Added by Jon Mattrisch
About 45 minutes north of Milwaukee, Kohler-Andrae State Park is nestled along the shores of Lake Michigan and features many boardwalk trails with stunning vistas.
This park is known for its sand dunes, which rise above the blue waters of Lake Michigan. In addition to the well-known dunes, the park features many forested areas with towering pines that makes for absolutely beautiful and fantastical scenery. There are 7 trails ranging from 0.25 miles up to 2.5 miles.
You will need an admission ticket ($5) that last for the entire day. The park office takes cash and cards.
Getting to Kohler-Andrae State Park is very easy. Coming from Milwaukee, head north along I-43 towards Sheboygan. Take exit 120 and go east along Highway V for about 2 miles. Highway V will then turn left (north) and turn into Beach Park Lane, the park entrance road.
Pack List
- Vehicle admission sticker ($5) to be purchased at the park entrance
- Athletic shoes work best as the boardwalk can be very uneven in certain areas
- Water bottle or backpack with you so that you can stay on the trails longer
- Items for a picnic along the beach as it makes for a very romantic setting
Please respect the places you find on The Outbound.
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures. Be aware of local regulations and don't damage these amazing places for the sake of a photograph. Learn More
Activities:
Chillin, Photography, Hiking
Skill Level:
Beginner
Season:
Spring, Summer, Autumn
Trail Type:
Loop
Distance:
4 Miles
Rating:
Features:
Are we missing something?
Suggest an edit
Reviews
Leave a Review
6 months ago
Lake Beautiful
It's hard to keep your eyes off the lake as you hike these dunes :)
8 months ago
Been coming here since I was a kid
The Dunes, as they're called in Wisconsin, is one of the coolest areas in the entire state. With miles of "cordwalk" and twisting trails the follow the contours of the sand dunes, you can't go wrong visiting this park really at any time of the year. Plus, there is also tons of forest area and marshland to check out, too.
over 1 year ago
Endless Sand
It's a cute little stop for the day. Park at the Nature Center and take the corded trail down to the picnic area, this will showcase the dunes and the lake before you get terribly bored (if you're like me and not terribly fascinated with sand). From there you can pick up a wooded trail that leads you to the campground, where you can take a quick detour on the marsh trail and the Black River boardwalk. The nature trail scoops the campground and comes back to the coast. Easy loops and extremely accessible with approximately 8 parking lots. Campsites are close together but a few seem decent for tents--although the summers can be brutal for flies in the area and it's crowded. Overall, a nice little day trip is really all this place can handle. It is close enough to drive up on a Friday to camp and then move further north on Saturday.
Added by Jon Mattrisch
Outdoor enthusiast and photographer from Milwaukee, WI. Camping, hiking, exploring, biking and more. I love it all and I try to capture as much of it as possible. Exploring my home state and exhausting all there is to see, which might take me my whole life. Worth it!
FollowMore Adventures Nearby
Explore
Work with us
The Outbound Collective © 2017 • Made with love in offices, shops, and Airstreams, all over the place.