Europe Bay Woods is the second of two SNA’s found within Newport State Park, along with Newport Conifer-Hardwoods as previously discussed here. It features a mixed forest located on an isthmus between Europe Lake and a mile of Lake Michigan shoreline. Access is available via the Hotz and Europe Bay trails with trailheads on Europe Bay Road.
Still waiting for the sun to show on day two of Door County I, we meandered through the damp forest with occasional outlets onto the beach. There, areas of creeping juniper were interspersed with patches of lyrate rock-cress and starry false solomon. In the forest, fringed milkwort and American starflower were the primary forbs. On a return visit some three years later, we spent a little time venturing over the crest of the isthmus to explore a bit of the shoreline of Europe Lake itself. For the adventurous, there are three campsites spreadout along the the trails in this area, including a couple more than a mile from the nearest parking area. Despite the dreary experience, I wouldn’t mind a return visit here, perhaps following the forest trail all the way to the northern extent of the site and then walking the beach the entire way back.
More of my photos (and full-res) from Europe Bay Woods can be viewed here.
Additional Information
| SNA # | 379 |
| County | Door |
| Natural Communities / Geology |
Northern Dry-Mesic Forest, Boreal Forest, Northern Mesic Forest, Sand Dunes |
| Size (Acres) | 191 |
| Parking | Parking Area (paved) |
| Trails | Yes |
| Easy to Find | Yes |
| Best Seen By | Foot |
| Marked Boundaries | No |
| Ownership | Wisconsin DNR |
| Located Within | Newport State Park |
| Dates Visited | 5.22.10 / 7.13.13 |
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State Natural Areas of Wisconsin 