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Category: Parks

Door County is the only county in Wisconsin with five state parks, plus one state trail. No visit to the peninsula is complete without exploring these pristine open spaces that are home to historic landmarks, rare flora and fauna, hiking trails, and much more.

Peninsula State Park

The crown jewel of the Wisconsin State Park system, Peninsula State Park offers more than 3,700 acres for exploration.

Bike or hike on the Sunset Bike Trail, or challenge yourself on more than 12 miles of off-road biking trails weaving through the woods. Rent kayaks and peddle boats at Nicolet Beach Concessions at famous Nicolet Bay beach, where you can also get snacks, burgers, supplies, and ice cream.

The park is also home to the beautiful Peninsula State Park Golf Course, award-winning Northern Sky Theatre and historic Eagle Bluff Lighthouse. The 75-foot Eagle Tower was closed in May 2015 for structural concerns, but is expected to reopen in 2018. More>>

Potawatomi State Park

Home of the eastern trailhead of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, 75-foot observation tower and views of Green Bay from the escarpment, overlook of the park’s old ski hill, several picnic areas and playgrounds, more than 2 miles of shoreline, canoe, kayak, paddleboat and bicycle rentals, boat launch and fish cleaning station, nature center and park store. More>>

Newport State Park

Newport State Park is Wisconsin’s only formally designated wilderness park, with miles of sand beach, secluded hike-in camping on the lakeshore, quiet hiking and biking trails, and great skiing in winter. More>>

Rock Island State Park

If you want a quiet beach, Rock Island is your place. The sand beach on the north side of the island was recently lauded in Minnesota Monthly magazine as one of the last “remains of old Door County.” More>>

Whitefish Dunes State Park

It was the rare botanicals, unique beauty and the largest and most significant dunescape on Lake Michigan’s western shore that led noted landscape architect Jens Jensen to recommend Whitefish Dunes as a state park site in 1937. More>>

Ahnapee State Trail

We are quick to praise Door County’s five state parks as the crown jewels of the county, but we often forget about the Ahnapee State Trail. The county-operated trail runs 48 miles between Sturgeon Bay and Algoma and its history as a railroad predates the founding of the parks system. More>>

  • Peninsula State Park Offers First Day Hike

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    Peninsula State Park will sponsor a First Day Hike Jan. 1, 2018, offering visitors the opportunity to rejuvenate by taking a family friendly trek led by Friends of Peninsula State Park. “This is a great way for the whole family to start off the new year with a healthy activity,” said Chris Holicek, president of […]

  • Hike the Reindeer Trail at Peninsula State Park

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    Strange tracks have appeared at Peninsula State Park. “I heard the jingle of bells and then felt a whoosh,” said Peninsula State Park Naturalist Kathleen Harris. Come see the tracks for yourself by hiking the Reindeer Trail. The Reindeer Trail, a half-mile woodsy walk, will be ready for young trail trampers on Nov. 25, from […]

  • Halloween Celebrations, Film Screenings & More Weekend Plans

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    The final weekend of October is upon us, and that means one thing:  Halloween is almost here! Join the celebrations in Fish Creek and Sturgeon Bay, or head to the quiet woods of Newport State Park for an equally festive retreat. Friday, October 27 Hometown Stories: Baileys Harbor Extras Join the staff of Crossroads at […]

  • Historical Society Presents ‘Peninsula State Park in Postcards’ Oct. 7

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    The Door County Historical Society will host its Saturday afternoon yesteryear programming “Peninsula State Park in Postcards,” presented by Richard Lauder on Oct. 7, 2 pm in the Vignes Schoolhouse at the Heritage Village at 2041 Michigan St. in Sturgeon Bay. Officially established in 1910, Peninsula State Park is an ever-changing location on the Door […]

  • Pumpkin Patch, Cider Pressing & More Weekend Plans

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    This weekend is all about autumn on the Door Peninsula! Egg Harbor hosts Pumpkin Patch Festival, though celebrations of all kinds dot the peninsula on this wonderful October weekend. Friday, October 6 Twilight Tours, Tunes & Tales Experience Eagle Bluff Lighthouse by the glow of lanterns at twilight during this annual celebration of tales, lore, […]

  • Eagle Bluff Lighthouse Hosts Autumn Twilight Tours

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    Delight in the tales of lighthouse keepers through story, song and poetry at the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse for Twilight Tours, Tunes & Tales on the fall evenings of Sept. 29-30 and Oct. 6-7. On these special evenings a friendly glow will shine on the path leading to the keeper’s house, the same warm glow that […]

  • County Parks Director Presents on History, Future of Park System

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    The Door County Historical Society will host its Saturday afternoon yesteryear program “Door County Parks,” presented by Erik Aleson on Sept. 30 at 2 pm in the Collins Learning Center adjacent to the Heritage Village at 2041 Michigan Street in Sturgeon Bay. What has 992 acres, 12 miles of state trail that was a railroad, […]

  • DNR Releases Eagle Tower Design Concepts

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    The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) released the three design concepts for Eagle Tower this week, just before a fundraiser for its reconstruction. Depending on the concept design chosen by the DNR, the Sept. 30 fundraiser featuring a live and silent auction of wood from Eagle Tower may be the final effort in raising funds […]

  • Autumnfest, Comedian Will Durst & More Weekend Plans

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    Autumn officially arrives on Friday! Celebrate the season of apples, pumpkins and cooler weather with any one of the following festivals and events. Friday, September 22 Washington Island Literary Festival It’s a literary lover’s retreat this weekend on Washington Island, as the peninsula’s top hat welcomes a host of writers, authors and readers to fifth […]

  • In the Quiet North Woods: Michelle Hefty’s 28 Years at Newport State Park

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    If a career in natural resources didn’t work out, Michelle Hefty had her viola to fall back on. While everyone thought she would go on to a career in music, “I had this little love in the back of my mind.” After 28 years as superintendent of Newport State Park, few people have asked about […]

  • Planning America’s Best Idea: Master Plans for National Parks

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    By Brandi Oswald On Aug. 25, 1916, Woodrow Wilson signed into law the Organics Act, creating the National Park Service (NPS), a new federal bureau responsible for protecting the existing 35 national parks and monuments. In 1933, the National Park Service greatly expanded when all parks, monuments and historical areas overseen by the government were […]

  • DC Yoga Hosts Yoga In Martin Park Sept 2, 9

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    Door County Yoga is hosting yoga in the park Sept. 2 & 9, 9:30 – 10:40 am at Martin Park in Sturgeon Bay. This is an all-levels class. Students are encouraged to drop-in. A few yoga mats are available to borrow. The cost is $15 drop-in or $10 with your class card. Due to its […]

  • Door County Adventure Center Offering Mink River Estuary Eco-Tours

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    Mink River Estuary Kayak Tour provides a different type of feeling than the rest of what Door County has to offer. Door County Adventure Center offers guided eco-tours that provide a look into what the land was like nearly 100 years ago. A tour is a great place for bird watching, with an estimated 200 […]

  • Where’s the Nude Beach at Newport Park?

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    At the end of my conversation with Newport State Park superintendent Michelle Hefty in her office for the fall issue of our sister publication Door County Living magazine, I asked her the standard final question for interviews as a journalist: Is there anything I’m missing? After her universal response that she had just been blathering […]

  • DNR Collects Feedback for Recreational Use Planning

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    The public had an opportunity to speak with nearly two dozen Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officials about recreation on state land in the northeast part of the state. DNR officials hope the Recreational Opportunities Analysis (ROA) will fill a gap in the planning process after the department reorganized that process earlier this year. “We […]

  • A Few Walks In the Newport Wilderness

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    It had just rained all night when I arrived at Newport State Park one Wednesday morning in June. Everyone was in rain jackets and galoshes. It was still spitting a little when we hopped on the trail. New growth surrounded stubborn evergreens, wet leaves leaving streaks on shoulders as the trail wandered through a carpet […]

  • Kewaunee County Promotion & Recreation Committee Takes a Parks Tour

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    The summer months have kept the Kewaunee County Promotion & Recreation Department busy, as staff and volunteers enhance parks that are continuously drawing more outdoor enthusiasts. Improvement projects include: the Magic Carpet conveyor belt on the snow tubing hill at Winter Park, a new swing set at Red River Park, the addition of a baseball […]

  • Pollinators Presentation at Crossroads Aug 24

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    While Crossroads at Big Creek is more than happy to offer programs on a variety of historical and environmental topics, this year they are learning about and trying to enhance the wildlife habitats in various ecosystems on the three preserves. The fascination started when Wild Ones of the Door Peninsula, in collaboration with The Beekeepers […]

  • Nicolet Beach Hosts Night Sky Program Aug 11

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    Come to Nicolet Beach at Peninsula State Park on Aug. 11 at 8:45 pm. Enjoy a 30-minute PowerPoint program about the night sky and learn to identify summer constellations. Once skies darken, look through a high-powered telescope, watching for “shooting stars” of the Perseids. Star experts will answer questions and point out the best of […]

  • Crossroads Hosts Native Plant Expert Aug 24

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    Crossroads at Big Creek is working on their accessible bird and butterfly garden at Collins Learning Center, and they’ve been enthusiastically thinking about pollinators. Their excitement was enhanced by the Wild Ones of Door County bringing Heather Holms, author of Bees: An Identification and Native Plant Forage Guide, to Crossroads Aug. 24. The pollinator garden […]