My ride today started from Gillett towards the sunrise into Oconto Falls, where the Oconto River State Trail begins. The Oconto River State Trail is pleasant, but not well traveled which leads it to be more of a grassy path. It was short though, and just nice to mix it up.
The trail dropped me in Oconto, where I took pleasant roads along the bay – a whole different scale than the lakes I’ve seen in the Northwoods so far!
I was pleased to find, in Green Bay, many clearly marked bike lanes! And great Halloween decorations. I rode through the Cofrin Memorial Arboretum and UW-Green Bay campus to make it to Luxemburg, where I picked up the Anhapee State Trail – a Knowles-Nelson beneficiary with great signage! It gives the ATV trail signage a run for their money. 😀
Thanks to its unique habitats and recreational appeal, Door County has seen extensive Knowles-Nelson investment over the past 37 years. In total, the program has invested over $30 million across 265 projects, protecting thousands of acres throughout the county!
Door County has great roads, but its current trails don’t extend into the northern part of the peninsula. More trails would make the county even more accessible for all types of riders, and one local group is working to make that happen. Door County Trails shared more with me about their work with me on the trail today from Algoma to Sturgeon Bay.
Door County Trails, a citizen-led nonprofit, is leading a transformative movement to guide the creation of a connected, countywide network of safe, multi-use pedestrian and bicycle trails linking Door County communities, schools, natural areas, workplaces, and business hubs.
I met with Craig and Tom, two members of DCT, who told me about how Wisconsin’s Knowles-Nelson Stewardship funding has been critical in protecting the natural areas and parkland that provide the corridors for these proposed pathways across the peninsula. This funding was crucial in helping the Town of Gibraltar expand Fish Creek Park, a critical link in the Door County Trails network connecting Peninsula State Park to the headwaters of Fish Creek, the stream-side waterway resting at the base of the imposing escarpment that towers over the most of the Door Peninsula.
The Door County Trails team is now sharing its Strategic Master Plan with the 19 Door County municipalities and seeking their input in developing a countywide bicycling and pedestrian network. The role of DCT is to facilitate the process with planning, technical expertise, and boots on the ground to assure these trails meet the long-term needs of our Door County towns, villages, and city. Craig shared how DCT had just gotten a huge great to make these trails a priority, which will allow me and other riders to ride safely and conveniently even farther north in the future! These types of dedicated transportation trails will transform Door County by connecting neighbors, friends, visitors, and employees to the municipalities where they live and explore.
Join Door County Trails in its efforts to better connect our community. Explore, support, donate, or volunteer by visiting doorcountytrails.org.
My day ended in Sturgeon Bay at an event at Bay Shore Outfitters supporting Friends of Potawatomi State Park and their Run Wild event on Saturday. After miles on the trail by myself, it was so great meeting the amazing network of volunteers and passionate outdoor enthusiasts in Door County working to make Door County and all of WI such a fun place to live, work, and play!
– Sarah
Today at a glance
Day 9 | Gillett to Sturgeon Bay
Mileage: 110
Trails Covered
Community
- Discover Green Bay
- Cofrin Memorial Arboretum
- Baird Creek Preservation Foundation
- Door County Trails
- Bay Shore Outfitters
- Friends of the Ahnapee State Trail
- Friends of Potawatomi Park
- Friends of Peninsula State Park
- Friends of Rock Island State Park
- Newport Wilderness Society
- Friends of Whitefish Dunes
- Door County Land Trust
- Destination Door County
Explore Nearby
Dunn County, WI | Managed by: Landmark Conservancy
Originally intended to be a nuclear power plant site, the Meridian Barrens were protected and made public through Knowles-Nelson funding. Visitors can now hike, fish, and hunt on the land.
Eau Claire, WI | Managed by: City of Eau Claire
Eau Claire's Pheonix Park boasts a walking labyrinth, an outdoor amphitheater, the Eau Claire Farmers Market, and the Chippewa River State Trail trailhead. Knowles-Nelson funds allowed for Phoenix Park’s development and expansion.
Chippewa County, WI | Managed by: WI DNR
Tom Lawin Wildlife Area is a 2,282-acre public hunting and wildlife preserve. It's also a birding hotspot, with visitors frequently spotting waterfowl, shorebirds, American bitterns, harriers, and short-eared owls. Knowles-Nelson funded land purchases for the preserve’s expansion.
