Door County Time Machine - The Ridges Sanctuary

The Ridges Sanctuary is a great place to learn about the natural history of Door County.  Walking through the property is like walking through a living exhibit showcasing how landscapes change with time.

The landscape is a pattern of Ridges and Swales and each set of ridge and swale is a different type of habitat full of native flora and fauna. Wait! What is a “Ridge” and a “Swale?” Have you ever noticed the ripples waves make in the sand as they crash on land then retreat into the sea or lake? Ridges and swales are a much larger version of those ripples. As the water of Lake Michigan shrink back, it leaves behind ripples in the landscape that become home to a variety of native plants and animals. The ridges are the high points of those ripples, and the swales are the lows. Trees grow on the ridges and the swales hold water for fish, dragonflies, and frogs.

Hiking on one of the ridges

On the boardwalk over one of the swales

The sanctuary is like a time machine because the ridge and swale furthest from the shore once looked like the ridge and swale closest to the shore. As you walk inland, the land becomes drier and the plants change and the type of creatures who live there change.

If you are interested in lighthouses or naval navigation, there is a set of range lights located on the property. The upper range light is located inland at the top of a house and the lower range light was once located on the shore of Lake Michigan. The lower range is still standing, but the shore has moved further away, so it is now also located inland. The purpose of the range lights is to give ships a guide to safely navigate into Bailey Harbor. Captains line up the upper and lower lights, so they are in a straight line to avoid shipwreck.   

Mom and I with the light from the upper range light and in front of the lower range light house

You can explore the sanctuary on your own or join a tour. My parents and I opted for the tour. Our guide identified plants and animals, informed us on scientific projects happening in the sanctuary, and gave us the historical background for the area. We were also able to go into the house of the upper range light. The knowledge our guide shared with us is well worth the extra $5 per person.

Cost:

$5 to walk the trails solo or $10 for a guided hike with a knowledgeable volunteer.

Tips for visiting:

·        Bring your lunch. There is no food to buy on the property, but there is an area outside Cooks-Albert Fuller Nature Center with tables and benches to enjoy a packed lunch or you can go to a nearby park and eat on the shore.

·        Comfortable walking shoes. The tour is about 1.5 - 2 hours and I recorded 1.7 miles on my Garmen watch.

·        Bring a water bottle. There are no drinking fountains in nature, so bring your own hydration.

Looking out the window of the upper light. The lower light is at the end of  boardwalk.

Accessibility

There is boardwalk from the quarter mile between the nature center and range lights and also between the upper and lower range lights. If you need the use of a wheelchair, there is a Trackchair, or all terrain wheel chair, available at the nature center. Reservations need to be made 1 week in advance and can only be used on the designated trails. The Trackchair is free to use with either a membership or the $5 trail fee. Find out more here: https://www.ridgessanctuary.org/trackchair/

Website:  https://www.ridgessanctuary.org/

One of the frogs that calls the swales home.