Nature
Preservation of Door County's pristine beauty is the principle mission of a number of organizations on the Peninsula. There are two places, in particular, in the county where visitors can see that work firsthand and learn about the Peninsula's delicate ecosystem. They are The Ridges Sanctuary near Baileys Harbor and the Ephraim Wetland Preserve.
The Ridges has been actively preserving ecologically important lands, and the thousands of living things which depend on them, since it was founded in 1937. These protected lands include a large area of beach ridges which have formed on the northern end of Baileys Harbor. Over time, the changing water levels of Lake Michigan have created a series of low sandy ridges, with wetlands called swales stretching between them. This ridge-swale habitat is well-preserved at the sanctuary and provides a home for over 400 species of plants and hundreds of other birds, animals and insects. More than 25 species of native orchids, and over a dozen plants listed on the Wisconsin Threatened and Endangered Species List, grow there.
Visitors can learn more about the treasures of The Ridges Sanctuary by taking a naturalist-guided tour through the ridges and across the swales. Guided hikes are offered twice a day at (M-Sa) 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. during the months of June, July and August. Call (920) 839-2802 for tour times in May, September and October.
Find the Ephraim Wetlands Preserve on the southern edge of Ephraim. You can access the area from Highway 42 May through October. As you head north, turn right or east when you see the Ephraim Wetlands Preserve sign. There is a map at the entry and 14 educational signs along the way.
Here, seven acres of wetlands have been preserved through efforts of the village of Ephraim. On two trails with man-made bridges, you can hike one-third of a mile through the area. Circling the New Life Meadow, the loop is the larger trail and has a 45-foot bridge. On the swamp loop, you’ll cross over two bridges — one 160 feet long and another 65 feet long. There’s also a small spur called the white pine trail.
