Hiking Kohler Andrae State Park [Wisconsin]

 


“Named for John Michael Kohler and Terry Andrae state parks, Kohler-Andrae is the home of majestic 

sand dunes, miles of golden beach, shimmering blue Lake Michigan water, whispering pines, an abundance

of wildlife and recreational activities. Kohler-Andrae State Park is one of the last natural preserves along the 

Lake Michigan shore and is open for everyone to explore and enjoy.” 

https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/kohlerandrae


I did this hike at Kohler Andrae Stake Park on a weekend afternoon in late November. The park is located in 

Sheboygan, Wisconsin (about an hour north of Milwaukee). I arrived in the early afternoon and left the park

just before sunset. The temperatures were in the mid 40s. The wind was pretty aggressive along the lake, 

however, as you will surely hear reflected in the audio. The park can get very crowded during the summer, as

it features direct access to beaches on Lake Michigan, so it was refreshing to enjoy the relative serenity of a

crisp, late autumn afternoon. I did have to wait to set up a couple of shots but only on the more popular 

sections of the cordwalk, generally nearest the parking areas.

 

White-tailed deer and red fox are common within the park. Muskrats also reside in the Black River Marsh.

Ducks and hawks migrate through the park during the spring and fall, and gulls, herons, and sandhill cranes

can be spotted within the park. The park is a wildlife refuge, so no animals are hunted or trapped, except

during a special deer hunt. 

 


This video features the Dunes Cordwalk (2 miles), the Creeping Juniper Trail (.5 mile loop), the Woodland

Dunes Nature Trail (1 mile loop), the Marsh Trail (.5 miles), and the Black River Marsh Boardwalk (.25 miles).

The southern half of the park is also home to the Fishing Pond (.3 miles) and Ancient Shores (1.3 miles) 

trails. In the northern half of the park you will find the Black River Trails (2.5 miles). Pets are allowed on all but

the Creeping Juniper and Woodland Dunes Trails.  Maps of the park, including the marked trails,can be found

at: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/kohlerandrae/maps.  


The park does require a vehicle admission fee. The daily fee is currently $8 for vehicles with Wisconsin 

license  plates and $11 for vehicles with out-of-state plates. Annual Wisconsin State Parks vehicle

admission stickers can be purchased for $28 or $38, respectively. In addition to the 2.5 miles of beach

access offered, Kohler Andrae features over 130 campsites. We recommend checking the website in

advance for information on campsite amenities, rental fees, availability, and reservations. 

 


 

 Check out the YouTube video!

 


 


Location: Kohler-Andrae State Park, 1020 Beach Park Ln, Sheboygan, WI 53081, USA

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