9 Best Things to Do in Door County in the Winter

Door County, Wisconsin, has a well established summer community. But did you know it is also a winter wonderland? Read on for things to do in Door County in the winter. Just remember to pack your warmest winter gear.

The writer was hosted for this trip.

Scandinavian fish boils aren’t the only way to celebrate the Swedish, Norwegian and Finnish heritage of Door County, Wisconsin. Here you can enjoy Friluftsliv (open-air living). This is ideal during the pandemic. There are so many things to do in Door County in the winter that you can stay safe AND have fun.

This Midwest destination attracts attracts visitors from Chicago, Minneapolis, Milwaukee and Detroit, but the easiest access for those further afield is the tiny airport in Green Bay. This makes the Door Peninsula a more socially distanced location worthy of a wintertime getaway now, or when Covid-19 is no longer a concern.

Four state parks in Door County offer miles of trails for cross country skiing. If speed is more your thing, you can get thrills from all the snowmobile trails or zip across a frozen lake. I was happy just to walk out on a frozen lake and belt out “Let It Go.”

Things to Do in Door County in the Winter

1. Cross Country Skiing

Peninsula State Park has 16 miles of groomed ski trails. They vary from easy to difficult. Crossroads at Big Creek, a nature preserve in Sturgeon Bay, has a ski-for-free program on weekends. There’s not even a charge for rentals! The 30-mile Ahnapee State Trail, from Sturgeon Bay to Kewaunee, also has cross country skiing.

TravelingMom Tip: Carry a small water bottle with you. There is nowhere to get anything to drink while you are out on the trails.

2. Snowshoeing

Peninsula State Park has six miles of designated snowshoe and hiking trails in the winter. But one of the best things about snowshoeing is that you can do it almost anywhere. The Wisconsin cold virtually assures you enough snow in parks and on solidly frozen lakes. But don’t try a snowshoe hike on a groomed cross country trail. That’s the one place it isn’t allowed.

TravelingMom Tip: You wear your own boots with snowshoes; make sure your boots will fit on snowshoes.

3. Kick Sledding

Like snowshoeing, this fun winter activity has almost no learning curve. And in fact, it may make it easier to be out in winter.

Door County Kick Sled in Sturgeon Bay imports these wooden sleds from Finland. For now, you have to buy one to experience this fun new thing to do in Door County in winter.

It’s actually quite a workout, particularly if you carry a kid on the front seat. And kids can use them, too. You can glide across an iced over lake, or follow groomed cross country skiing trails.

I wonder if my Labrador Retriever would be willing to play Iditarod with me?

4. Ice Sculptures at Cave Point

Cave Point County Park has limestone sea caves with dramatic ice sculptures. It has great views of Lake Michigan and the eastern Door Peninsula. This is a great place to visit as the sun sets, when the light hits the ice. Photo Credit: Judy Antell

The paths get very slippery, so step carefully. There are also large blowholes where water sprays up so watch your step.

5. The Ridges Sanctuary

You can take a walk or even snowshoe the boardwalk at The Ridges Sanctuary, a nature preserve in Baileys Harbor. We had planned to snowshoe, but no recent snowfall meant the boardwalk was bare. But no matter; the guided hike was so interesting. We learned about the topography of ridges and swales formed by the movement of Lake Michigan. the nature preserve attracts wildlife and you can walk on your own or rent snowshoes from the visitors center.

Door County has 11 historic lighthouses and The Ridges Sanctuary has the unique Baileys Harbor Range Lights. From the water, sailors had to line up red and white lights of two lighthouses to ensure safe passage.

6. Ice Fishing

You don’t have to bring power drills and build a shack to ice fish. JJ’s Ice Fishing takes you out on the Lake Michigan to a heated ice house with predrilled fishing holes.

I decided against ice fishing because I value my fingers and toes too much. But also, it was my only time to check out Door County Distillery and its cherry infused spirits, and the wonderful expanded home good store, Bliss, in Sturgeon Bay.

7. Electric Fat Tire Bikes

Door County Kayak Tours offers guided electric bike tours year round. You can use minimal pedal assist or rely on the bike’s power. You can also take the bikes out on your own.

This is an activity for older kids. You have to be at least 5’2″ to ride the bikes; you wouldn’t want small children riding a bicycle that can go 25 mph.

8. Hiking

Whitefish Dunes State Park has the highest sand dunes in Wisconsin. There is an outdoor exhibit about the shipwrecks that happened off Whitefish Dunes.

There is relatively easy hiking here. You can also hike on snowshoe trails, but keep off groomed cross country ski trails.

9. Lawrence University’s Björklunden

This Swedish “Birch Grove by the Lake,” now owned by Lawrence University, features a Norwegian stave church. The small wooden church, in Baileys Harbor is free to visit. You can hike the wooded trails or walk down to the water.

TravelingMom Tip: Mayberry’s Carriages at Lautenbach’s Orchard Country offers sleigh rides if there is enough snow. I didn’t have time to take one.

Where to rent snowshoes and cross country skis

Nor Door Sport & Cyclery, in Fish Creek and Sturgeon Bay, rents cross country skis and snowshoes. The Fish Creek location is across the road from Peninsula State Park.

Where to Stay in Door County in the Winter

The Rushes Condominiums has two bedroom, two bath units with large stone fireplaces, stocked with wood, in the living room. It was easy to warm up here and sleep well for the next day’s activities.

The check-in building houses a small exercise room, an indoor pool and a hot tub. Best of all, there are snowshoes and cross country skis, available for free. There are a couple of miles of groomed cross country ski trails, with snowshoeing on the the left of the trail; in summer, you can bike or hike here. In summer, The Rushes offers free bike rentals.

What to Pack for Door County in the Winter

While I avoided the polar vortex on this winter trip to Wisconsin, I made sure to have proper winter attire and accessories. you will need the following:

• Two hats
• Hand warmers
• Insulated gloves / mittens
• Waterproof insulated boots with traction
• Another pair of waterproof insulated boots to fit on snowshoes (my heavy L.L.Bean boots, for example, won’t work)
• A neck gaiter (note: this is not a Covid-safe mask)
• A breathable mask for under the gaiter. I brought an antibacterial HMNKIND mask that I could hand wash each night. It was completely dry in an hour. And it’s really comfortable. They come in kid through adult sizes.
• Base layer
• Snow pants
• Your warmest coat and sweaters

What to Eat

There is plenty of great food around Door County. Just be sure to check about reduced winter hours or Covid shutdowns.