the ridges sanctuary

A little gem tucked away from the highway. Great for a short walk in the woods. Needs to be protected and preserved.

Our family of 5 enjoyed The Ridges in the Winter, though we have been here other seasons as well. What a beautiful place to take a hike! Friendly, knowledgable guides. Walk quietly, stop and listen, you never know what you will see!

My husband and I did our first snowshoeing experience at The Ridges this past weekend. It is only about 1 1/2 hrs long (perfect for us) and the trail is very level and easy to navigate. The snowshoes provided by the Sanctuary are great and Jane our guide was very knowledgeable and accommodating. The tour was very informative and enjoyable all around...really enjoyed our day.

The ridges are a lovingly preserved sanctuary. They are filled with unique, and sometimes rare bits of flora, and geological phenom that are largely untouched. Sort of a natural history time capsule. If you visit when the orchids (Trillium, Ladies Slipper) and more, are in bloom, you will feel like you have stepped into a Northern Fairyland. I have visited the Ridges many times throughout my life...they were preserved rather early in our countries history of preserving small tracts of lands that contain this sort of time capsule.

While there wasn't enough snow for snow shoeing, we took a nice hike in this extraordinary nature preserve. We popped for a guided tour, which was WELL worth the extra $3 over the modest $5 trail fee. Our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. He shared the geological history of the area as well as providing flora and fauna detail in the process of the easy and enjoyable approx. 90 minute hiking experience. The privately funded organization that runs the Sanctuary is in the process of building a large and beautiful reception center right on Hwy 57 in Baileys Harbor. Our guide said it would be open as soon as the weather permitted paving the parking areas. Will definitely return when the new building is complete.Great little side trip.

A must if you wish to appreciate incredible Door County! It's history, geology, botany, and all rolled into one marvelous setting and run by some of the finest people you will ever have the privilege to meet. I had the great good pleasure of being invited by and accompanied by a wonderful woman (my friend) who is a volunteer. The staff are volunteers and are so friendly and knowledgeable, it is a real treat to know them. I have traveled this country extensively and I know of NO other place I'd like to live in and vacation in more than Door Cty, WI. Should you go, do yourself a favor and stop in to visit this wonderful sanctuary.

This is primarily a botanical destination. The entrance fee covers a volunteer guide, which you should use on the front end before hiking on your own. We visited in the first week of June 2014, and wildflowers in bloom included yellow lady slipper and rams head orchids, dwarf lake iris, trillium, gaywings, indian paintbrush and more. Lots of wildlife as well, and if you know where to look, northern pitcher plants. Access is off of Cty Q, and if you continue north on that road past the Ridges parking area, you will find the roadside ditches have lots of blooming lady slippers in them in full sun. Expect mosquitoes. It is a very special place; budget a few hours at least, and bring a camera. Camping available at Peninsula State Park, but you will need reservations. Low key place, close to other destinations in Door.

A perfect place for a beautiful hike. Good for all ages.The trails are extremely well kept, and the staff was very helpful in making suggestions. All within a short walk of Baileys Harbor Yacht Club Resort, which is a great place to stay.

We had a great hike in misty November. We were the only ones hiking along the trails enjoying the unusual scenery. We took a self-guided walk with the maps.....I was sorry that the guided booklets were not in the "trail head box." We hope to go back some time when it is in season and we can do a guided walk with a naturalist, ...or at least have the trail guides available. Agree with the reviewer who said "rustic but carefully tended." One gets the sense that many volunteers have spent hours on the place, and their careful attention is visible.

The Ridges Sanctuary is a geologic gem. Great place to leisurely hike the trail and enjoy unique plants/species of trees notable because of the ecosystem and how the area was formed by Lake Michigan over thousands of years. A new visitor center will be open in 2015. Many other attractive areas to explore nearby. Don't miss the visit if you travel to Door County. One of natures jewels.

The Ridges Sanctuary is a perhaps unique opportunity to observe 1,400 years of botanic and geologic history: The Ridges -- some skinny and shallow, some wide and deep -- mark the various movements of Lake Michigan over NE Door County during that period of time. Rustic but carefully tended and well-marked trails make exploration easy; you'll tramp through forests, traverse both wide and narrow swales, and, just a few steps out of the way, walk sandy beaches.A good activity for everyone from seniors to families with young (7-8 years) children. Great photo opportunities if you're into nature photography.Half a day probably would be pushing the time frame, but a couple of hours at The Ridges would be time very well spent. Bring mosquito spray.

The range lights at Ridges Sanctuary have historical interest. There are also several trails to observe the local wild flowers

We took the guided hike with Lydia a couple weeks ago. She was extremely knowledgable and interesting! I can't believe I have missed this "gem" and I live in Wisconsin an hour away! Our granddaughter loved it as well. She is 4 years old. And Lydia invited her to find caterpillars to put in the aquarium after our hike. We all learned so much about the Ridges and it is beautiful! Don't miss this beautiful place - and take your time for peace and relaxation!

Excellent solitude with nature and great trails. In springtime there are wild flowers. There's a lighthouse to view and a nice trail that connects to the beach across the road. Can't say enough about this wonderful, peaceful "sanctuary." A good nature center also.

The trail to the beach is beautiful. We walked out to the light house and then across the road to the beach. It was a cloudy cool morning which made for great hiking through all the trails around the area.