add Whitefish Dunes to your itinerary.
Whitefish Dunes State Park has the distinction of being home to Wisconsin’s highest sand dune. This probably sounds cool, but Wisconsin is pretty flat and the tallest sand dune in the state is only 100 feet high. Still, climbing to the top of this sand dune (don’t worry, there’s a boardwalk and stairs so you don’t have to climb up sand), offers a great view of the surrounding area.
Not only is there hiking opportunities, but Whitefish Dunes also has a lot of beach. If you’re looking for a state park where you can hike and also enjoy the shores of Lake Michigan, Whitefish Dunes State Park is the place for you.
County Parks in Door County
The county parks are managed by Door County itself and not through the Wisconsin DNR. Typically these are smaller than the state parks, but they still can offer some nice views and nice hiking. And while I just have two county parks listed here, there are plenty more. So far, I’ve only made it to these two and I have to recommend both.
Door Bluff Headlands County Park
Located right at the very top of the Door County Peninsula is Door Bluff Headlands County Park. Like many of the county parks throughout Door County, this area is small with just one main trail. But I think this park can still be a worthwhile stop.
From the parking lot, you can hike out to a great view of Lake Michigan. This part of the trail has enough variety in its terrain to keep things interesting. Once you reach the view point, you could keep hiking, but honestly, I’d suggest turning around and retracing your steps. I didn’t think the trail after this point was anything spectacular and would recommend taking advantage of one of the many other hikes throughout Door County. But like I said, this first part of the trail from the parking lot to the viewpoint was fun.
Cave Point County Park
Cave Point County Park sits right up against Whitefish Dunes State Park. In fact, you could easily walk from along the lake from one park to the other. Of course there are signs indicating that you are entering each park, but along the lake, it can be difficult to tell which park you’re in (though there are signs to tell you when you’ve crossed park lines). Aside from the lake side trail, there’s also other trails that loop inland. However, as I hiked trails throughout Door County, I started to get a bit sick of just walking through the woods. Therefore, I limited my visit to Cave Point County Park to just the lake side trail.
The lake side trail doesn’t have a defined start or end. Park in the lot and jump on the trail. Walk as far or as little as you want. The highlight here is the views along the lake. Sure, there’s plenty of places you can get lakeside views throughout Door County, but with the cliffs along the shoreline, this area feels particularly picturesque.
Door County Land Trust
Managed separately from the Wisconsin DNR, these parks typically small and only have one trail looping through the park. Still, some of these nature preserves are beautiful and definitely warrant a stop.
Rather than listing each nature preserve as its own, I’ve grouped them together into groups by region.
Washington Island
Washington Island is home to 4 of the 15 nature preserves. There’s Little Lake, Domer-Neff, Detroit Harbor, and Richter Community Forest.
Little Lake Nature Preserve has a short 1.25 mile trail that takes you into the forest and through a small strip of land between Little Lake and the Bay of Green Bay. At Domer-Neff Nature Preserve, hike a short 0.6 mile loop through grassland while keeping an eye out for one of the 200 species of birds that have been spotted on Washington Island. Detroit Harbor Nature Preserve and Richter Community Forest Nature Preserve share a parking lot and 2 miles of trails between them. At Detroit Harbor, you’ll hike through a ridge while at Richter Community Forest, you’ll hike through a hardwood forest featuring eight unique types of trees.
To get to Washington Island, you’ll first need to drive to the very north of the Door County Peninsula. Then, you’ll have to get a very to the island. Unlike the very to Rock Island, the Washington Island very runs throughout the year.
Three Springs Nature Preserve
Just east of Sister Bay is Three Springs Nature Preserve and it sits pretty isolated compared to the rest of the nature preserves managed by the Door County Land Trust. There’s just under two miles of trails at Three Springs Nature Preserve and they intersect each other so you can choose how much or how little you want to hike. You’ll be hiking through open fields and conifer forests, but keep an eye out for wildlife, especially from the viewing platform.
Western Door County
I’m grouping two nature preserves together. White Cliff Nature Preserve is just slightly north of Egg Harbor while Ephraim Nature Preserve is unsurprisingly near the town of Ephraim.
While Cliff Nature Preserve features two loops totaling 1.5 miles and takes you through a forest that was once owned by a wealthy Jeweler from Chicago. At Ephraim Nature Preserve, you can hike a one mile loop that takes you from a beach ridge and descends into juniper fields.
Near Kangaroo Lake
Located just southwest of Baileys Harbor is two more nature preserves. Here you’ll find Kangaroo Lake Nature Preserve and Heins Creek Nature Preserve.
The Kangaroo Lake Nature Preserve unsurprisingly is right near Kangaroo Lake and is home to an enjoyable hiking trail. The trail loops into a figure eight so you have a bit more control about how much you want to hike. That said, there is one spur that goes off toward the wetlands along Kangaroo Lake. This wetlands spur was my favorite part of the trail because I found it the most scenic.
Heins Creek nature Preserve only has 0.75 miles of trail but features sand dunes as you walk along Heins Creek. Plus, like nearly all hikes around Door County, you’ll walk through a forest featuring several types of trees.
Between Sturgeon Bay and Egg Harbor
The next three preserves sit just north of Sturgeon Bay, but are still south of Egg Harbor. They all sit toward the western side of the Peninsula and while you’ll get a glimpse of the water of Sturgeon Bay from one of the preserves, most of these three preserves focus on the forests. Here you’ll find Lautenbach Woods, Oak Road, and Bay Shore Blufflands.
Lautenbach Woods Nature Preserve has just one short trail running through it. As far as trails go, this one wasn’t my favorite, but I still think it’s interesting enough for those looking for a short hike through the woods. Not that it’s a guarantee, but out of all of the hiking I did in Door County, this is the one area where I saw any wildlife (a deer running through the woods).
Oak Road Nature Preserve has both a meadow and a forest. When you arrive, you’ll start by walking through the prairie before making our way to the forest. The trail makes a giant loop and there’s just enough variety to keep things a bit interesting. Depending on the timing of your visit to Door County, you may see the blooming flowers or migrating waterfowls.
Lastly there’s Bay Shore Blufflands Nature Preserve. Unsurprisingly there is a hike through the forest, but there are several ways to loop this short trail so you can hike as much or little as you like. But for me, the highlight of this nature preserve is the prairie and the bluff. From the bluff, you’ll be able to see out to the Bay of Sturgeon Bay and the view is what made the journey here worth it.
South of Sturgeon Bay
There are three nature preserves south of Sturgeon Bay and all are southeast, with two of the three being right on Lake Michigan. There’s the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal, the Legacy Nature Preserve at Clay Banks, and Bear Creek Nature Preserve.
Let’s start by talking about my favorite nature preserve and that’s the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Nature Preserve. I nearly skipped visiting, but I’m so glad I did. Out of all of the preserves that the Door County Land Trust manages, the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Nature Preserve is the most ecologically diverse. Yes, there is more hiking through the woods, but there’s also sand dunes, pine trees, Lake Michigan, and of course the canal itself. If you’re only going to visit one nature preserve, I recommend this one.
The Legacy Nature Preserve at Clay Banks has a short 1.3 mile trail that takes you all the way up to Lake Michigan. You’ll start by walking thorough a prairie and get your first glimpse of the lake from a bluff. You’ll then descend and work your way closer and closer until you’re right on the shores of Lake Michigan.
Lastly, there’s Bear Creek Nature Preserve. I don’t want to say that it’s boring, but if there’s any nature preserve that I would recommend skipping, it’s this one. There’s only 0.6 miles of trail and while it’s not hiking through the woods, you’ll be walking through farmland and former fields. So, while you could stop, there are so many more exciting parks and preserves on this list that I’d recommend visiting first.
State Natural Areas in Door County
I’ve already talked about state parks, but I have to also mention our State Natural Areas. While they have a slightly different designation, they are still managed by the Wisconsin DNR, though because they aren’t parks, I found that they get a bit less traffic than the state parks.
Ellison Bluffs State Natural Area
It’s so easy to focus on the state parks in Door County, but there are numerous county parks that also have some nice hiking trails. Ellison Bluffs is just north of Ellison Bay and has one trail you can hike. That said, the main reason to come here is for its scenic overlook. That overlook can be reached from the parking lot, so if you don’t want to hike, you don’t have to.
Quite honestly, I’d recommend skipping the hike. There’s nothing that sets it apart from any of the other hikes in Door County and since so many of the other hikes offer something more unique, I’d recommend stopping for the views but planning your hikes elsewhere.
Logan Creek State Natural Area
Most visitors will focus their hiking attention on the state parks of Door County. Don’t get me wrong, they are great, but don’t forget to look nearby. Whitefish Dunes State Park sits sandwiched between Lake Michigan and Lake Clark. On the other side of Lake Clark is the Logan Creek State Natural Area which is home to a small series of trails that can be looped together to form any length trail you wish.
The trails through this area are lovely and some of my favorite in Door County. Yes, it’s another walk through the woods but I found it to be one of the more interesting hikes. As you hike, you’ll eventually reach Clark Lake which offers some nice views.
Toft Point State Natural Area
The Toft Point State Natural Area sits on a peninsula that’s just north of Bailey’s Harbor. There are a handful of places that you can hike throughout the park, but I focused my time on the Toft Point Trail.
The Toft Point Trail is an out and back trail that takes you through the woods and along the shores of Moonlight Bay. While you won’t be walking directly on the beach, you’ll get enough glimpses of the water to make it an enjoyable hike. The trail is mostly flat and easy to walk.
As a note, getting to the trail head can feel confusing. I put in the trailhead into Google Maps and it took me to a road that looked more like a driveway. Turn down this road and keep driving. There will eventually be designated parking spots where you can start the trail.
Miscellaneous Parks in Door County
And of course, I have a few other places that just don’t seem to fit anywhere else. Yes, some are managed by the Wisconsin DNR, but others are private property.
Björklunden
Just south of Bailey’s Harbor, you’ll find a unique place to hike. Björklunden is a brand of Lawrence University and there’s several trails crisscrossing the campus. I did a loop that had a decent amount of variety. There’s gravel trails following along what used to be a quarry, the obligatory hike through the woods, a walk along Lake Michigan, and the Boynton Chapel (which was my favorite thing I saw on the hike).
While my hiking here did offer some variety (which you definitely need to look for in Door County), it wasn’t my favorite. I can’t put my finger on exactly why that is, but there were so many other hikes that I enjoyed more. Plus, the Boynton Chapel, which was one of my favorite parts of the hike, can easily be visited without hiking.
Mink River Preserve
Nearby Newport State Park is the Mink River Preserve. There’s a few trails here, but since they are separated by a river, I only decided to hike the trail on one side of the river. Specifically I hiked the Schoenbrunn Trail on the north side of the preserve (just down the road from Newport State Park).
Overall my hiking at this preserve was pretty average. I hiked through the forest, just like I had for dozens of miles throughout Door County. But your turn around point was the Mink River which had a very nice view. For me, this view was worth the hike out here and I think it would be a great place to have a picnic.
Final Thoughts
No matter where you are planning to visit in Door County, there’s sure to be some parks nearby. After you’ve had your fill of wine and good food, get out and hike or simply enjoy the natural beauty this part of Wisconsin has to offer.
Continue Your Adventure
Door County: Learn all about the best hikes through Door County, featuring Lake Michigan, endless forests, and some cliffs. Don’t miss Newport State Park, my favorite of the state parks in Door County.
More in Wisconsin: Further south on the shores of Lake Michigan is Kohler Andrae State Park, which is one of my favorites. About an hour north of Madison, you’ll find Wisconsin Dells and Devil’s Lake State Park.
More in the Midwest: South of Wisconsin is Illinois and the city of Chicago. Slightly east of Chicago is Indiana Dunes National Park. To the southwest of Wisconsin is Iowa with its fun Maquoketa Caves State Park.