A Door County hiking trail will take you to a spot with a view into the past. French sailors called this place Porte des Mortes, or “Door of Death.” The history of the name may refer to a deadly Native American battle here hundreds of years ago, or it might have to do with the nature of the waters here – the Lake Michigan passage is treacherous and littered with many shipwrecks.

The spot is as beautiful as it is deadly and it’s home to Door Bluff Headlands County Park. The park is at the end of the Door County peninsula and it’s smaller and less well-known than the big state parks nearby. But Door Bluff’s scenic hiking trail will take you through some pristine woods and a place where you can get an unforgettable view of “the door.”

The park is located near the small village of Gills Rock. The trail starts on a road off of a small parking area. The trail is about two miles long.
Sara Latreille / Alltrails
The park is completely undeveloped except for a small access road. Years ago, there were plans to add restrooms, more trails and a picnic area but local officials decided to keep the park in a natural state instead.
Angeline Mather / Alltrails
While the park is undeveloped, humans have been here for a very long time. In the 1990s, amateur archeologists discovered ancient pictographs that show red-painted canoes and other figures.
Greg Schrader / Alltrails

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The trail will take you through birch forests and wildflowers. A survey once found 46 species of birds and 92 species of flora in the park.
Nicole Steck / Alltrails
Steep limestone cliffs along the lakeshore are beautiful, but be careful, especially in the winter when the park is covered in snow and ice.
Hallyjade Kennedy / Alltrails
The view of Hedgehog Harbor and Green Bay is amazing. At this spot, it's believed the Washington Island Indians (Iroquois), fought the mainland Indians (Potawatomi) in a battle that claimed many lives. Years later, the schooner Fleetwing sunk in 1888. The wreck is located just offshore.
Heather Cameron / Alltrails

Because there are no facilities at the park, prepare accordingly, so you can fully enjoy every bit of this 155-acre natural area. Looking for more amazing Wisconsin hikes? Here are 12 more you should explore.

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12900 Door Bluff Park Rd, Ellison Bay, WI 54210, USA