Whitefish Dunes 2026 05

Back to lake Michigan this week. In last weeks post, I talked about a hike at Bay Beach from two weeks ago. Even so the hike we did last weekend I’m going to keep that one in my back pocket for a stormy weekend.

Key Features

• Home to the State’s Tallest Dune: The park is dedicated to protecting the most substantial sand dunes on the western shore of Lake Michigan, including “Old Baldy,” which rises 93 feet above lake level. Visitors can climb a staircase to an observation platform at the top for sweeping views.
• Deep Prehistoric Roots: The park preserves a rich human history. Archaeologists have discovered evidence of eight successive Native American occupations at the site dating from 100 B.C. to the late 1800s, including the North Bay, Heins Creek, Late Woodland, and Oneota peoples.
• National Register of Historic Places: Because of its immense archaeological significance, the Whitefish Dunes-Bay View Site—where extensive prehistoric pottery, stone tools, and even charred remnants of ancient “corn cakes” were excavated—is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Recreations of these historic villages can be seen just outside the nature center.
• Preserved State Natural Area: A 230-acre section within the 867-acre state park is designated as a Wisconsin State Natural Area. It protects fragile, specialized ecosystems ranging from open lakeside foredunes to dense hardwood and boreal forests, as well as rare plant species like the dune thistle and prairie sand-reed grass.
• Encircled by a Famous Neighbor: Cave Point County Park is actually a small enclave completely surrounded by Whitefish Dunes State Park. Visitors can seamlessly walk between the two via a shoreline hiking trail to view Cave Point’s famous under-cut dolomite cliffs.
• Bordered by an Ancient Lake: In addition to its Lake Michigan shoreline, the park borders the eastern edge of Clark Lake. Clark Lake is a “bay-mouth bar lake,” formed thousands of years ago when changing lake levels and shifting sands blocked off an ancient bay.
• Exceptional Beachline: The park features roughly 6,600 feet of continuous sandy beach, widely considered one of the finest and most pristine shorelines in Wisconsin.
• Maritime History & Shipwrecks: The waters right off the park’s coast hold significant maritime history. The wreck of the Australasia —a 282-foot wooden bulk carrier that caught fire and sank in 1896—rests just 850 feet off the southern shore in about 15 feet of water. The park’s nature center and outdoor paths feature extensive shipwreck and maritime trail exhibits.
• Year-Round Trail System: Whitefish Dunes features over 14 miles of scenic trails (including color-coded loops like the Red, Black, and Green trails) that cut through forested dunes, wetlands, and exposed bedrock. In the winter, 11 miles of these paths are regularly groomed for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
• A Day-Use Only Park: Unlike many other Wisconsin state parks, Whitefish Dunes is strictly a day-use park open daily from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM. There are no campsites on-site, keeping the focus entirely on daytime recreation, hiking, and preservation.

Review

After a scenic drive up the shore north of Sturgeon Bay we reached Whitefish Dunes State Park and Cave Point County Park. Missing the turn off into the state park we ended up parking in the lots for Cave Point County Park.

After a brief bathroom break, we started hiking down the trails to the state park. Dozens of other hikers joined us on the trails yesterday. As well as millions of lake flies that emerged from the lake in the heat Friday.

Moving south we travelled along the edge of the cliffs. We listened to the waves crash against the rocks below us. At the top of the cliffs we were surrounded by Birch and Cedar trees. Small flowers had started to pop up and soak in the sun.

Though the cliffs here are only 10 to 20 feet off of the surf, but they are dramatic none the less. Winds blowing in off the lake beat the waves against the rocky shore beneath us.

At one point we passed the Lake Michigan Blow Hole. A geological feature that with the right waves shoots water into the air, though the surf was not right yesterday.

Finally though we made it to the beach. A nearly 3 mile long stretch of beach traveling south from the end of the cliffs to the town of Whitefish Bay.

A ramp lead us down to the beach and we started to hike. At the beginning of the hike on the beach I paused to take a picture. A couple was throwing a ball into the surf for their dog to retrieve. In the process of taking a picture, I suddenly felt the splash of water droplets on me. The dog wandered up to say hi to me, shaking off water as he approached. His owner was very apologetic, though I was unoffended by the incident.

We moved on passing and being passed by others enjoying the beach. The sky was relatively cloudless and the sun was high in the sky. Normally I don’t like being in direct sunlight but the wind was keeping my skin cool.

Sea Gulls and Terns were coasting on the wind as they flew over the surf looking for fish. Swallows swooped back and forth over the beach, catching lake flies in the wind.

Dunes lined the beach to our west as we walked south. These towering mounds of sand were topped by trees of all sorts. At the base of the dunes there were numerous signs indicating that climbing the dunes was illegal.

After hiking on the beach for about a mile we decided to turn back and return to our car. However with the wind to our back we found that the lake flies were using us as a wind break. The entire trip back to the cliffs we were tormented by the lake flies.

Once we got to the trees on the top of the cliffs the flies lessened. We continued on to our car only pausing for a few pictures.

The hike was nice, other than the bugs. The sound of the waves crashing against the cliffs and the beach was exciting. Our previous two hikes along lake Michigan were calm by comparison.

While most of Door County is experienced by tourist in the cities on the Bay of Green Bay side of the Peninsula with shopping and Peninsula State Park, there are many more things to do. However there are hidden gems like Whitefish Dunes to discover.

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