eagle trail

I've hiked the Eagle Trail more times than I can count. Even though it's described as a strenuous trail, it's easily hiked by most people. It is steep in a couple spots, and the footing can be wet and a bit uneven, but it's short and rewarding, and the best hike in the park by far. If you're going to do one hike, this is the easy choice. It's special, taking you from the top of the bluff, to the bottom, along the lake at the foot of the towering limestone cliffs, and back up. Along the top you can climb the observation tower as a finishing touch on a wonderful morning or afternoon. Not to be missed if you like to hike at all.

We did this trail on Oct. 3rd, 2014 when it was wet with puddles. Just watching your step a bit allowed us to pass just fine. I wore tennis and did not slip once. It is a fabulous trail for a varied terrain and fabulous sites. The tress growing out of the rocks/cliffs were amazing. Take it at your own pace and enjoy the views at the sore, of the trees, of the roots and at the top --on the tower! This is a "must do" in this park!

After visiting Peninsula State Park numerous times, we decided to tackle this trail. It is not very long, but full of roots and rocks. Wear real hiking boots and shoes! You spend lots of time looking down, so it is easy to miss the views!

the caves were nice and worth the walk, but the trail is very rough - rocks on top of tree roots and sometimes you are not walking any anything except roots and rocks. I would not do this trial if there had been a rain recently.

As a hiker I didn't find the trail too difficult. I would say intermediate. Some ups and downs and rocky road. Can finish within 1 hour if you are fast.

Beautiful views of the water and bluffs. Trail is well maintained with clear signage. Bonus: "Difficult" trail rating means it's not well traveled.

It is not a difficult trail, thiugh there are some large rocks to climb over and a fair amount of uneven terrain, but the traim from teh parking lot down and back up can be traveresed in under an hour, but you will probably want to take longer to explor the cliff side caves (not too big but very interesting) A pleasnat way to spend an hour or two in the park.

Eagle Trail is labeled as difficult, but its not really. The footing is just tricky in many places because of rocks and tree roots, but using a hiking stick or two helps a lot. It is also steep and narrow, but if you go when the ground is dry and you take your time, its not hard. It's fun and very beautiful. The trail takes you all the way down to the shore. There are a couple pretty little springs. The bluffs and small caves are amazing. I was surprised by Eagle Terrace. I didn't know it was there. It's a large patio overlook and very pretty - a nice place to stop for lunch. We hiked in early June and the forest was covered with wild forget-me-nots and trilliums. Bring your camera. It took us two hours, but we stopped to look around a lot. You can't look around when you're walking because you need to be watching where you walk, so you have to stop and look up and around because you don't want to miss anything. So take your time and a hiking stick.

The trail is solidly snow covered, but you still get a great view of the nearby islands and a nice workout

This trail was labeled as difficult. My boyfriend who doesn't do any type of exercising did fine. Although I wouldn't recommend for small children. There was some climbing on rocks and roots that got tricky! The trail had great views of the lake, led us to a lookout point, a stone beach and along some rock cliffs. I was very cool to see the rock and some caves up close.

Even though this trail is rated difficult, I think most people can do it. Just take your time and be sure of your footing as the trail, in several places, is rocky and rooty. I saw some people using walking sticks as an aid for stability. I enjoyed the white cedar and birch trees. The cedars grow in the most unlikely places. The trail, at times, runs by the shore line. The water views are pretty and the beach is rocky which is different. I also enjoyed the bluffs and caves. We were able to walk and climb into some of the caves. It's neat. While walking through the forests, I noticed several small piles or rocks which I initially figured were placed there by humans but later determined that these piles were created by trees that had uprooted the rocks. Of course, the trees had rotted away. See if you can spot this piles. I would do this hike again! Enjoy!

Eagle Trail is one of many trails in Peninsula State Park. The are many miles of trails within the park offering varying levels of difficulty. Most are easy to moderate difficulty. This was one of the more difficult trails in Peninsula State Park. It is marked as difficult. Rocky, lots of tree roots and steep at points, but well worth the hike for some magnificent views. Two trail heads does offer choices for those who don't want to do the harder part. Starting on the trailhead near Eagle Tower will be less of a strain and leads to the Eagle Terrace. Either way, you must be mindful of where you are and watch the forest floor. The rocks and tree roots can be somewhat hazardous. Loved the hike and definitely would do it again.

This trail is diverse, with open spaces, trees, wild raspberries, thimble berries, wild flowers, rock formations, caves, long expanses of beach! The difficulty rating is not so much exertion or energy levels required so much as footing and attention to the trail which is required to navigate it safely. NEVER take this trail if there has been a recent hard rain! I have been on this trail many, many times. We have a summer home in Fish Creek. It is my favorite trail... but the lower levels of it are riddled with tree roots and rocks, both of which are seriously dangerous footing when wet, so beware, and if you can, take a hiking stick when you go just in case it rained the day before you got there and it's still wet.So, choose your "Hard". The trail is rated difficult, but here's the deal. There are two trailheads, if you want an easier work out, take the trailhead that begins a short distance to the left of the lookout tower (if you were standing in front of it). This begins by a steady descent in an open area, when the trail enters the wooded section you will need to mind your footfalls as the path becomes riddled with tree roots and rocks. Because of this, I do not recommend this trail for children who have not reached an age and understanding of the need to walk mindfully. A child who likes to run freely ahead of you would not do well on this trail, and you would not enjoy it with a child who does so, as you would be too concerned for their safety. The trails winds along the forest floor between the bluffs and the water, you will see small caves, fallen trees, very interesting root formations, trees bent from the wind, rocky shorelines, cairns which others have built that will beckon you to join the fun and build your own cairns to mark your visit here.The ascent from this direction is not so difficult, and is rather funky, in places, as you climb natural steps up the face of the bluff. The ascent from this direction is far easier than from the other, (so if you want a more challenging workout BEGIN your workout, by taking the trailhead that is across from the parking lot of the tower, or walking to the right of the tower and finding the place where this trail intersects the road.)All in all, my favorite trail in Door County and one of two favorite trails in WI. The other being St. Peter's Dome/ Morgan Falls in Ashland Co.

We really enjoyed this trail. It may be a close second to our favorite Wisconsin State Park, with Wild Cat State Park along the Kickapoo River winning that honor. The park has this labeled as a "difficult" trail. Exertion wise, it's not hard if you do a moderate amount of hiking. However, you will have to watch your feet a lot as you're stepping over seriously-woven roots and climbing up/down some rocky areas. Of all the trails we hiked in Peninsula State Park, this was one of the most rewarding, views' wise, as you're walking between walls of bluffs and caves on one side and the water on the other side. The tree roots are really fascinating, and there are spots where you feel like you're in that crazy '80s movie the Labyrinth.

Great trail. We took our two little dogs along. Very scenic and rocky. I would not do it in the rain.