Detroit Harbor contains a mixture of wetlands and a northern mesic forest on Washington Island in Door County.  A car/passenger ferry leaves from Gils Rock at the northern tip of Door County and arrives a stone’s throw from the natural area on Washington Island.  As I recall, it is not cheap as you must pay for your person and your car if you are driving.  But considering there are 5 SNA’s scattered across the 6 mile x 5 mile island.  Additionally, if you are camping at Rock Island State Park, you will need some method to get your gear to that ferry launch, which is on the far side of Washington Island.

 This is a property owned by the Door County Land Trust, whose natural area properties are generally well-marked, easy to find, and in good shape.  There is a trailhead at the intersection of Lobdell Point Road and Green Bay Road.  An old logging trail leads through the forest but can be quite wet at times.  Disappointingly, the trail leads nowhere near the wetlands.  My brother and I made our way in that direction, but could not explore too far due to the high water.  It is an area reminiscent to me of an ocean estuary, not that I have seen many of those.  Some day I would like to return here as well as the other sites on the island.  Rock Island is a special place too and makes for unique Wisconsin experience.

More of my photos (and full-res) from Detroit Harbor can be viewed here.

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