Mink River Estuary

One of the Nation's Few Remaining High Quality Estuaries

Mink River © Harold E. Malde

Why You Should Visit
Waters from the Mink River and Lake Michigan combine to form this freshwater estuary. The visitor will enjoy a habitat almost identical to that witnessed by the Potawotami Indians, who lived here more than 100 years ago.

A leisurely canoe trip from Rowley's Bay to the spring-fed headwaters of the Mink River provides a great opportunity for bird watching.

What is an Estuary?
An estuary is an area in which river water mixes with water from a large lake or an ocean.

As a spawning habitat and source of organic material, productive estuaries are vital to the Lake Michigan ecosystem. But they are fragile. Most estuaries along the Great Lakes have been destroyed because they cannot easily share precious shoreline with commercial and residential development.

Location
North East Wisconsin at Northern end of the Door Peninsula, about 4 miles southeast of the Village of Ellison Bay

Hours
Open year round, dawn to dusk

Conditions
This is a great place to hike, canoe and cross-country ski.

The best way to see the wetlands is via canoe. Canoe and kayak rental is available at Door County Kayak Tours. Contact them at (920) 868-1400 or at http://www.doorcountykayaktours.com/Kayak-Mink-River-Estuary.htm.

The trail off of Newport Drive (Cnty Hwy NP) is unmarked but well-defined.

The trails off of Mink River Road are unmarked and can be confusing to follow.

In winter, watch for snowmobiles on the main trail.

How to Prepare for Your Visit
Please see "Preserve Visitation Guidelines"

Directions
 
Canoe Access:
From intersection of State Hwy 57 and State Hwy 42 in Sister Bay:

• Travel 2 miles north on 42 to County Hwy Z
• Turn east (right) on County Hwy Z and go to the Wagon Trail Campground on Rowley's Bay. A boat landing and canoe rental are available. 
• Follow the shoreline north to reach the mouth of the Mink River.

Hiking Access:
From the intersection of Hwy 57 and Hwy 42 in Sister Bay:

• Follow County Hwy ZZ east 3 miles, then north for 2.25 miles to County Hwy Z.
• Take Z east (right) 0.5 mile to Mink River Road.
• Go north (left) on Mink River Road about 1.5 miles to the preserve parking area on the right (east) side of the road.

You can also access the preserve from Newport Drive on the east side of the river:

• From Ellison Bay, travel east on Hwy 42 about 2.25 miles to Newport Drive. 
• Take Newport Drive south (right) 1 mile to the Conservancy parking area on right side of road. 
• Note: Arrows mark some trail junctions.

What to See: Plants
The diverse vegetation in the estuary features communities from white cedar swamps to wild rice marshes.

Lowland forest, dominated by white cedar, surrounds the edges of the marsh.

What to See: Birds
This is a critical migration site for birds: More than 200 species may pass through the area annually. These include the following:

• Bitterns
• Black-crowned Night Herons
• Black Duck
• Black Terns
• Blue-winged Teal
• Common Loons
• Great Blue Herons
• Herring Gulls
• Marsh Hawks
• Wood Duck

In late summer and fall, it's possible to see double-crested cormorants and red-breasted mergansers. And evidence exists of habitation by the bald eagle and sandhill crane.

Why the Conservancy Selected This Site
Mink River Estuary is one of the few high quality estuaries remaining in the United States. A wetlands ecosystem, it is an important spawning ground for fish and provides habitat for wildlife, including beaver, porcupine and muskrat.

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
As of November 6, 2007, the Conservancy has protected 1,757 acres at Mink River Estuary.  This figure includes lands owned and managed by the Conservancy, conservation easements, government co-ops and assists.

Despite development and use, careful local conservation has helped protect the freshwater estuary in much the same condition as when it was inhabited by the Potawotami Indians more than a century ago.