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
Oak Road Nature Preserve
155 acres · 1.75 mi trails · Town of Sturgeon Bay
This 155-acre preserve in a picturesque Carlsville valley protects an extensive vernal wetland so alive with spring peepers that neighbors can't sleep — plus an ongoing restoration of 100+ acres of former farmland to oak woodland and native prairie.
Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Nature Preserve
445 acres · 2.5 mi trails · Town of Sturgeon Bay
At 445 acres within Sturgeon Bay's city limits, this preserve protects a remarkable ridge-swale landscape, rare dune plants, and one of the region's most critical neo-tropical migratory bird stopovers — land that once narrowly escaped becoming a coal plant.
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.
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.
No Restrooms
None of our preserves have restrooms or drinking water. Plan a stop before you head out, especially with kids.
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.
