Toft Point for an Afternoon Hike

Toft Point is located on Toft Road in Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin, on a beautiful 732-acre natural area managed by UW–Green Bay. This quiet preserve is one of Door County’s hidden gems, with boreal forest, mossy woods, historic remnants, rocky Lake Michigan shoreline, and peaceful hiking trails.

If you enjoy places that feel a little wild, a little quiet, and a little tucked away from the usual crowds, Toft Point is well worth the visit. The hike leads through the woods to open shoreline, old cabin remains, and one of the more interesting natural areas in Door County.

Toft Point Natural Area in Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin

Toft Point is one of those Door County places that feels a little more hidden than the usual stops. The preserve includes forest, shoreline, wildlife habitat, and traces of the area’s past, all in a setting that feels quiet and undisturbed. It is a lovely place for an afternoon hike if you enjoy nature, birds, woodland trails, and rocky Lake Michigan scenery.

Where Is Toft Point Located?

Pointers Before You Go

If you use the Google Map link above, it may first bring you to a dead-end area near the Lake Michigan shoreline. It is beautiful there, and if you look out toward the water you may even spot the Baileys Harbor Bird Cage Lighthouse on the island offshore.

That shoreline spot is lovely, but it is not exactly where you want to begin the main hike to Toft Point. The directions can be a little tricky because the preserve sits in an area where the roads do not always display clearly on GPS. Keep reading and I will point you in the right direction.

Finding Toft Point Road

Toft Point is reached from Toft Road in Baileys Harbor. Take Highway 57 to Ridges Road on the north end of Baileys Harbor, then turn toward Toft Road. The sign can be a little easy to miss because it sits back in the woods on the right-hand side.

If you drive too far, do not worry — you may need to turn around and watch more closely for the road entrance. It does not feel like you are heading to a major park, which is part of why this place still feels like a hidden gem.

Toft Road is unpaved and leads through the woods to a small parking area. The first time there, it almost feels like you are heading the wrong way or about to end up at a private residence, but keep going.

Thankfully, it does lead to the preserve.

Parking at Toft Point

There is a small parking area before the barrier, with room for only a handful of vehicles. It is not a large lot, so parking carefully and considerately really matters here.

No park pass or entrance fee is needed to use the property.

The Hike Through the Woods

We did not log the exact distance, but the walk to the first clearing felt like roughly a mile. The hike itself is beautiful and peaceful, and the forest is one of the highlights of the experience.

You walk through a boreal forest with bright mosses, fallen logs, shelf fungi, and the kind of woodland growth that makes you want to stop often and look more closely.

Words really do not capture the untouched beauty of Toft Point. Even heading into the colder season, there was still so much to notice in the woods.

It was late in the afternoon when we visited, with a gloomy sky and chilly air coming off the lake, which gave the whole hike a quiet and moody feel.

There were downy woodpeckers tapping in the trees and the distinctive drumming sound of ruffed grouse deep in the woods.

At one point, we also heard owls hooting in the distance. We never spotted them, but just listening for them in the fading afternoon light was exciting enough.

The First Clearing

This was the kind of exploring I love. There is an old cabin village on the property, with some structures still standing and other places marked only by stone foundations.

The cabins were named after the children of Thomas Toft, whose family owned and maintained the land. You cannot go inside the buildings, but you can walk around them and explore the area from the outside.

Old Kiln Remains

One of the more intriguing remnants on the property is a round stone structure that turns out to be an old kiln. There is not a great deal left of it, but it is still an interesting piece of the site’s history and fun to come across while hiking.

Tree Root Steps and the Shoreline

After passing through another stretch of woods, the trail becomes what I like to call tree root steps. Exposed roots cross the path and create a natural staircase leading toward the lake.

You can hear the waters of Lake Michigan before you see them, and then the woods suddenly open to a rocky limestone shoreline.

We wandered along the rocky shoreline, where flat limestone ledges, uneven rock, algae patches, and shallow pools made the whole area feel rugged and a little adventurous.

There are slippery spots here, especially where water and green algae collect on the stone, so sturdy shoes and caution are a good idea. Getting a little wet and slipping around on the rocks was part of the adventure for us.

As the Sun Began to Set

As the sun started to go down and the wind picked up again, it was time to head back to the car. We spent about two hours at Toft Point and had a wonderful time exploring the woods and shoreline.

If you are looking for a quieter hiking spot in Door County with forest, wildlife, history, and Lake Michigan shoreline all in one place, Toft Point is well worth adding to your list.