Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
After parking and checking out Eagle Tower in the northern section of the park, ambi-
tious visitors can take Minnehaha (easy grade, and just over a half-mile) or Sentinel (easy
grade, and a two-mile loop) trails for some grand hiking. The former also links the South
Nicolet Bay campground (near site 844) and runs along the lakeshore with great bay vis-
tas; the latter runs through stands of maple, birch, and red pine, and a half-mile is gravel
for accessibility (as an aside, if you take the moderately difficult half-mile spur Lone Pine
Trail off Sentinel, you go up a dolomite bluff and through beech and oak trees, at one point
passing the trail's solitary pine tree, now lying along the trail). The toughest trail here, but
also the most rewarding, the Eagle Trail covers two miles skirting the harbor and a couple
of natural springs and affords challenging scrambles over 200-foot bluffs; it's a workout,
but you'll see lots of trillium and thimbleberry.
In the north, so many people hiked from Nicolet Bay to Eagle Bluff lighthouse through
cool stands of trees that a half-mile (easy) trail was formed, the Trail Tramper's Delight
Trail. Also from Nicolet Bay (specifically Welcker's Campground) the 2.2-mile (one-way)
Nicolet Bay Trail is your best bet if you're a birder. You're most likely to see turkeys.
The Nicolet Bay Trail at its halfway point links up with the moderately difficult two-
mile Hemlock Trail as it rises up a modest bluff to great views of the Strawberry Islands
as well as the three-mile loop Skyline Trail, which takes you past the residuals of old
homestead farms and fences.
Biking
Fifteen miles of on- and off-road bike trails exist, and a state trail pass ($4/day) is required.
The lovely Sunset Trail starts near the park entrance and roughly parallels Shore Road for
nearly five miles through marsh, hardwood, and conifer stands and along the littoral peri-
meter of Nicolet Bay Beach, at which point lovely back roads take you back to the park
entrance.Atduskitisdefinitelynotmisnamed.Rememberthatthistrailismulti-use,mean-
ing it's also open to foot (and wheelchair) traffic. Wheels yield to heels.
Rentals are available at Nicolet Beach Concessions (920/854-9220, $25/day) in the
northern end of the park.
Kayaking and Canoeing
You won't forget a kayak or canoe trip to Horseshoe Island, which has its own mile-long
trail. It's only a mile away from Nicolet Bay. Otherwise, kayakers and canoeists love Ten-
nison Bay on the west side of the park due to its shallow draft. A kayak is available from
Nicolet Beach Concessions (920/854-9220) for around $50 per day.
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