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7 Activities That Make Cave Point County Park the Best Park in Door County!

Cave Point County Park

We love this County park and so will you!

Cave Point County Park is one of the top destinations located in between Sturgeon Bay and Jacksonport, Door County!  It is a picturesque spot that has an abundance of family activities to do in and around it with a guide or without, during winter, spring, fall or summer.   Since it isn’t one of the 5 gems of the Door County parks, a lot of people overlook this amazing county park!  However, it is one of the area’s best spots to visit on your Door County Vacation. The coves, caves, turquoise waters, and beautiful Lake Michigan views make this County park a definite for your Door County vacation.

How do you get to Cave Point County Park?

After visiting Cave Point County Park, make sure to check out Whitefish Bay Dunes State Park. It’s right around the corner and one of the 5 gems of Door County.

Address for your GPS: 5360 Schauer Rd, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 | coordinates:44.930551, -87.174094 |

Driving Time from nearby cities

From Milwaukee 2.5 Hours
From Madison 3.5 Hours
From Green Bay 1 Hours
From Wausau 2.5 Hours
From Minneapolis 5 Hours
From Chicago 4.25 Hours

Cave Point Sights and Things to Do

Within the peninsula’s 19 county parks, Cave Point is the most breathtaking. Our guide on what to do is below.

Can you Swim at Cave Point County Park?

Yes, as long as it’s calm, you can swim at Cave Point County Park.  There are only a few spots to get in and out of the water, so make sure you have some athletic ability before you jump in.  And make sure you don’t cliff jump before checking out the depth.  You won’t really be able to experience or see the caves from the land, but you will be able to see Devil’s Bathtub(nicknamed by one of our past kayak guides). There are plenty of caves under the water too, but those are best left to the scuba divers and snorkelers.  The dolomite rock has been eaten away by waves for many years and when the water is rough, this is a great place to get photos of the water splashing up against the limestone and launching into the air.  Just be careful, each year, cave point county park claims lives; Marines, photographers, even kayakers.  Just another reason to go with the extra safety of a guide on a 2 hour kayak tour or a half day kayak tour.

 

Turquoise waters

You won’t believe your eyes, when you see the water some days.  We call it Jamaica Bay, because it reminds us of the Caribbean.  The waters can look like this even in the middle of winter!  Be careful and don’t get too close to the edge of the cliffs during any time of the year!

Cave Point County Park Kayak Tours

Humble self promotion.  There is no better way to see Cave Point, than by kayak on a calm day with one of our guided Door County tours. Paddlers and kayakers can enjoy a perspective land based cave point hikers can’t. Most days are pretty calm, 75% during the summer, during the spring and fall, the winds are higher and it reduces our possibility of doing the cave point kayaking tour. The park provides no accessible kayak launch though. We are lucky enough to approach Cave Point from the north at Schauer Park.  This vantage point allows us an easy retreat into safe and calm waters at Schauer Park.  Most of the large waves that roll into Cave Point are from the south, although the waves can come from the north, but that is a lot more rare, and even then, you still don’t want to approach Cave Point with a kayak from Whitefish Bay Dunes state park due to there being waves at the beach on a north wind day.  We recommend signing up for a tour in the morning early on in your vacation, which will allow you to push the tour back if we hit inclement weather.  Our goal is to kayak cave point with calm water and peaceful lapping water to listen to.

Hiking or Biking

Probably the most popular activity for Cave Point due to its ease.  The hike is not hard, but not the best for grandma, plenty of roots, slippery rocks, fallen trees and other hazards cover the trail.  Lakeside hike is a fun hike that connects to Whitefish Bay Dunes State Park.  Be mindful along the path and watch your children while you are hiking, there are many spots that are very dangerous if you fall in and there are not protective railings along the path.  Keep an eye out for poison ivy and the hole that you can see into the big cave 1/2 way down the trail.  If you do decide to go hiking during the winter, stay back from the edge.

Climbing and Cliff Jumping

Cliff jumping at Cave Point is very popular amongst the kids.  Climbing has yet to catch on as it is not a recommended activity due to the limestone rock being super crumbly and can result in injuries or death.  There are numerous overhangs, plenty of pockets, hand holds and some impassable areas.  This is one of the areas in Door County where the water has eaten away at a lot of the loose crumbly limestone rock and has left stronger rock to grip.  If you fall, a majority of the area is water, but be mindful and know that there are very shallow spots too.

Weddings and Event location

Want to host an event in a County park like a wedding, party, or family gathering?  If so, you will want to check out Cave Point County Park!  Pros:A gorgeous little 20 person gazebo and a great backdrop.  Cons: Limited parking and plenty of people in your photos depending on the day of your event.

Door County Photography

I would say that a majority of Instagram photos in Door County are hashtagged at this county park.  While cell phone service is limited, make sure to use the hashtags #cavepoint #cavepointcountypark when you do upload them.  Water splashing on the rocks, turquoise water background, cliff jumping!   Go ahead and get that selfie!  Take a walk down the path and explore some of the less frequented spots at the county park and you should find some space to get a photo without people in the background.  Try going early in the morning to find the park empty and an opportunity to get a sunset.

This isn’t all there is to do there;  Surfing, BBQing, sun tanning, and making out  are all popular as well.

If you like this post, maybe you will like these other blog posts!

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  3. 7 of the Best Hiking Trails in Door County