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>>
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Archaeological Dig at Crossroads
Fall has descended but Crossroads at Big Creek is staying busy with activities for all ages. On Sept. 28, the community is encouraged to join the Friends of Crossroads for a work party at 10 am, cleaning up buckthorn, honeysuckle and burdock. Loppers, gloves and old clothes are recommended, but there are tools to share. […]
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Meditation Walk at Crossroads at Big Creek
Join Coach Sara at Crossroads at Big Creek on Oct. 6, 10 – 11:30 am, for a Walk About with Coach Sara. Slow down, become present and aware of your body, connect to the beautiful Door County outdoors while we walk through the magical woods and fields along inviting paths at Crossroads. Inspired by the […]
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Fall Flowers of the Door Peninsula
Crossroads at Big Creek will host several hikes to enjoy autumn flowers before they are gone. First, they are holding a lecture on “Fall Flowers of the Door Peninsula” on Sept. 21 at 2 pm. This illustrated lecture will show the variety and beauty of fall flowers. Meet in the lecture hall at the Collins […]
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Culture Club: Clearing Continues Landscape Architecture Legacy
by Mike Schneider, Executive Director, The Clearing At a place established 83 years ago by Jens Jensen – one of the most important landscape architects in American history – in large part as a training ground for young landscape architects, it’s fitting that The Clearing has continued this tradition. To that end, for the past […]
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Forest Hike with Ecologist Lee Frelich
Internationally known forest ecologist Lee Frelich will lead a forest exploration hike at Newport State Park for the Climate Change Coalition of Door County on Aug. 18. Before he was a globally known scientist, Frelich was a boy spending summers in rural Ellison Bay, passing his days in endless exploration of the woods that would […]
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Pick Your Favorite Park Contest
The 2018 Friends of Wisconsin State Parks Gold Seal Award contest is open. The Friends of Wisconsin State Parks is the umbrella organization for the more than 80 local friends groups organizations organized to provide support for state park system properties. The organization’s mission is preserving, promoting, protecting, and enhancing Wisconsin state parks, forests, trails […]