There's A Little-Known Lake Trail Just Waiting For Wisconsin Explorers
By Ben Jones|Published October 18, 2022
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Ben Jones
Author
Ben Jones is at heart an adventurer who delights in inspiring others. A former reporter and photojournalist, he explored towns large and small as a Wisconsin correspondent for USA Today. He later became a lead photographer and senior copywriter for an award-winning destination marketing agency, before founding Boldland Creative, a company that produces photography, video, and other content for travel destinations. Jones has completed photography and content projects in more than 15 states and when he’s not looking through a camera or at his Macbook you’ll find him exploring the world’s lakes and forests.
Door County is one of the top Wisconsin tourist destinations, but sometimes, the big crowds that pack the county’s villages make it seem like less than an escape. Fortunately, it’s not very hard to find your own quiet corner of the county. And if you’re willing to go the extra mile and take a ferry ride, you can find a pristine lake trail that’s simply remarkable. Little Lake Trail on Washington Island is a bit out of the way, but totally worth the trip.
At the far end of Door County, you’ll find Washington Island. There’s no bridge to the island, so you’ll need to take a ferry. You can get on a car ferry in Northport.
Once on the island, you’ll want to drive or bike from the ferry dock to the far northwest corner of the island. Here, you’ll find a landscape that’s simply remarkable.
There’s a serene little lake that’s been compared to Walden Pond. It’s the only inland lake on Washington Island. It’s only 250 feet from the Lake Michigan shoreline.
The Little Lake Nature Preserve protects the northern half of the lake and includes more than 5,000 feet of wild and beautiful shoreline that beckons explorers.
The natural area is teeming with wildlife, including waterfowl, migratory songbirds, pelicans, and eagles. An easy 1.6-mile out-and-back trail skirts the north side of the lake, and it’s the ideal way to experience this remarkable landscape.
Be sure to take time to explore the rest of the island while you’re there. It just might be the most beautiful place in Wisconsin! Have you ever visited Little Lake and walked the beautiful trail there? Tell us about it in the comments!
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