Long ago, the state’s logging boom hit Door County, in what’s now the town of Clay Banks. In the 1860s, pioneer ports popped up along the county’s shoreline, and massive piers extended far into Lake Michigan. The ports and lumber operations are long gone, and what remains is now a ghost port. But a Wisconsin nature preserve still offers a feel for what this wild place was like when pioneers arrived. Just head to the Legacy Nature Preserve at Clay Banks.

The Legacy Nature Preserve at Clay Banks is located on the Lake Michigan shoreline, a short drive south of Sturgeon Bay.

Spanning 91 protected acres, this hidden gem shows a side of Door County that you might miss if you spend all of your time around the county’s bustling attractions.

It offers scenic beauty and a chance to experience a wild Door County landscape.

A one-mile, looped hiking trail winds its way through the preserve, providing access to breathtaking scenic vistas over Lake Michigan, as well some nice views of fields and forests.

One of the most striking features of Legacy Nature Preserve is its clay bluffs, which were formed thousands of years ago during the last Ice Age - they are the remnants of ancient beaches.

They used to be an important navigational aid for mariners.

Today, the preserve includes nearly 3,000 feet of wild shoreline.

More than a century ago, piers stretched more than a thousand feet into these waters - the lake bottom is shallow and rocky in this area. Today, the piers and schooners have disappeared, although there are still shipwrecks offshore.

While this area was once home to a sawmill, schools, businesses and a post office, today in the preserve, you're more likely to have birds or deer for company.

It’s a beautiful, tranquil place, and it’s hard to imagine a bustling port here.

I love discovering the wild places of Door County. The county has a long history, and there are many chapters in its story. Learn more about the Legacy Preserve at Clay Banks on the preserve’s website. Make your Wisconsin travel plans on Booking.com; and here’s where to find more Wisconsin adventures.