Trails

The Newport State Park maintains nearly 40 miles of trails, along which you’ll find wilderness campsites. By far the most popular area of the park is the northern tier and the two trails along Europe Lake—one of the largest of the county’s inland lakes—a pristine, sandy gem uncluttered by development. With sandy forests and rocky beaches with great views of Porte des Mortes and the surrounding islands, it’s got it all. Gravel Island, viewable from Lynd Point, is a national ornithological refuge.

In the southern section of the park, the Newport, Rowleys Bay, and Ridge Trails alternately pass through meadows, wooded areas, and along limestone headlands on the coast, mostly along old logging roads. Spider Island, viewable from the Newport Trail, is another wildlife refuge for nesting gulls.

Fifteen of the park’s trail miles allow mountain bikes, and bike camping is possible, though the park warns of porcupine damage to bikes overnight! Note that the trails are for the most part hardpacked dirt but are regularly pocked with bikers’ land mines—potholes of quicksand, python-size tree roots hidden under leaves, and more than a few spots of gravel (and porcupines). Essentially, anywhere that hikers go a bike can get to, just not always on the same trail. The most conspicuous off-limits areas are the shoreline routes—it’s too tempting for bikers to whip down onto the fragile sands.

Camping

Here’s the reason outdoor aficionados pilgrimage to Newport State Park regularly—there’s no vehicular access to campsites. Sites are strictly walk-in (a modestly strenuous hike to some, a serious pack to most, but it sure beats the traffic death of Potawatomi State Park and Peninsula State Park; the shortest hike in is one-half mile, the longest nearly four miles).

Two sites on Europe Lake are waterside, so canoes can land and camp; the Lake Michigan side has plenty of lakeside sites. Winter camping is outstanding here. As always, reserve way early.

© Thomas Huhti from Moon Wisconsin, 5th Edition