Fall Backcountry: An 8-Mile Trek in Door County, Wisconsin

Kahleag Terry
Mar 18
3 min read

To truly embrace the Midwestern fall, I knew I had to go all in. That meant a three-hour drive north to Door County for an 8-mile backcountry hike, culminating in a night of camping and soaking in some breathtaking views.

Rediscovering My Home State

Despite growing up in Wisconsin, my world was mostly confined to the southeast side of the state. Northeast Wisconsin had always been a mystery. So, this trip was a significant first. Since moving back, I’ve had countless locals recommend visiting Door County in the autumn to witness the famous fall colors and get a totally new perspective on the Lake Michigan coast.

The drive up was an immersive experience in itself, offering up sweeping farm views I hadn't seen in ages. Compared to the landscapes I’d become used to in South Carolina and Georgia, Wisconsin’s land seems to pulse with a different type of vibrance. We may lack mountains, but what we miss in peaks, we gain in miles of panoramic countryside views.

The Pack List

In classic backpacker fashion, I loaded up my 70L pack. Here's a quick look at the essentials that made the journey:

Shelter & Sleep: Tent, Sleeping Pad, 40°F Sleeping Bag, Fleece Blanket, Inflatable Pillow
The Essentials: Knife, Axe, Firestarter Pads, Medkit, Water Filter, and of course, a Hammock!
Camp Kitchen: Pots, Pans, Utensils, Measuring/Drinking Cup, Mountain House Beef Stroganoff (the reward!)
Photography: Canon R10 with an EF to RF adapter and a 50mm f/1.8 Lens
Apparel: Rain Jacket, Down Jacket, Beanie (The "Rain Kit")
Snacks: Cliff Bars, Sunflower Seeds and Beef Jerky

The Sunset Scramble at Newport State Park

My buddy Israel joined me, and we finally arrived at Newport State Park, settling on campsite #15. It was a decent 3-4 mile hike from Parking Lot #3, where we left the car.

Now for a classic rookie mistake: I was so paranoid about time that I picked up firewood near the lot, just in case it was too dark to find any later (major face-palm). So, with a 35lb pack plus what felt like an extra hundred pounds of split wood, we hit the trail.

We started at roughly 5:00 PM. In mid-October, the Wisconsin sun sets around 6:00 PM, giving us barely an hour to enjoy the forest's “fairy-like” appeal before it transformed into a grueling, prehistoric push for night shelter.

With our headlamps barely cutting through the dark, we pressed on. The terrain shifted dramatically—from a calm afternoon walk to an almost vertical scramble toward the very end.

After nearly two and a half hours of hard hiking, we finally made it to our perfect spot, nestled between the vast Lake Michigan and the beautiful, calming Europe Bay Lake.

Campfire, Cozy, and Cozy

It was pitch black, so the first priority was fire. We quickly laid down a fire-starting pad. Luckily, a previous camper had left a large pile of wood (so we carried that hundred pounds for absolutely no reason—classic!). This saved us, allowing us to build a nice log cabin fire quickly, granting us the warmth we desperately needed.

Next, I set up the tent and sleep kit immediately. I always do this; that way, if I get too tired later, all I have to do is crawl into my sleeping bag. With everything set, we could finally sit back and enjoy the fruits of our labor: beef jerky and a piping hot Mountain House Beef Stroganoff meal. We even had just enough reception to watch Surf’s Up before falling asleep. Unfortunately, we missed out on the famed Door County stargazing due to heavy cloud cover from a rainstorm moving in.

The Perfect Morning View

That morning, the rain had cleared, the sky was a crisp blue, and the view was everything. Europe Bay was incredibly calming—the perfect setting for a breakfast Cliff Bar. Before packing up, we hiked to the other side to take in the glorious Lake Michigan views.

We chose an alternate, scenic route for the hike out. It added a bit of mileage but was absolutely worth it. We walked along the bank of Newport Beach, stopping to breathe in the fresh lake air and just be present. It was all so surreal. I had no idea Wisconsin held locations this stunning, and I can't wait to share more of this area.

I highly recommend Newport State Park for backcountry camping or just a fun day hike!

What part of the hike—the challenging terrain or the view from Europe Bay—would you like to see more of?