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.
Gani Hower / AllTrails
Together, the parks cover nearly 1,000 acres and protect an unspoiled swath of Lake Michigan shoreline.
Jill Barth / AllTrails
Unlike many parcels in the area, the land was never developed - the soil was too sandy for farming or grazing cattle.
Sarah Reed / AllTrails

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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.
Andrew Oasen / AllTrails
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.
Carrie Bovinska / AllTrails
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!
Andrew Oasen / AllTrails


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.

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More to Explore

Exploring Wisconsin Hiking Trails

Chris Muras | November 18, 2023

What are the best hiking trails in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin is a wonderful place to enjoy the Great Outdoors. With tons of beautiful lakes, bluffs, and forests in our many state parks, there is pretty much an endless supply of great trails to explore. Here are a few of the best hiking trails in Wisconsin to add to your list:

  • Chippewa Moraine Circle Loop, New Auburn, WI: The Chippewa Moraine is filled with glacial-created lakes, plenty of wildlife, and many miles of hiking trails. If you enjoy a good loop trail, the Circle Loop is a nice 4.5-mile trail that takes you through some of the best parts of the Chippewa Moraine State Recreation Area.
  • Ellison Bluff Loop, Liberty Grove, WI: Ellison Bluff County Park is a smaller park in the Door County area, but that doesn't mean it doesn't share the incredible beauty of the larger, more well-known state parks. This short scenic loop trail will treat you to epic views of old-growth forests comprised of white cedar, mountain maple, red pine, and red elderberry. You'll also enjoy the steep bluffs as you look out at Green Bay and Ellison Bay 100 feet below you.
  • Ice Age Trail, Baraboo, WI: If you are looking for a more challenging hike in Wisconsin, hop on the Ice Age Trail where you can hike 18 miles from Devil's Lake to Parfrey's Glen. You'll be surrounded by immense rock formations left behind from the last ice age as well as beautiful calm forests. It is an out-and-back trail but you can take Bluff Trail back to give yourself some new scenic views to enjoy.

If you feel like you were born to hike like we do, you'll love our epic guide to Wisconsin hiking trails. It covers everything from easy nature walks to some of the hardest trails in WI. Be sure to check out AllTrails+ to get up-to-date maps and trail info.

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Featured Addresses
Kohler-Andrae State Park, 1020 Beach Park Ln, Sheboygan, WI 53081, USA