Detroit Harbor Nature Preserve

Fish, feathers, forests, and shoreline — the Detroit Harbor Nature Preserve is a story of land and water and the plants and animals that depend on both. The preserve encompasses lands along Detroit Harbor on Washington Island, and by protecting the shoreline, DCLT is also protecting the waters of the harbor — one of the most productive spawning grounds for smallmouth bass in northern Lake Michigan.

The preserve is an important stopover for migrating birds and provides breeding habitat for rare species including Caspian terns, redhead ducks, American white pelicans, bald eagles, and red-breasted mergansers.

Trails

A 0.5-mile loop follows what was once a rustic logging road, leading into the heart of an old-growth forest where some of Door County’s largest yellow birch trees stand. The area is dominated by old-growth hemlock, sugar maple, and northern white cedar. The trail connects to the Town of Washington’s Heritage Nature Trail for extended exploration.

Terrain

Rolling terrain throughout. Moderate difficulty with natural surface underfoot.

Getting There

Take the Washington Island Ferry from Northport. The preserve is accessible from Detroit Harbor on Washington Island.

Flora

The forest understory contains Canada yew — a declining species threatened by deer browse — alongside a lush “garden” of ostrich and sensitive ferns. Spring wildflowers include trillium, bellwort, downy yellow and long-spur violets, Solomon’s seal, baneberry, wild sarsaparilla, and Canada mayflower.

The surrounding forest includes sugar maple, American beech, red oak, white cedar, hemlock, white pine, basswood, and ash.