Door County from Above: A Guide to the Peninsula’s Tower

October 21, 2025

78, 79, 80! As I lift my gaze from my feet to the sky, I realize I still have a long way to
go. I pause for a moment taking in how peaceful the water looks from this high up, spotted with little islands and boats out for a joyride. I can only imagine how beautiful it looks from the top! I continue my journey up the stairs, one by one, as I finally make my way to the top and catch my breath before taking it all in.

You may be wondering where you can find that many stairs in Door County. Most people may not know that there’s two towers on the peninsula. The 75-foot tall Potawatomi Tower is in Potawatomi State Park in Sturgeon Bay, and it just recently reopened to the public after some updates were made to it. I lost track of how many stairs after 100, but the view is definitely worth the climb! The top of the tower boasts beautiful views of Sawyer Harbor and the bays of Green Bay and Sturgeon Bay. Across the bay, you can see the picturesque stone quarry at George K. Pinney County Park. The deep blue water is dotted with islands filled with green growth, at least when I went in June. During fall time, the view of the leaves from up above will certainly be worth the climb.

While visiting this tower, you should definitely check out some of the hiking trails found
in the park. The Ice Age trail takes you along the water with plenty of lookout areas and spots for picnics. The Old Ski Hill Overlook is along the Tower Trail Loop—a perfect spot to watch the sunset (it’s even better with some ice cream or your favorite beverage!). And while the weather is still warm, consider camping in the park for a night or two. While this is still on my to-do list, the campgrounds always look like the perfect place for an overnight adventure.

The Eagle Tower in Peninsula State Park in Fish Creek has also been recently redone and reopened within the last couple of years. This tower is 60 feet high and offers incredible 360- degree views from the top observation deck. I like this tower because it also offers an accessible ramp to the top of the tower, perfect for all ages, or if you just want to avoid the stairs. The ramp slowly ascends to the top of the tower through a beautiful canopy of trees. Views from the top of the tower also feature the clear blue water of the bay of Green Bay and Eagle Harbor.

The Eagle Tower is just the beginning of everything Peninsula State Park has to offer.
You can bike the entirety of the park, but I prefer hiking along the beautiful trails such as Eagle Trail (which takes you along the bluffs right on the water) or Skyline Trail (a leisurely hike through the woods leading to Sven’s Bluff, a lookout area perfect for photo opportunities). The options for outdoor activities are endless. But one last favorite of mine is picking up a pizza and chicken tenders from Wild Tomato and bringing them into the park for a picnic dinner—the perfect end to a perfect day in Door County.