Spring doesn’t arrive in Door County all at once; it tiptoes in.
You notice it first in the birdsong. Absent since the end of last year, our avian friends begin to return and catch us up on everything they've been up to while they've been down south. Grass begins to peek out from under the melting snow, and green shoots push their way up into the sunlight.
That’s when I know: it’s time to point folks toward the trails.
Over the years, I’ve sent hundreds of guests out in search of wildflowers. Some come back with muddy boots, some with photos, but all return with that particular quiet, content look that only a spring hike can give you. Whether you’re staying with us or just passing through, here are my three favorite wildflower hikes to recommend.
Ridges Sanctuary
If you only have time for one wildflower walk, I’ll send you straight to Ridges Sanctuary.
There’s something extra special about our incredible next door neighbor in spring. The boardwalk trail winds over creeks, through swails and sandy, rocky ridges, and into the dense evergreen forest of Baileys Harbor. You’ll see delicate blooms like lady slippers peeking out from the forest floor, and the subdued, shapely bells of carnivorous pitcher plants lurking in the water - quiet, patient, and easy to miss if you don’t slow down.
I always tell guests: don’t rush this one. Walk softly. Look down as much as you look ahead. Spring here is subtle, and that’s the whole point.
Logan Creek
Now, for something a bit different, head over to Logan Creek Preserve.
This hike starts in a beautiful meadow of sweeping grasses before meandering through a hardwood beech forest, then descending into a cool, shady stand of hemlock by the waters of Clark Lake. The eponymous creek winds throughout, often gurgling under bridges and boardwalks.
Here amongst the trees you'll find a carpet of trilliums and scapes, with sprays of trout lily, hepatica, and bloodroot jostling for attention. If the conditions are right, you may even spot a variety of mushrooms.
Meissner Preserve
Our friends at the Door County Land Trust are responsible for preserving a vast portion of the peninsula, and one of the crown jewels of their efforts is the Meissner Preserve.
The trail head is inconspicuous and easy to miss if you're not keeping a sharp lookout, but once you've ducked into the arborvitae and larch tunnel leading into the property you'll understand why this place is so wonderful. Keen eyed hikers will find blossoming wild strawberry, spring beauty, and possibly even marsh marigold.
In particular, pay special attention to the wetlands around the culvert to spy spawning northern pike and their fry!
Every spring, the wildflowers remind me why people fall in love with this place. It's not because they’re flashy, but because they’re fleeting. There's an ephemerality to the county's varied seasons and it's spring flowers that only serves to enhace their beauty.
They don’t last long. You have to catch them at just the right time, on just the right trail, under just the right light. And when you do, it feels like you’ve been let in on a secret.
So if you find yourself here in spring, stop by the desk. I’ll point you toward the nearest trail, and tell you what’s blooming that week.
Just keep the words of Door County conservation legend Emma Toft in mind: Flowers are loveliest where they grow. Love them, enjoy them, but leave them so.
Sam - Innkeeper