Ellison Bluff features nice view from atop a 200-foot bluff overlooking the Green Bay side of Lake Michigan. The site is easily reached via Ellison Bluff Park Road to its end, a large parking area and trailhead.
Ellison Bluff is formed by the Niagara Escarpment, a rock formation that forms the spine of Door County and stretches all of the way to New York. From the parking area, one large observation overlook and a smaller one are just short steps away. A nice, calm woodland trail winds through the tall trees and beautiful displays of spring wildflowers. Large-flowered trillium, large-flowered bellwort, wild columbine, northern wild comfrey, yellow lady’s-slipper, and violets were abundant in mid-May. This site is rather large and some off-trail exploration would be necessary to see the bulk of it. I would be interested in exploring the talus slope below the blufftop, but as of yet, I do not know if there is a way down there from the parking area; reaching that may require an approach via water.
More of my photos (and full-res) from Ellison Bluff can be viewed here.
Additional Information
| SNA # | 378 |
| County | Door |
| Natural Communities / Geology |
Bluff, Forest, Niagara Escarpment, Cliff |
| Size (Acres) | 195 |
| Parking | Parking Area (gravel) |
| Trails | Yes |
| Easy to Find | Yes |
| Best Seen By | Foot |
| Marked Boundaries | No |
| Ownership | Door County (PDF); More info: Wisconsin DNR |
| Located Within | Ellison County Park |
| Dates Visited | 5.22.10 |
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State Natural Areas of Wisconsin 