Kenosha County, WI
If the mention of Kenosha County, WI brings to mind visions of The Cheese Castle, you might want to take a second look at this unassuming stretch of southernmost Wisconsin. Kenosha County makes for a pleasant, quiet punctuation between Chicago and Milwaukee.
As is true of many places where there doesn’t seem to be “much to do”, it’s pretty easy to find areas devoid of crowds, even directly on the shores of Lake Michigan.
Kenosha County, WI: more than prairie, and definitely very pleasant!
County and Local Parks
Petrifying Springs Park (“Pets” to locals) is the flagship of Kenosha County Parks. Home to one of the State’s natural hardwood forests, with Pike River running through it, it is a beautiful place to enjoy the great outdoors. Tough it is centered around a golf course, and has a popular paved trail for general recreation, it also has over 5 miles of multi-use trails, rustic paths along a stretch of river, plus another 5 miles of dedicated hiking trails for those who prefer a more rugged experience. The trails can be used for cross-country skiing in winter, with lighted trails available on the golf course.
Bristol Woods Park. Though not as large as Pets, Bristol Woods Park feels a bit more remote, and has over 4 miles of hiking trails with some light ups and downs over its 200 acres. You can hike through several protected natural areas, including upland and bottomland forests, restored prairie and wetlands. It is also home to Boundless Adventures, an eco-friendly aerial adventure park, and Pringle Nature Center, which offers snowshoe rental in winter.
Simmons Island Beach. Although it is a popular destination for beachgoers, those accustomed to the lakefront crowds in Chicago will definitely appreciate the toned down vibe (not to mention the ability to easily park your car for free if you’ve come here for a day trip). You’ll find plenty of space to spread out and enjoy the big lake in relaxed, laid back surroundings. A boardwalk on the beach leads to the pier and the lighthouse, which houses the Kenosha Lighthouse Studio.
It is noteworthy that Kenosha has not just one but two lighthouses at this location. The historic Southport Light Station and Museum showcases the restored light-keeper’s home and houses the antique Fresnel lens. The iron spiral staircase will take you to the tippy-top, but it in not for the faint of heart (or for the faint of knees).
State Parks & Camping
Though Kenosha County doesn’t have a State Park per se, the Richard Bong State Recreation Area (with its entertaining name, after a WWII fighter pilot, Richard —um… Dick— Bong) is a sprawling 4,600-acre natural area managed by the Wisconsin DNR. The Molinaro Visitors and Nature Center serves as the gateway to the park, with nature exhibits and information on the park’s resources.
Here you will find a mixture of several habitats, including vast grassland with sections of restored prairie, numerous wetlands and a bit of woodland (and the second largest Bald Cypress tree in the state). The park has two camping areas with non-electric options available for tent campers. Some campsites are unfortunately quite open, and I’d avoid those unless my life depended on it. Try to score one in the wooded areas, which provide a good degree of privacy.
There are nearly 30 miles of trails for biking, cross-country skiing, hiking, plus equestrian and ATV trails.
Nature Preserves
Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary and Arboretum. This nonprofit nature sanctuary is a go-to destination for bird lovers in Southeastern Wisconsin. Its floodplain and upland forests, arboretum and and open wildflower prairie provide a rest stop during migration, and haven throughout the breeding season for many species of birds.
Between the arboretum and the 90 acre preserve, there are over 5 miles of trails meandering along Pike River, a variety of wooded groves, a ravine and restored wetland.
Kenosha Sand Dunes offer quite a different outdoor experience. Though nowhere near as imposing as the Indiana Dunes, this area contains open and stabilized gently rolling sand dunes covered with grasses and sparse vegetation. Farther inland are some marshy ponds surrounded by cattails and mature trees.
Despite its relatively small size, the variety of habitats here supports a number of rare and geographically restricted species of plants and animals.
There is a 2-mile loop trail along Lake Michigan and through the near-shore dunes. Though you may encouter other hikers here, you’re likely to enjoy beautiful Lake Michigan views and wind-swept dunes in silence and solitude that are so uncommon in Chicago.
Must Do
Ride on the bike trails. Cyclists traveling north from the Illinois border can ride most of the way through Kenosha County on a series of dedicated bike trails, and some on-street connectors. You have a choice to stay on Kenosha County Trail (Route of the Badger), a dedicated trail that is the continuation of Robert McClory Path out of Illinois, and connect via local roads to the lakefront trails just south of Kenosha. Or, if you prefer to ride closer to the lakefront, use lightly traveled, bike-friendly roads out of Illinois with views of the lake almost the entire way through the county.
Drink beer. For some bikers, nothing tastes as good as a cold draft beer after a long ride. In Kenosha County (as in many parts of the state of Wisconsin), public parks feature summertime biergartens, which are a fabulous innovation, and a great opportunity for a relaxing thirst quencher during summer months.
Drink water. For a less intoxicating refreshment, Petrifying Springs park is home to an artesian well, which is a natural source of pure and completely free spring water. Bring your reusable bottle, and join the locals to fill up at the well spigot located at the north end of Parking Lot 1.
Best Kept Secret
Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area occupies a narrow strip of shoreline along Lake Michigan in southeast Wisconsin, hidden away among residential communities, and relatively unknown. It is part of the last unbroken stretch of prairie of its kind in the state. It supports more than 400 plant species, including 26 rare plants. It is a part of the larger system known as Chiwaukee Prairie-Illinois Beach Lake Plain. Together, this landscape represents the highest quality remaining coastal area in southeast Wisconsin and in all of Illinois.
Seno Woodland Education Center in Burlington, WI. This nature center (named after Dr. Elvira Seno) follows its founder’s mission to educate the public about sustainable forestry practices. The property includes 2.8 miles of well marked main trails through the woodlands and a large prairie trail with abundant opportunities for birdwatching, plus additional 2.9 miles of other trails and fire breaks, a boardwalk bordering Tamarack Bog, and a wildlife viewing area.
Silver Lake Mountain Biking Trails. A quick trip over the state border will take Chicago area MTB enthusiasts to a network of purpose-made single track at Silver Lake. Over 10 miles of fast, fun and flowing trails, which are great for the beginner rider to intermediate riders, and groomed for winter enjoyment.
Adjacent Attractions
Don’t let the county borders stop you from exploring further afield. In neighboring Walworth County, you will find Big Foot Beach State Park on the shores of Lake Geneva, with wooded campsites, a sand beach, 6.5 miles of hiking trails.
Coming up next: Porter Co, IN; Racine Co, WI