This Lakefront Boardwalk Trail In Wisconsin Offers The Perfect Way To Spend An Afternoon

While Wisconsin’s soft sand beaches draw big crowds on warm summer days, they deliver a special kind of magic as the seasons change. Kohler-Andrae State Park offers one of the state’s best beach hikes – its boardwalk and "cordwalk" trails skirt Lake Michigan and take visitors on an unforgettable journey across wild and grassy dunes. Here’s why you need to put this wonderful park on your hiking list. Let's check out some Kohler-Andrae State Park trails.

Kohler-Andrae State Park is located just south of Sheboygan in the town of Wilson. It’s actually two state parks that are managed together: Terry Andrae State Park, established in 1927, and John Michael Kohler State Park, which was established in 1966.

Together, the parks cover nearly 1,000 acres and protect an unspoiled swath of Lake Michigan shoreline.

Unlike many parcels in the area, the land was never developed - the soil was too sandy for farming or grazing cattle.

The parks contain two miles of dunes and beach along Lake Michigan. While you can kick off your shoes and walk by the water’s edge, the park also gives hikers another option.

The park’s network of trails includes long boardwalks and cordwalks (wooden walking paths). The paths protect the fragile lakefront ecosystem and make hiking easy.

The park has two nature trails and three hiking trails. The paths take visitors through rolling dunes, open fields, evergreen forests, and woodlands. At the end of the hike, you can relax on the beach and enjoy one of the best views in eastern Wisconsin!

Let's explore Kohler-Andrae State Park with a hike to Kohler Beach, WI in this video from Wisconsin State Park Trails:

Kohler-Andrae State Park trails are open all year, and the park is always worth a visit. A state vehicle sticker is required for entrance. Learn more about the park on the Kohler-Andrae State Park website. There's a lot to do in the area, and you'll find the Sheboygan area has more than great hiking trails – it’s also a surfing mecca! Because, when you hike to a beach near you in the Midwest with a surfboard on your back, the looks you'll get will be priceless.