Land Recreation

Peninsula State Park offers endless opportunities to experience natural beauty. Select from the list below to learn more about land recreation.

Hiking
Tour biking
Off-Road biking
In-Line Skating
Picnicking
Volleyball
Tennis
Playgrounds
Wildlife Viewing
Sightseeing/Touring

Hiking Trails

Do you like to hike?

Peninsula provides 20 miles of hiking trails, varying in difficulty, coursing through all areas of the park.

Eagle Trail traverses the water's edge and highest bluffs in Door County. Parts of the trail are very steep and rocky. For more than a mile, the trail parallels serene Eagle Harbor while awesome cliffs loom nearly 200 feet overhead. Difficult hiking. Average hiking time two hours.

Hemlock Trail is an experience in solitude. Enjoy a dark cedar-hemlock forest and be greeted by dwarf lake iris, lady's-slipper orchids, and harebells.1.8 miles. Moderate hiking. Average hiking time 1 hour.

Lone Pine Trail provides a number of convenient loops for campers in Nicolet Bay and Tennison Bay campgrounds. It winds through hardwood forest, passing the remains of the solitary white pine for which the trail was named. Short, steep climb then level hiking. 0.6 miles. Average hiking time 30 minutes.

Minnehaha Trail provides a 0.7-mile connecting link between Nicolet Bay campground and Eagle Trail. Rough, level terrain. Average hiking time 30 minutes.

Nicolet Bay joins Welcker's campground with Hemlock Trail to the south. This trail winds and climbs through upland hardwoods as well as dark stands of cedar and hemlock. Hikers pass within a quarter mile of Nicolet Bay Beach with convenient access gained from the amphitheater (overflow) parking lot or Welcker's campground. Moderate hiking. 2.2 miles. Average hiking time 1.5 hours.

Sentinel Trail is a 2-mile loop beginning and ending at Eagle Tower. The trail winds through stands of maple, beech, and red pine in some of the more primitive areas of the park. Deer are frequently seen in meadows and woodland edges. Since the terrain is gently rolling, the average hiker can walk this trail in one hour. A trail guide for this trail is available at the trailhead. A .6-mile portion of the trail is graveled to facilitate access for all abilities. Level, easy hiking. Average hiking time 1 hour.

Skyline Trail leads hikers on a climb to Sven's Bluff, a popular lookout, through rolling terrain consisting of hardwood forests and lush meadows. Hikers can gain easy access to other trails from Skyline Trail. Moderate hiking. 3 miles. Average hiking time 2 hours.

Trail Tramper's Delight is a three-quarter mile connecting trail between Eagle Bluff Lighthouse and Nicolet Bay campground. Its name originated in the early 1920s when hikers walked from Nicolet Bay to the lighthouse. 0.6 miles. Easy hiking. Average hiking time 30 minutes.

Vita Course is a one-mile exercise circuit winding through beautiful forest scenery. Eleven evenly signed stations instruct the user to do various exercises designed to promote strength, stamina, and coordination.

White Cedar Nature Trail is a self-guided, one-half-mile loop trail which begins and ends at the White Cedar Nature Center. Stations on this easy gradient trail interpret the ecology of the white-tailed deer. Average hiking time 30 minutes.

Tour Biking

Sunset Trail accommodates bicycles, wheelchairs, and hikers on a smooth graveled surface, providing a preferred alternative to Shore Road. It traverses every major type of landscape along its 5.1-mile length including marshes, upland hardwoods, and conifer stands. The entire trail takes two to three hours to hike and one hour to bike. The trail connects with a four-mile return route at Nicolet Bay which guides bicyclists back to the Fish Creek entrance via scenic back roads.

Hidden Bluff is a scenic .75-mile spur of the Sunset Trail providing access to the Nature Center and a shortcut for bicyclists traveling to and from Nicolet Bay.

Adult and youth bike rentals are available locally.

Off-Road Biking

Off-Road Bike Trails traverse 9 miles of rugged, unsurfaced terrain. Bicyclists who use off-road trails must be equipped and prepared to take on the challenge. Trail passes are required for riders age 16 and older.

In-line Skating

In-line skating is allowed on Peninsula's interior roads, including Skyline, Middle, Mengelburg and Highland Roads. Keep in mind that in-line skating is prohibited on all roads within the Town of Gibraltar (Fish Creek area) and inside the park on Shore and Bluff Roads. Please "scope out" roads by vehicle or on foot before accepting the challenge. Peninsula has rolling terrain with steep ascents and descents, creating a challenge for even the most experienced in-line skater.

Picnicking and Shelters

Peninsula has six picnic areas: Eagle Terrace, Fish Creek (near Park Headquarters), Nelson's Point, Nicolet Bay Beach, Weborg Point and Welcker's Point. These areas have tables, grills and toilets. Welcker's and Weborg picnic areas also have indoor shelters with fireplaces (wood not provided). Waste/recycling containers are not provided (carry-in/carryout). Fires are restricted to fire rings and charcoal grills in picnic and camping areas. If you bring your own grill, dispose of hot coals in the nearest picnic grill. Please extinguish your fire before leaving.

The enclosed shelter at the Weborg Picnic Area can be reserved for reunions and similar events.
DNR Photo

Peninsula has two reservable shelters, at Welcker's and Weborg picnic areas. Each can accommodate 50 people. The shelters are accessible during regular day-use park hours, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Picnic areas and limited parking are adjacent to shelters.

Weborg Shelter is an enclosed building with electric outlets, fluorescent lighting and a fireplace (wood not provided). The shelter is on a scenic point overlooking the shores of Green Bay and village of Fish Creek.

Welckers Shelter is an enclosed building on a scenic overlook along open water of Green Bay. Electrical outlets are not available, but the shelter has solar powered fluorescent lighting and a fireplace (wood not provided).

There is a form to use for reserving a shelter. Phone Peninsula State Park Headquarters, (920) 868-3258, for more information.

Volleyball

Two regulation size, sand volleyball courts are at Nicolet Bay Beach. These are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please bring your own line judges, team members, cheering squad, and volleyballs.

Tennis

Peninsula offers a single paved tennis court, across from the Skyline parking lot. It is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Playgrounds

There are activity centers at Tennison Bay campground and Nicolet Bay Beach. Slides and swings are also available at the Fish Creek picnic area.

Wildlife Viewing

Deer browse near the Nature Center and in the field east of Tennison Bay campground along Shore Road. Drive Middle Road for good sightings, too.

To best see deer, come at dawn or dusk.
DNR Photo

Peninsula is also home to at least 125 different birds. Look for mallards, red-winged blackbirds and orioles near Weborg Point. A check list is available at Park Headquarters.

Watch bats fly from their daytime roost to hunt for mosquitoes near Welcker's Shelter. Best bat viewing is an hour after sunset. Other animals you will find at Peninsula are fox, coyotes, raccoons, skunks, porcupines, opossum, turkey, grouse, chipmunks, squirrels and rabbits.

Sightseeing/touring

Peninsula is known for breathtaking views of Green Bay. There are seven miles of Green Bay shoreline within the park, compelling visitors to stop, take a photo, and rest. Skyline Road traverses the highest terrain, providing excellent views of the local islands and landscape. Shore Road follows the lower shoreline, with several access points to cobblestone beach areas.

For more information, ask:

Peninsula State Park
9462 Shore Road, P.O. Box 218
Fish Creek, WI 54212-0218
(920) 868-3258