Peninsula State Park: This Door County gem has a lot to offer
One great reason to head up to Door County are the beautiful the state parks. There are thousands of acres to hike, bike and paddle across the peninsula, and the State of Wisconsin has done an amazing job maintaining the parks.
Whether it’s Peninsula, Potawatomi, Newport Whitefish Dunes or Rock Island, there’s something to enjoy for everyone. I will talk about all of them in length, but today, I want to focus on Peninsula State Park.
Peninsula State Park Activities:
Peninsula State Park is one of my absolute favorite places to go in all of Door County. In fact, we’ll often just drive through the park without even getting out of the car. I find the beauty soothing and relaxing.
The nearly 3,800-acre park has eight miles of shoreline on the Green Bay side of the peninsula. Established in 1909, much of Peninsula remains as it was over 100 years ago.
A complete state park, Peninsula has more than 460 campsites, a theatre, a visitor tower (rebuilt in 2020), a public beach, an 18-hole golf course, a 6-hole par 3 golf course, and a historic lighthouse, built just after the civil war.
Camping can be done at one of Peninsula State Park’s five campgrounds. That’s right – five – all in one park.
The five are North Nicolet Bay Campground (44 sites), South Nicolet Bay Campground (143 sites), Tennison Bay Campground (188 sites), Weborg Point Campground (12 sites) and Welckler’s Point Campground (81 sites). You need to make a reservation prior to arriving.
They are all extremely clean and updated. Depending on what you’re looking for, they each have their draws. Some sites have electricity, others are more traditional camping sites.
North Nicolet Bay Campground and South Nicolet Bay Campground share the Peninsula’s only sand swimming beach. The beach has sand volleyball courts, a playground, and a camp store.
North Nicolet Bay Campground has hot water showers and flush toilet facilities, but none of the sites have electrical hookups. The campground has a public boat launch, fishing pier, and boat and bike rentals are available.
South Nicolet Bay Campground has 54 sites with electrical hookups. The campground also has hot water showers and flush toilets.
Tennison Bay Campground has 97 sites with electricity, and all sites have access to the two hot water showers and flush toilets. Tennison Bay has a canoe / kayak boat launch, along with a new playground. A portion of Tennison Bay is available for winter camping.
Weborg Point Campground only has 12 sites, and all are electric. The campground has a hot water shower and flush toilets. A concrete fishing pier is also accessible for guests.
Weckler’s Point Campground has 81 sites with no electrical hookups. The campground has two shower buildings and one flush toilet building. Weckler’s Point Campground also has a completely enclosed reservable shelter with a fireplace.
Eagle Tower is one of the top Door County attractions. The tower has been rebuilt a couple times, and work on a new, ADA-compliant tower is happing now. It looks amazing – sprawling out into the forest before winding back high up along the rocky shore.
The new Eagle Tower is scheduled to open next spring.
If you like to golf, Peninsula State Golf Course is, well, awesome. The regulation course may not be the most challenging, or the most expensive, but for someone like me, that’s perfect. Plus, the views are breathtaking.
Over 100 years old, the course boasts spectacular views of Eagle Harbor and the Village of Ephraim. The course opened in 1917 as a six-hole course and grew to 18 in 1931. Some of the highlights include the bay views on the par-4 tenth hole, and the dramatic drop on the par-3 eighth hole. The course also has a driving range.
If you’re short on time, have little kids, or if you are unsure of your skills, you may want to start on the short course. The course has only been around a few years, but it has already become a family favorite.
The six-hole, par 3 course is across the street from the main course. It’s rarely busy and can be done in roughly an hour. That means, you can wake up, have breakfast, do a little shopping, play a round of golf, and still be done in time for lunch. We do this once or twice every time we come up.
One of the more interesting things to do in Peninsula State Park is to visit the historic Eagle Bluff Lighthouse. President Andrew Johnson authorized construction shortly after the end of the Civil War, and construction began in 1868. The lightkeeper’s home became a museum in 1963. The lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
The house became automated in 1926, meaning keepers of the light were needed from 1868-1926. Interestingly enough, in those 58 years, only three keepers were used. Henry Stanley (1868-1883), William Duclon (1883-1918) and Peter Coughlin (1918-1926). Eagle Bluff has been restored to the Duclon (1883-1918) period. A donation is required to tour the house.
Believe it or not, there’s also a great little theatre hidden deep in the woods of Peninsula State Park. The Northern Sky Theater is gem that must be visited. At 85-years old, it’s the nation’s oldest resident summer theater. The 2020 season was cancelled but check back in for 2021’s schedule soon.
To get to Peninsula State Park:
From Green Bay, take State Highway 57 north toward Sturgeon Bay.
From Manitowoc, Take State Highway 42 north toward Sturgeon Bay.
Before you get to Sturgeon Bay, merge onto highways 57 and 42. Stay on State Highway 42 north to Fish Creek, where the highway turns east (right). Go 0.5 mile farther on Highway 42; the park entrance is on the north (left).
Peninsula State Park is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. year-round. A vehicle admission sticker is required to enter.
