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Featuring 11 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, 30 miles of foot trails, and 14 rustic backpacker's campsites, Newport State Park is hiker heaven. Newport State Park is Wisconsin's only designated wilderness park. It also is adjacent to the expansive Mink River Estuary which features its own unofficial (though well traveled) trails and prime kayaking.
The winter season offers opportunities to cross country ski on groomed trails or snowshoe hike if the snow becomes deep enough. The icy shoreline becomes an alien landscape and is best hiked with icetrekkers or crampons, and trekking poles.
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| Duck Bay Trail at Newport State Park in Door County |
Hiking:
Hiking in Newport State Park is mostly on flat and easy trails. Your walk will be mainly on single track footpaths through dense cedar forest along the shorelines. The recommended day hike is along the Europe Bay trail beginning and ending at the beach parking lot. This is a 7 mile round trip and will take approximately 3 hours.On a separate hiking excursion at Newport State Park I took the Newport Trail from the second parking lot to the Sand Cove Trail and Duck Bay Trail. Those two single track footpaths joined the Newport Trail again near campsites 3 & 4. I then looped back on the Ridge Trail. This is a 3.5 mile loop route featuring dense cedar forest along the shoreline and then through hardwood and birch forest on the ridges trail. This route takes a bit over 1 hour to hike.
Camping:
Campsites are all rustic hiking sites. They include a fire ring, bench, and pit toilet. You can reserve these sites ahead of time or claim them at arrival. The most popular site is #16. But 12, 14, and 15 are also often selected. All sites open for winter camping as well.Sea Kayaking:
Sea Kayaking is popular in the adjacent Mink River Estuary Natural Area. You can put in at the beach parking lot and make a three hour round trip into the estuary with stops at the Gravel Island National Wildlife Refuge. Rent a kayak in Sister Bay at Door County Kayak Rentals.Dark Sky
In 2017 Newport State Wilderness Park became one of only 48 designated dark sky parks in the world. The designation comes from the International Dark Sky Association - who cited its 2373 acres of undeveloped land on the edge of Lake Michigan which creates an unobstructed and unpolluted view of the eastern sky. In summer this is an excellent place for observing the aurora borealis northern lights. You can read more about the Dark Sky Association designation here.
Directions and Trail Map
Click Map Image to load the full interactive map.
Address for your GPS: 475 County Highway NP Ellison Bay, WI 54210
| coordinates: 45.234571, -86.998640 |
| From Milwaukee | 3.5 Hours |
| From Madison | 4 Hours |
| From Green Bay | 1.5 Hours |
| From Wausau | 3 Hours |
| From Minneapolis | 6 Hours |
| From Chicago | 5 Hours |
Photos
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| Duck Bay Trail at Newport Wilderness Park in Door County |
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| Duck Bay Trail at Newport Wilderness Park in Door County |
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| Ridge Trail at Newport State Wilderness Park in Door County |
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| Newport Trail at Newport State Park in Door County |
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| Campsite 6 at Newport State Park |
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| Europe Bay Trail - Newport State Park WI |
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| Europe Bay Trail - Newport State Park WI |
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| Europe Bay Trail - Newport State Park WI |
Video
Links
Newport State Park DNR website
Wisconsin State Park Admission Sticker Prices
WHERE TO EAT NEARBY
JJ's Bar and La Puerta - Sister Bay - Try the wet burrito!
WHERE TO STAY NEARBY
Rowley's Bay Resort - Rowley's Bay - Awesome lodge style resort open year round. Excellent prices in the off-season. Indoor pool and whirlpool. Rooms are dated.
The Landmark Resort - Egg Harbor - Resort with plenty of pools and amenities overlooking Egg Harbor from a commanding perch on the South Bluff. Rooms are suites and include a kitchenette. Indoor Pool, steamrooms, tennis, basketball, shuffleboard, 2 outdoor pools, 5 whirlpools.Located in the middle of things.
Peninsula State Park - Camping Year Round. Primitive and electric sites.
** Wisconsin Explorer is not paid in any way for recommendations. Recommendations are based on proximity, quality, and value.