These 9 hiking spots within an hour drive of Sheboygan offer a chance to explore Wisconsin's natural world.

Alex Garner, Sheboygan Press
·3 min read

SHEBOYGAN – If you’re looking for a nature escape through woodlands and prairies, look no further than your home state of Wisconsin.

State parks and forests account for nearly 532,000 acres of land in the state, in addition to locally managed areas and parks, giving ample opportunities for leisure and spending time outside.

Here are nine nature areas and hiking spots to check out this holiday weekend and summer.

Natural areas a few minutes drive include Maywood and Kohler-Andrae

A couple take in a view at the beach at Kohler-Andrae State Park, Thursday, June 6, 2024, in Sheboygan, Wis.
A couple take in a view at the beach at Kohler-Andrae State Park, Thursday, June 6, 2024, in Sheboygan, Wis.

  • Ellwood H. May (Maywood) Environment Park, 3615 Mueller Road: The 135-acre park in Sheboygan has six habitats and eight trails through varied environments, like prairies, forests and wetlands. Trails are mostly flat with some hills, ranging from 0.1 to 0.7 miles. The wetland trail is 1.4 miles. Most terrains are either grass, wood chips or hand-packed soil.

  • Kohler-Andrae State Park, 1020 Beach Park Lane: The state park along Sheboygan’s shoreline has trails through sand dunes and forests. Eight trails range from 0.3 to 2.5 miles.

  • Black River Trails Loop, 6167 S. 12th St.: This 1.7-mile easy loop through prairie and woodlands abuts the Kohler-Andrae State Park. It can be completed in about half an hour.

  • Willow Creek Preserve, on New Jersey Avenue by Fresh Meals on Wheels of Sheboygan County: The Glacial Lakes Conservancy managed property is home to several restorative efforts for fish reproduction, wetlands and other wildlife management. Willow Creek has several trail loops that spread out through prairies and woodlands. Trails are "loosely maintained," according to the organization website.

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Destination point Parnell Tower is a 30-minute drive

  • Kettle Moraine State Forest – Northern Unit, Campbellsport: Several routes run throughout the northern part of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, like 31 miles of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail and a 3.5-mile loop around Parnell Tower. A handful of other trails span 2 to 11.4 miles in loops and near recreational areas and lakes. Pets aren’t allowed on the Spruce Lake Bog, Ice Age Center Moraine or Long Lake Summit trails. Pets allowed on other hiking trails must be kept on a leash no longer than 8 feet.

  • Fischer Creek Conservation Area, 13281 Lakeshore Road in Cleveland: The natural area has about a mile of shoreline, grasslands and wooded bluffs that rise to about 40 feet above the water along Lake Michigan.

Lion's Den Gorge near Port Washington about 45 minutes away

A giant oak tree towers over the land at Willow Creek Preserve, Friday, December 8, 2023, in Sheboygan, Wis. Glacial Lakes Conservancy is looking into water quality testing and recent grant to build stormwater systems in Willow Creek, an area vulnerable to wastewater runoff from neighboring businesses and roads in the Taylor Drive corridor.
A giant oak tree towers over the land at Willow Creek Preserve, Friday, December 8, 2023, in Sheboygan, Wis. Glacial Lakes Conservancy is looking into water quality testing and recent grant to build stormwater systems in Willow Creek, an area vulnerable to wastewater runoff from neighboring businesses and roads in the Taylor Drive corridor.

  • Woodland Dunes Nature Center & Preserve, 3000 Hawthorne Ave. in Two Rivers: The nature area’s hiking trails go through woodlands, meadows and marshes, ranging from 0.25 miles to 2.5 miles. There is also the overlook Harold Alyea Tower and a segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. More than half a mile of 90- to 100-foot bluffs overlook Lake Michigan.

  • Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve, 511 High Bluff Drive in Grafton: The preserve has several trail loops with bluff views, wetland bridges and stairs to the beach.

A varied bunting perches in a tree Saturday at Lion's Den Gorge Nature Preserve in Grafton. The bird, a male, was seen by dozens of birders Saturday and marked the first documented sighting of the species in Wisconsin history, according to the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology. The species is mostly found in Mexico.
A varied bunting perches in a tree Saturday at Lion's Den Gorge Nature Preserve in Grafton. The bird, a male, was seen by dozens of birders Saturday and marked the first documented sighting of the species in Wisconsin history, according to the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology. The species is mostly found in Mexico.

Two Rivers' Point Beach is about an hour away

  • Point Beach State Forest, 9400 County Highway O in Two Rivers: Six trails range from 0.75 miles to 8 miles, through forests and the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.

Some parks require admission fees

State parks — Kohler-Andrae State Park, Kettle Moraine State Forest and Point Beach State Park — require vehicle admission stickers. Daily admission rates to the listed parks are $8 for vehicles with Wisconsin license plates and $11 for vehicles with out-of-state license plates.

The rate for residents 65 years and older with Wisconsin license plates is $3. Rates for buses with Wisconsin license plates are $11 and $15 for buses with out-of-state license plates.

Have a story tip? Contact Alex Garner at 224-374-2332 or [email protected]. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @alexx_garner.

This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Best spots to hike in Sheboygan include Maywood, Kohler-Andrae State Park

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