Whitefish Dunes State Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Whitefish Dunes State Park
IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
A Lake Michigan beach in Whitefish Dunes State Park
Whitefish Dunes State Park Location in Wisconsin Show map of Wisconsin Whitefish Dunes State Park Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Door, Wisconsin, United States
Area	867 acres (351 ha)
Established	1967
Governing body	Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Website	Whitefish Dunes State Park

Whitefish Dunes State Park is a 867-acre (351 ha) state park of Wisconsin, United States, on the eastern shore of the Door Peninsula. This day-use park preserves the most substantial sand dunes on the western shore of Lake Michigan. The remains of eight successive prehistoric Native American villages are on the National Register of Historic Places as Whitefish Dunes-Bay View Site. Cave Point County Park is an enclave inside the state park, allowing visitors free foot access to the state park by the shoreline trail connecting the parks.

History

From 100 B.C. to the later 1800s there is evidence of early settlers. The North Bay people occupied the area from 100 B.C. to A.D. 300, leaving pottery in the dunes. Their descendants, the Heins Creek people, then occupied the area. In the Late Woodland period, there were two occupations: a group settling there from A.D. 800-900, and the Oneota, who arrived around A.D. 900. In the early 1800s, fishing camps were established in the area, including one by New Englander James Pearson Clark. Maritime trade began to grow.

Recreation

Recreational activities at Whitefish Dunes include hiking, fishing, canoeing, boating, and swimming. There are several picnic tables located throughout the park and shelters to rent. During the winter there is skiing and snowshoeing.

The Whitefish Dunes Nature Center features exhibits about the ecology, geology and cultural history of the park. The center is open year-round. There are programs offered for children and adults to learn about the park's natural history and cultural history. Naturalists are available to answer questions as well as give tours.

There are several trails within Whitefish Dunes. The Black trail is 2.5 miles (4 km) long through the woods with rock exposure. The Brachipod trail is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long with fossils and nature views. The Clark Lake Spur trail is .7 miles (1.1 km) long. The Green trail is 1.8 miles (2.9 km) long. There are also the Red, Red Pine, Whitefish Creek Spur, and Yellow trails.

Nature

Mammals that inhabit the park include rabbits, raccoons, skunks, squirrels, and woodchucks. Reptiles and amphibians inhabit the dunes, including frogs, painted turtles, salamanders, and snakes. Whitefish Dunes State Natural Area, a 230-acre (93 ha) area within the state park, protects rare species of plants such as the prairie sand-reed grass and the dune thistle.

Geology

Several fossils were found at the dunes from sediment at the bottom of the water. Fossil sea shells and coral reefs can be seen today at the dunes. The wind and water constantly change and reform the dunes. The wind forces the sand to drop and form a pile, also known as a sand dune. Not many plants make it in the sand dune but the marram grass can survive the winds and water of the dunes.

Climate