Whitefish Dunes State Park
Sturgeon Bay, WI
Whitefish Dunes State Park, on the Lake Michigan side of the Door Peninsula north of Sturgeon Bay, has a 6,600 foot sand beach backed by the highest dunes in Wisconsin, reaching about 93 feet. Boardwalks and trails protect the fragile dunes. Many Wisconsinites call it the best beach in the state.
The best sand beach in Wisconsin by many accounts, though the lake here gets rough on windy days.
How we score beachesWalk north along the beach to Cave Point. The shoreline shifts from soft sand to limestone ledges and sea caves.
A Wisconsin state park vehicle admission sticker is required.
Boardwalks lead from the lot to the beach; the dunes themselves are closed to climbing in protected areas.
The open lake stays cool into July, but the long beach is worth it on a hot day. Rip currents form here on windy days, so watch for posted warnings.
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Warren Dunes State Park
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