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Hiking

Peninsula State Park

Peninsula has a total of 20 miles of hiking trails. Weborg Point is a major migration stopover for warblers in mid-May. Peninsula's 8-mile shore often yields views of bufflehead ducks, mergansers and bald eagles. Ask for a bird checklist at the park headquarters or the nature center.

An outdoor track wheelchair can be checked out for use by park visitors on certain days of the week. The wheelchair can be checked out through the Friends of Peninsula website [exit DNR].

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Eagle trail (2.0-mile loop)

More difficult. Remarkable 150-foot cliffs, springs and forested terraces make Eagle Trail memorable. Several steep, rocky sections offset a level segment that parallels Eagle Harbor. Trilliums and thimbleberry brighten the trailside, as does less common cranberry viburnum. Access at Eagle Terrace, Eagle Panorama or Tower.

Hemlock trail (1.8 miles, one way)

Moderate. Lake iris greets hikers at the edge of a cedar-hemlock forest. Skirt up a low bluff and glimpse the Strawberry Islands through birch and pine trees. Access near Weborg Campground or Tennison Bay Campground.

Lone Pine trail (0.5 miles, one way)

Moderate. This trail connects to several convenient loops. Ascend a dolostone bluff, then hike a forest dominated by beech, maple and oak trees. Can you spot the solitary white pine, the trail's namesake, now lying on the forest floor? Access at the southeast corner of South Nicolet Campground.

Minnehaha trail (0.7 miles, one way)

Easiest. This refreshing lakeshore trail links South Nicolet Bay Campground and Eagle Trail. Access near campsite 844.

Nicolet Bay trail (2.2 miles, one way)

Moderate. Watch for wild turkeys and pileated woodpeckers in a forest of basswood, white ash and hemlock trees. This trail passes within a quarter-mile of Nicolet Beach, with convenient access gained from the amphitheater parking lot or Welcker's Campground.

Sentinel trail (2.0-mile loop)

Easiest. Walk past stands of maple, beech and red pine. Trail signs interpret forest ecology. A .6-mile portion of the trail is graveled for universal access. Access at Eagle Tower.

Skyline trail (3.0-mile loop)

Moderate. Climb to Sven's Bluff through rolling terrain. Watch for stone fences and open meadows, which are remnants of long-ago farms. Hikers can connect to other trails via Skyline. Access at the Skyline parking lot on Shore Road.

Trail Tramper's Delight trail (0.5 miles, one way)

Easiest. This trail name originated in the early 1920s when hikers walked from Nicolet Bay to Eagle Bluff Lighthouse. In the hot summer, the shaded path provided a cool walk, which was a trail tramper's delight. Access near Eagle Bluff Lighthouse.

Vita Course trail (1.0-mile loop)

Eleven exercise stations wind through beautiful forest scenery. Stations develop strength, stamina and coordination for different ability levels. Access at the southwest corner of the amphitheater parking lot.

White Cedar nature trail (0.5-mile loop)

Easiest. Self-guided nature trail teaches about deer ecology. Access at the nature center.