Exploring Toft Point – Door County Pulse
by Mary Spittell
We are fortunate to have so many beautiful places to get outside and active in Door County, and a favorite option for many is Toft Point in Baileys Harbor. A straight one-mile hike through both a boreal forest and then a meadow takes you to Moonlight Bay and a beautiful view of Lake Michigan. This trail is lovely every time of year (a favorite one for me was a snow covered, full-moon hike there!), and has some excellent birding opportunities too, including 17 types of nesting warblers. The lake rises and falls, but if it is low enough there can be up to two miles of beautiful limestone and dolomite shoreline to walk, so I recommend wearing shoes with good traction.
Toft Point is owned by The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and the Wisconsin Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. It was recognized by the National Park Service as a National Natural Landmark and designated as a State Natural Area in 1967. Note that pets and camping are not allowed in this special area.
If you love hiking adventures, share your photos with us by tagging @doorcountypulse and using the hashtag #doorlens.
Distance: 1-mile
Difficulty: Easy
Highlights: One of the more remote hikes on the peninsula, Toft Point features two miles of Lake Michigan Shoreline.
