Open Spaces and Wild Places

Photo by Julie Schartner

The Richter Community Forest Preserve was a gift to the Washington Island and Door County communities from lifelong islander, Arni Richter. Richter donated 158 acres on the southwestern tip of Washington Island to the Door County Land Trust in 2002, envisioning that this property would remain an educational resource and place of beauty for islanders, visitors and school children alike.

The Richter Community Forest Preserve is one of the largest tracts of undeveloped land on Washington Island. It contains a wonderful mix of northern hardwoods and the many large “tip up” mounds found throughout the preserve show that this area has always been tree covered and was never clear-cut for agricultural use. Hikers will note, however, that portions of the forest vary greatly in composition reflecting the different types of forest management activities and selective logging that have taken place over the past 100 years. Prior to European settlement, the original old growth forest contained 300-year-old white pines, hemlocks, sugar maple, American beech, red oak and basswood. Today, sustainable forestry practices are in place to restore this forest back to its old growth condition.

The Door County Land Trust is celebrating 25 years of preserving Door County’s finest open spaces and wild places. Over the course of the summer and fall, this column will feature one of the special places the Land Trust is working to protect.

The Door County Land Trust is celebrating 25 years of preserving Door County’s finest open spaces and wild places. Over the course of the summer and fall, this column will feature one of the special places the Land Trust is working to protect.

The Door County Land Trust is challenging people to visit all of the places featured in this column. People are encouraged to email [email protected] when they accomplish this feat and to have their name entered into a drawing to win a copy of the Land Trust’s Guide to the Places We Protect due to be published this fall. To view previous columns, to make a contribution of support and to download preserve trail maps, visit http://www.doorcountylandtrust.org.

Arni Richter, who donated the land that would become Richter Community Forest Preserve on Washington Island.

Just the Facts: Door County Land Trust’s Richter Community Forest Preserve, Washington Island

Acres protected: 158

Miles of trails: approximately one mile of easy trail

Total acres protected on Washington Island by the Land Trust: over 700

Directions: From the ferry dock, take Lobdell Point Road (County W) 1/8 mile to Green Bay Road. Turn left (west) and continue 1 mile on Green Bay Road. A sign for the Richter Community Forest Preserve trailhead and parking area is located on the east side of Green Bay Road.

Point of Interest: Thousands of years ago, this preserve was underwater! Postglacial Lake Nippising (now Lake Michigan) water levels were much higher than they are today. As you hike, notice the small outcrops of bedrock ridges and beach stone along the forest floor that were formed as lake levels dropped over the past 3,000 – 5,000 years.

When you’re on the island, pick up A Guide to the Washington Island Nature Preserves of the Door County Land Trust at the ferry office.