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Autumn eye candy and ancient shorelines on the Sugar Bush Trail

Autumn in Door County is a magical time of year. The combination of kaleidoscoping color in the still-lush foliage, the reprieve of cooling air and the still-sunny evenings make for a season of welcomed change and happy reflection. 

During this transitional time, I try to spend as much time outdoors as possible – hiking, biking or otherwise. One hike in particular has become an annual tradition I look forward to on those perfect, peak-color fall days, and it lies somewhat off the beaten path. 

Near the entrance to Newport State Park as you drive along County NP, you will pass an inconspicuous gravel road bearing a dead end sign. Down this road is a small gravel parking lot that marks the start of Sugar Bush Trail. The park map signifies the trail with a small scribble of dotted lines isolated at the end of north Newport Lane. 

Sugar Bush Trail is the most recent addition to Newport’s trail system, which dates back to the late 1960s. The DNR purchased a plot of land – which had previously held a sugar shack used by a nearby farming family to harvest sap and make maple syrup – to extend the park footprint in 1988. The trail today incorporates some of the footpaths used during that sugaring period.

Autumn hike at Sugar Bush Trail in Newport State Park, Ellison Bay, Door County, Wisconsin. Photo by Len Villano.

From the sunny rolling meadow where the parking lot sits, the trail entrance looks cool and shadowy. Its name, Sugar Bush, alludes to the concentration of broad-leaved sugar maple trees that populate this area of forest. As the official state tree of Wisconsin, the sugar maple is beloved for both its sap and its lovely timber: beautiful hardwood used for flooring, furniture and even musical instruments. 

The leaves of the sugar maple are also notable, ranking among the most colorful varieties to view in fall. The seeds of the tree, called samaras, are often referred to as helicopters in reference to their “wings” that create a circular falling flight as they descend from the branches. And of course, the sugary sap is eagerly harvested in spring to create our favorite pancake and waffle topping:  maple syrup.

After beginning the hike and keeping left to move clockwise, you’ll enjoy a winding trail that snakes through the deciduous hardwoods at the entrance, and continues down and through a lower section where you will find rock outcroppings. These exposures are part of what is called the “650 shoreline,” which is 650 feet of visual evidence of what was once the rocky shore of a Silurian-era sea. Look closely to see fissures in the rocky, moss-laden floor – another reminder of the ancient geological history visible along the Niagara Escarpment. 

Further along the trail you enter a cool, mature pine forest where the ground is carpeted with orange evergreen needles. Through the pines the trail leads back into the upland prairie area and outstanding treeline views of colorful leaves announcing autumn is here in full force. 

The author pauses with one of her dogs along the trail.

Based on observations made during prior years, the peak time of fall color tends to arrive in mid-October. Vibrant leaves are most promising when fall eases into cool weather with lots of sunny blue-sky days. However, if frost arrives too soon it can speed the falling of the leaves and dull the color quickly.

Whether you’re enjoying the picturesque fall forest or evidence of years (and geological periods) past, Sugar Bush Trail provides plenty to explore along its one mile length. 

“The stone fence visible alongside the eastern portion of the trail is a remnant of the old farm and sugar shack. And then the 650 shoreline is only visible on that trail,” said Michelle Hefty, the Newport State Park manager. “The trail truly offers a history lesson, both geological and cultural in nature.” 

Indeed a hidden gem, Sugar Bush Trail generates more interest in the fall and continues to be an excellent hike into the winter months when snowshoeing becomes possible. Add this trail to your itinerary for a dose of secluded forest hiking during any season. 

If You Go: 

• The park is open year round from 6 am to 11 pm. You must have a state park pass to park and hike the trail. Purchase a day pass or an annual pass at the park entrance or online in advance. 

• The trail is relatively flat, but be aware of roots and small fissures that create uneven terrain.

• In autumn, wear light layers of clothing for warmth in shaded areas and for protection from mosquitoes.

• The full length of the trail is one mile. Leashed dogs are allowed, but biking is not. 

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