Small Door County parks shine on the peninsula

It's hard to travel more than a few miles in Door County without running into a park.

Outdoor recreation amid the peninsula's natural beauty is one of the area's biggest draws, after all.

There are the big ones, of course: Peninsula (Wisconsin's second most popular state park), Whitefish Dunes, Newport, Rock Island and Potawatomi.

But the peninsula is also home to many smaller natural gems, from county and city parks to natural areas and nature preserves — many of which are quieter than their state cousins.

Take this small-park tour of Door County on your next trip to the peninsula.

Coming from the south, most travelers take Highway 57 from Green Bay up the southern Door's western shore to get to Sturgeon Bay. Instead, opt for the scenic route up Highway 42 through Two Rivers, Kewaunee and charming little Algoma (von Stiehl winery and Ahnapee Brewery there are worth a pit stop if you have time).

RELATED: Sip on Door County’s quieter side at von Stiehl Winery

North of Algoma, turn west onto Highway J in Forestville and cross the Ahnapee River to find the 79-acre Forestville Dam County Park. Most popular with fishermen, the park is a good spot for accessing the 48-mile Ahnapee State Trail, which stretches from Sturgeon Bay to Kewaunee.

It's also the perfect base for a bike-paddle trip. Drop your bike in Algoma on your way north, then launch a kayak or canoe from Forestville. Paddle five miles to the river's confluence with Lake Michigan, then bike back to your starting point. Note that the river just south of the Forestville dam can be rocky, so be prepared to portage a little.

From Forestville, continue following Highway 42 north to Sturgeon Bay where it meets up with Highway 57. When the two split, follow 57 to Cave Point County Park, on Cave Point Drive just south of Jacksonport.

The park is not much of a secret — it's adjacent to Whitefish Dunes State Park — and it's easy to see why it's so popular.

Blocky, white limestone cliffs line the park's shoreline, and white stones in the water give the lake a turquoise-Caribbean vibe.

The cliffs are part of the Niagara Escarpment, a rock ledge that extends nearly 1,000 miles from Niagara Falls in New York through the Great Lakes and down through eastern Wisconsin. While the ridge is often subterranean, its rocky outcrops are visible at a handful of spots in Door County.

A short hiking trail parallels the bluff top through the park and connects with a trail in Whitefish Dunes to the south. The trail also leads down to Cave Point's rocky shore.

Like other spots on the peninsula, Cave Point is popular with kayakers who launch from Whitefish Dunes' sandy beach to paddle north along the park's limestone cliffs and caves.

Join a guided kayak tour with Lakeshore Adventures out of Baileys Harbor (920-839-2055, lakeshore-adventures.com) or Door County Kayak Tours in Fish Creek (920-868-1400, doorcountykayaktours.com).

North of Jacksonport, Meridian County Park features another exposed segment of the escarpment, plus a mile-long stretch of forested sand dunes. The park encompasses a state natural area, designated in 2007, and is also located along the 45th parallel — the halfway point between the equator and the North Pole. A plaque from the Door County Historical Society marks the spot.

Continue north along Highway 57 through Baileys Harbor, then head east on Ridges Road to Toft Point State Natural Area. The 743-acre preserve on a one-mile-wide peninsula is part of the Ridges Sanctuary-Toft's Point-Mud Lake Area National Natural Landmark.

It features a series of sand ridges and swales with hardwoods and evergreens more typically found farther north, plus some of the greatest biodiversity in the state.

The Toft family settled on the small peninsula in 1871 and fell in love with its natural beauty.

Surrounded by fervent logging, quarrying and other development in the area, the Tofts — ahead of their time — fought to protect and preserve their slice of land. Thanks to their efforts, Toft Point looks much like it did when European settlers first arrived.

It would be easy to spend an entire day exploring Toft Point, but there's more to explore farther north.

Follow Highway 57 north to Sister Bay, then continue along Highway 42 to Porcupine Bay Road and turn left. Follow that to Ellison Bluff Road and turn right to enter Ellison Bluff County Park, also a state natural area. A short hiking trail leads to a wooden walkway and stunning views of Green Bay and the park's limestone cliffs.

Back on Highway 42, continue north to Garrett Bay Road and the even-less-developed Door Bluff Headlands County Park. While there are no official trails, visitors have created their own paths through the pines on the bluff tops.

This park, situated on Garrett Bay, is also popular with kayakers. Because the small bay faces north, it is often protected from the winds that make for difficult paddling conditions elsewhere around the peninsula.

Near the public put-in point on Garrett Bay Road is the shipwreck of the Fleetwing, an 1867 schooner built in Manitowoc that ran aground on the bay's rocky beach in 1888. While some of the ship's cargo was salvaged, most of its hull was abandoned and is still visible in the bay's cold, clear waters.

From Door Bluff, get back on Highway 42 and follow it to the edge of the peninsula. This route takes you down one of the county's most photogenic man-made spots, a serpentine stretch of road between Gills Rock and Northport.

At Northport, hop on the Washington Island Ferry for the 30-minute ride across Death's Door to Detroit Harbor. Ferries run on the hour through June, and more frequently in the summer.

Tickets are $13.50 for adults, $7 for kids ages 6-11 and free for those 5 and under. Arrive at least 15 minutes early and bring your bike ($4) or car ($26) across with you — you'll need it for getting to your next destination.

Follow the road out of the harbor and turn left onto Main Road, then right onto Jackson Harbor Road to find Schoolhouse Beach Park.

The small park features an expansive beach of smooth, white limestone rocks, which stretch out into the clear waters of the sheltered Washington Harbor.

It's an enchanting and unique spot — the perfect place to end your tour of Door County's little natural gems.

More information: Most county parks and state natural areas are free and open to the public.

For more on Door County's county parks, see map.co.door.wi.us/parks.

For more on natural areas and state parks on the peninsula, see dnr.wi.gov.

Spring is a good time to visit Door County, when crowds are smaller and cherry and apple blossoms begin to bloom.

The countywide Season of Blossoms celebration includes special events and packages through June 4. For more information, contact the Door County Visitors Bureau at (920) 743-4456 or see doorcounty.com.

RELATED: Door County blossoms with things to do in spring

Getting there: Door County is about 150 miles north of Milwaukee via I-43 and Highway 42 or Highway 57.