867-acre state park on the eastern shore of the Door Peninsula preserving the most substantial sand dunes on the western shore of Lake Michigan
General Information
How to Get There
From Sturgeon Bay, WI (6 mi): Take WI-57 N from Sturgeon Bay approximately 5 miles, then turn right on Clark Lake Rd and follow it to the park entrance at 3701 Clark Lake Rd.
Overview
Whitefish Dunes State Park is an 867-acre day-use park on the eastern shore of the Door Peninsula that preserves the largest sand dunes on the western shore of Lake Michigan. The park includes the remains of eight successive prehistoric Native American villages, listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Whitefish Dunes-Bay View Site. Cave Point County Park, an enclave inside the park, lets visitors see waves crash into limestone caves and cliffs. People come for the sandy beach, hiking, snowshoeing and photography, and for the nature center that explains the ecology and cultural history of the area.
Access
The park is at 3701 Clark Lake Road, about 6 miles northeast of Sturgeon Bay and 12 miles south of Jacksonport on the Lake Michigan side of Door County. From Green Bay, it is about 50 miles by way of WI-57. Most visitors drive, and a Wisconsin State Park vehicle sticker is required. Parking is limited, and the lot can fill on summer weekends.
Seasons
The park is open year-round, with peak beach season from May to October. Summer offers swimming (in cold water), sunbathing and hiking, and the beach and Cave Point can be crowded. Fall brings fall color and quieter trails, while winter offers snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, and the shoreline is covered with ice. Dune areas are fragile, so stay on boardwalks and trails at all times.
Things to Do
Relax on the Sandy Beach
The wide beach offers sunbathing, walking and photography, and swimming in cold Lake Michigan water.
Visit Cave Point County Park
Limestone cliffs and sea caves along the shore make for dramatic wave action, especially on windy days.
Hike Through Dunes and Forest
Trails climb the dunes and wind through cedar and hardwood forest, with views of Lake Michigan.
Learn at the Nature Center
The nature center is open year-round and has exhibits about the park's ecology, geology and cultural history.
Snowshoe and Ski in Winter
Trails are open for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in winter.
Top Trails
Brachiopod Trail
Length: 1.5 miles loop
Elevation Gain: Minimal
Difficulty: Easy
This trail passes fossils and nature views, with interpretive signs about the area's geology.
Black Trail
Length: 2.5 miles loop
Elevation Gain: Moderate
Difficulty: Moderate
A longer route through woods and rock outcrops, with views and quiet forest scenery.
Green Trail
Length: 1.8 miles loop
Elevation Gain: Moderate
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
This trail winds through the forest and connects with the dunes and beach areas.
Visitor Centers
The Whitefish Dunes Nature Center is the park's visitor center and is open year-round. It features exhibits about the dunes, geology and the Native American villages that once stood here, and staff offer programs for children and adults. Staff can also provide trail maps and park information.
Camping and Lodging
This is a day-use park, and there is no camping or lodging. The closest hotels, motels and resorts are in Sturgeon Bay, about 6 miles away, and in Jacksonport, Baileys Harbor and Egg Harbor, which have inns and cottages. Camping is available at Potawatomi State Park near Sturgeon Bay and Peninsula State Park in Fish Creek, about 30 minutes north.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia articles and official tourism pages for Whitefish Dunes State Park, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0. Additional information from Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
