Explore Door County's Wild Places
Our nature preserves are free and open to the public, dawn to dusk, every day of the year.
© Diana Burda
- nature preserves
- miles of trails
- Free
- always
Featured Preserves
A few favorites to get you started
Bay Shore Blufflands Nature Preserve
273 acres · 2.5 mi trails · Town of Egg Harbor
At 273 acres, this preserve offers sweeping views from atop the Niagara Escarpment with 2.5 miles of trails through varied terrain.
Kangaroo Lake Nature Preserve
278 acres · 1.5 mi trails · Town of Baileys Harbor
The preserve where it all began. Along Kangaroo Lake, the preserve protects a remarkable descent from an ancient glacial shoreline ridge down 130 feet to spring-fed Peil Creek and a boreal lakeshore teeming with wildlife.
Three Springs Nature Preserve
575 acres · 1.9 mi trails · Town of Sevastopol
At 575 acres, the Harold C. Wilson Three Springs Nature Preserve is one of DCLT's largest holdings and a pivotal link in a 17,000-acre wildlife corridor stretching from Sister Bay to the Ridges Sanctuary. Home to the Hine's emerald dragonfly, showy lady's slipper, and some of the premier natural landscape of the western Great Lakes.
Before You Go
Hours
Dawn to dusk, every day. Free admission, always.
Parking
Most preserves have parking lots; at others, park along the public roadway. Look for DCLT signs.
Trails
Stay on marked trails. Difficulty varies by preserve.
No Cell Service
Coverage is spotty. Download maps before you go.
Leave No Trace
Pack out what you pack in. No foraging of plants or mushrooms. No collection of rocks.
Dogs
Leashed dogs welcome at most preserves. Pick up dog waste. Check individual listings.
Preserve Rules
Hunting Seasons
Most of our preserves stay open to hunting during Wisconsin DNR seasons, and open to hikers year-round. If you're out in fall, wear blaze orange, stay on marked trails, and make a little noise. A few preserves are closed to hunting if you'd rather avoid it entirely.
Ready to Explore?
Use our Preserve Explorer to find the perfect trail for your next adventure.
