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    Whitefish Dunes State Park

    4.3 (25 reviews)

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    Kyle H.

    Whitefish Dunes State Park is an absolutely amazing Wisconsin State Park! Hiking, biking (red trail), nature center and beaching. Parking is so close to it all- five stars, all the way! We hiked the Yellow Trail and loved the dunes, the pines, the different topography- just over 4 miles and add in the tallest dune, Old Baldy- so worth it. The Beach is outstanding, and was clean as a whistle. No biting flies, and the swimming was outstanding. This is a "State Park", meaning effectively that you need a State Park pass to enter - $8 daily (so affordable) or annual pass options are great and support the State Parks' system.

    Alyssa M.

    There is a beach and multiple trails to experience. We hiked parts of the green and yellow trails! They are all fairly short trail distances which could fit to anyone's comfort level. They were some pretty spots throughout and a sand dune to check out.

    Aurore L.

    One of the Top 20 beaches in the country. You don't need to know much more. But still.... It's a State Park, so you'll have to pay an entrance fee; don't let it discourage you: the place is really beautiful. And you can use the sticker all day long: kill two birds in one stone (um, that's just a figure of speech - leave these seagulls alone please) and get into Peninsula State Park afterwards. Long, pristine sand beach with a swimming area. Open (partially) to dogs. Hiking trails.

    Arthur M.

    Wisconsin has some of the most beautiful state parks I have ever visited, and Whitefish Dunes ranks high on the list. The beach has soft sand, the aquarmarine water is cold and refreshing. The isolation of the Door peninsula means that even on a Sunday in July, there were not a lot of people there. My girlfriend brought an inflatable raft with an anchor and spent hours in the water. Even mid-summer, the polar vortex is still having an effect: I did not want to submerge my junk in the ice cold lake and I so I happily read and napped on shore. I love Wisconsin: a yearlong pass to the WI state parks has been a great investment.

    Beach

    Such a nice place, very peaceful and beautiful, the water is cold!! Highly Recommend! Nice vacation before it starts getting cold

    Iain S.

    I paid the $38 for all Wisconsin State Parks annually. I wasn't able to walk on the Whitefish Dunes, because water levels are very high. I took pictures from the Nature Center's deck that oversees the dunes. I took some photos of the anchor. Lake Michigan is beautiful. Cave Point County Park is a better park, because I wasn't able to walk on the dunes this time! This park also has a dog park, but you have to walk 1.5 miles to see it.

    Along the lake

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    4 years ago

    Stinky dead fish like the coast. Most disappointing of the local parks. Dunes are as expected. Would skip this one.

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    16 years ago

    great place to hike and the beach is very nice

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    10 years ago

    Lake levels are up do the beach is tiny! Beautiful summer day and a wonderful place to park yourself for sun and fun!

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    Ask the Community - Whitefish Dunes State Park

    Review Highlights - Whitefish Dunes State Park

    Whitefish Dunes State Park is an absolutely amazing Wisconsin State Park!

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    Cave Point County Park - Shoreline view looking northeast

    Cave Point County Park

    4.9(79 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    So we were here the other day when the stars aligned and there was an engagement proposal happening…read moreat the same time as teenagers cliff diving and a kayaking tour floating by. Epic! Cave Point is one of those places you just have to see when you're in Door County. The views are incredible, the waves crashing into the limestone cliffs are mesmerizing, and there are plenty of spots to stop and take it all in. Whether you're hiking, kayaking, taking photos, or just enjoying the scenery, there's always something going on. We got a little bit of everything in one visit, and it made for a memorable stop. Definitely a must-see Door County destination.

    I'm adding an update since my previous review was 4 years ago, but please also see my previous…read morereviews. This is a great park for just hopping out to get an amazing view if you're not up for hiking. We did a loop from Whitefish Dunes state park that included circling through this park as well; it was a great half day hike. The views of the caves and crashing waves from above are amazing. This is definitely a park that might be challenging for anyone with small children who struggle to follow safety rules as there are very steep drops and it's important to stay a safe distance from the edge. The new connection between this and Whitefish dunes is really nice and features a few blowholes which spout water from below when the waves are particularly high.

    Photos
    Cave Point County Park
    Cave Point County Park - The beach behind Pablo

    The beach behind Pablo

    Cave Point County Park

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    Potawatomi State Park - It's as cool to climb as it looks

    Potawatomi State Park

    4.3(29 reviews)
    11.4 mi

    Five stars, and this is based on a one day visit, of approximately 3 hours!…read more We were heading home from our stay at Peninsula State Park, and stopped in to check it out, since I had never been here before. What a lovely park! We picnicked down by the boat launch, which looks out over Sturgeon Bay and Sawyer Harbor. Our view actually consisted of two islands and the homes thereon. There is a shelter, of sorts, very near the boat ramp, and we learned that it is actually a place to process your catch....there are metal tables there to do what you need to do. After eating, we drove through the park to take in the sights and get a feel for it. We headed up to the tower, and as of our visit, it is still closed. We continued to the Old Ski Hill Overlook and got out to take some photos. We drove through more forest and ended up at the Nature Center and Park Store. Here you can rent bikes, canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards. You can also pick up a souvenir or two, or some snacks. We made a pit stop at the toilets (flushable and with nice showers) before heading out and on our way home. This park is located within a decent distance of Sturgeon Bay, but is also remote enough that you won't get the sounds of the city disturbing you at night. It is an easy drive up the peninsula from this location, and day trips are definitely doable. The only downside, as others have mentioned, is that there is no beach at this park. If that is a deal breaker, there are 4 more state parks in Door County to choose from. I don't know if we will ever camp here, but I can definitely say that I am not opposed to another visit! 49/2022

    Lovely camping spot in Sturgeon Bay! My family and I stayed over the 4th of July holiday weekend,…read moreand really enjoyed our stay. We had an RV and a tent, so we chose an electric camp-site. However there are plenty of options without electric dedicated to just tents, too! The grounds were very well-kept, including the pathways that are paved around the grounds and the trails, which are easily accessible. Plus, the main check-in cabin at the entrance seemed brand new! Would say that the bathrooms/showhouses could use an updated, but they were still indeed cleaned daily. Also worth noting that the 'beach' on-site is all rocks, so it's not the sandy kind where you can park your stuff on for the day. Instead, we made our way into town to access the beaches there. Overall great location and nice park we would return to!

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    Potawatomi State Park
    Potawatomi State Park
    Potawatomi State Park - Now for the trek downward

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    Now for the trek downward

    Polar Bear Plunge - Waiting to plunge into freezing water.

    Polar Bear Plunge

    5.0(2 reviews)
    10.1 mi

    Not sure how to rate this as I have never done a polar plunge before. The event is well organized…read more They have had 34 years to get it right. The beach is crowded with crazy people waiting to jump into frigid Lake Michigan on New Year's day. First comes the count down, then hundreds of brave souls bolt for the water only to come charging back out grabbing towels and jackets trying not to freeze stiff. My experience was a little different from most. Like everyone else, I charged in. The frigid water felt like needles piercing my skin. I got about knee deep and dove in. It was a real shock. This was the unusual thing that most don't experience. When I came up I nearly passed out. I was so dizzy I did a double dip as I fell over into the water again. I made it back to shore and quickly dried off and adorned a jacket. I can truely say this was a once in a lifetime experience.

    Well what can I say? This is a new year's day tradition here in Northeast Wisconsin. This event is…read moreso popular it draws hundreds of people. Not only locals, but people from different states and countries! I did not participate, but I was a spectator and watched my husband plunge into the frigid waters of Lake Michigan. It is a well organized event, there are t-shirts, sweatshirts and other souvenirs for sale that benefit the local volunteer fire department. It is a great event to watch, but I can honestly say I would never participate.

    Photos
    Polar Bear Plunge - Polar plunge staging area.

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    Polar plunge staging area.

    Whitefish Dunes State Park - parks - Updated August 2026

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