There’s A Little-Known Island Nature Preserve Just Waiting For Wisconsin Explorers

On Door County’s Washington Island, there’s a little bit of wilderness that beckons people who love places that are wild and beautiful. The Detroit Harbor Nature Preserve is close to the island’s restaurants and attractions, but it feels a world away. It’s a place to discover the county’s beauty and biodiversity, and it’s a perfect spot to take in a little bit of island magic. Here’s what’s waiting for you at this wonderful Wisconsin nature preserve.

You’ll find Washington Island off the tip of Door County. The island is just 23 square miles in size, and it’s home to about 700 people. You can reach the island via a car or passenger ferry.

Not far from the ferry docks you’ll find the preserve. Spanning 148 protected acres, this nature preserve is a sanctuary of rolling terrain, old-growth forests, and vibrant wildflowers - it offers visitors a peaceful retreat into the heart of nature.

It’s a wonderful place for a nature walk. The preserve has a .5-mile looped trail, which seamlessly connects to the Town of Washington's Heritage Nature Trail. This scenic pathway traverses the preserve's rolling terrain, talking hikers into a bit of northern hardwood forest.

The wild forest is home to a diverse array of tree species, including sugar maple, American beech, red oak, white cedar, hemlock, white pine, basswood, and ash.

The forest floor becomes colorful in the spring – if you’re looking for a place to enjoy a wildflower walk, this could be the spot. The preserve is home to wildflowers, such as trillium, bellwort, downy yellow, and long-spur violets.

The preserve is much more than a pretty place. The preserve safeguards the shorelines, ensuring the health of the waters that flow between the islands. These waters are a vital spawning ground for smallmouth bass in northern Lake Michigan, contributing to the region's rich aquatic biodiversity.

There are so many gorgeous places to explore in Door County – I grew up here and many of these natural areas are close to my heart. Tread carefully, stay on designated trails to protect vegetation and wildlife, and keep pets leashed; leave no trace, and carry out all belongings, including garbage. We can all help keep places like this special forever. Learn more about the Detroit Harbor Nature Preserve and more special wild places in Door County on the Door County Land Trust website. Make your Wisconsin travel plans on Booking.com, and here are some more things to see and do in Wisconsin.