ROCK ISLAND STATE PARK
Door County & Eastern-Most Wisconsin

As a post Konvention travel stop, Door County, that northeast WI peninsula, turned out to be a great area to visit and explore. Called the "Cape Cod of the Midwest," it's both touristy and laid-back. Two ferry rides transported us to Rock Island, via Washington Island, for a moderate perimeter circuit hike on the 912 acre state park. Some relief from the high temps was had on this mostly wooded isle with it's shaded trails and Lake Michigan breezes. No automobiles or bicycles are allowed - foot traffic only. Reserved in advance, a handful of primitive overnight campsites are available.

A well-kept 1836 lighthouse (the first in WI and the 3rd on the Great Lakes) occupies a high bluff on Potawatomi Point and is open for tours. Volunteer tour guides live in the lighthouse, taking turns at 1-week stints. A 1-mile gravel tourist trail leads to the lighthouse; other of the islands hiking trails are rustic, rocky, and rooty. The Thordarson Loop Trail runs close to the lake shore and, with a GPS (pic), you can locate a point on the rocky beach that is the eastern-most point of Wisconsin (N45 24 28, W086 48 18).

Click here: rock island state park review - wisconsin hiking trails - thebackpacker.com
Click here: Door County Wisconsin: Your Midwest Vacation Destination