Discover Door COunty
The Peninsula We Fell in Love With
Experience the authentic Door County that inspired us to restore The Griffin Inn – a place where historic charm, culinary excellence, and natural beauty converge. Perched on the edge of the peninsula’s only remaining dark-sky region, we’re just a short walk from Green Bay, The Clearing Folk School, and a collection of local favorites — including our own on-site fine dining restaurant, Osteria Tre Tassi, widely regarded among the best restaurants in Door County.
Within minutes, you can reach Newport State Park, the Washington Island ferry, and numerous galleries and studios that embody Door County’s art community. At The Griffin Inn, Door County hospitality endures – where history, nature, and creativity meet beneath the stars.
Newport State Park
Newport State Park is one of the great natural treasures of northern Door County. Located near the far end of the peninsula, the park protects more than 2,300 acres of forest, 11 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, and 30 miles of hiking trails. It is Wisconsin’s only wilderness-designated state park and is also recognized as a Dark Sky Park, making it one of the best places in the region for stargazing.
From The Griffin Inn, Newport is an easy and meaningful escape into the landscape that defines this part of Door County: quiet woods, open shoreline, long trails, and night skies that still feel truly dark. It is ideal for guests looking for a hike, a picnic, a beach walk, or a late-night look at the stars.
Washington Island
Reached by ferry from Northport, Washington Island is one of Door County’s most memorable day trips.
The ferry crosses Death’s Door Passage, turning the journey itself into part of the experience. The island is home to beaches, trails, shops, restaurants, wildlife, and a deep sense of local history. The Washington Island Ferry describes the island as a 22-square-mile, year-round community with more than 700 residents and a destination for thousands of visitors each year.
Washington Island also carries a strong Scandinavian and Icelandic heritage, adding another layer to its identity. For guests staying at The Griffin Inn, it makes for a full-day adventure from Ellison Bay: drive north, board the ferry, cross the storied passage, and spend the day exploring one of Wisconsin’s most distinctive island communities.
The Clearing
The Clearing is one of Ellison Bay’s cultural jewels. Founded in 1935 by renowned Danish-American landscape architect Jens Jensen, The Clearing is a continuing education center rooted in nature, craft, conversation, and the folk school tradition. Its wooded campus near Ellison Bay is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
For guests of The Griffin Inn, The Clearing feels especially connected to the spirit of the place. Both are grounded in history, landscape, and the slower rhythms of northern Door County. Whether visiting for a class, a tour, or simply to understand more about Ellison Bay’s creative legacy, The Clearing adds depth to any stay.
Death’s Door Passage
Just north of Ellison Bay, Death’s Door Passage is one of Door County’s defining landmarks, both geographically and historically. The waterway lies between the northern tip of the Door Peninsula and Washington, Plum, Pilot, and Detroit Islands, connecting Green Bay with Lake Michigan. Its French name, Porte des Morts, or “Door of Death,” is tied to centuries of Native American legend, early French references, dangerous currents, rocky shoals, and shipwreck lore.
For guests of The Griffin Inn, Death’s Door is more than a dramatic name. It is the reason Door County is Door County, and a reminder that this quiet stretch of northern shoreline has always been shaped by water, weather, travel, and story. It can be experienced by ferry, boat tour, or simply by taking the scenic drive north toward Northport.
Door Bluff Headlands County Park
Door Bluff Headlands is one of the most rugged and atmospheric places in northern Door County. Located near the tip of the peninsula, it offers a wilder, less developed experience than many of the county’s more visited parks, with forested trails, high bluffs, and views toward the waters of Death’s Door.
This is a place for guests who want to feel the older, quieter side of the peninsula. Its rocky shoreline and wooded headlands connect naturally to the maritime history surrounding Death’s Door, while its sense of remove makes it a beautiful counterpoint to a slow morning or evening back at The Griffin Inn.
Mink River Estuary
Just south of Ellison Bay, the Mink River Estuary is one of the most pristine freshwater estuaries in the country. The river begins in spring-fed wetlands and flows only a few miles before reaching Lake Michigan at Rowleys Bay, creating a dynamic marsh and wetland system that supports fish spawning, bird migration, and an unusually rich mix of plant life. The Wisconsin DNR notes that the aquatic features of the estuary are best seen by canoe or kayak.
For guests of The Griffin Inn, Mink River is one of the closest and most distinctive natural experiences in northern Door County. It is quiet, ecologically significant, and deeply connected to the Inn’s own setting on Mink River Road.
Rock Island
Beyond Washington Island, Rock Island offers one of the most remote and transporting experiences in Door County. Reached by passenger ferry from Washington Island, this primitive Lake Michigan island does not allow vehicles and is home to hiking trails, a swimming beach, miles of shoreline, the historic Pottawatomie Lighthouse, and stone buildings built by inventor Chester Thordarson, who owned the island between 1910 and 1964.
From The Griffin Inn, the journey itself is part of the story: a drive to Northport, a ferry across Death’s Door, time on Washington Island, then another crossing to a quieter, wilder place. While Newport State Park holds the official Dark Sky Park designation, Rock Island shares the same northern sense of darkness, distance, and wonder that makes this part of Door County feel so rare.
Porte des Morts Park
Porte des Morts Park brings you close to the waterway that gave Door County its name. Set near the northern tip of the peninsula, the park offers a natural connection to Death’s Door Passage, Washington Island ferry traffic, and the maritime history that shaped this part of the county.
It is a worthwhile stop for guests driving north from The Griffin Inn toward Northport, Gills Rock, or the Washington Island Ferry. The experience is quiet and elemental: water, wind, shoreline, and the sense that this edge of the peninsula has always been a threshold between places.
Ellison Bay Beach Park
Ellison Bay Beach Park is the easy, close-to-home shoreline stop. Simple, scenic, and right in the village, it gives guests a place to touch the water without planning an excursion. It is ideal for a morning walk, a quiet sunset, or a slower afternoon between bigger Door County outings.
For The Griffin Inn, this is the neighborhood beach. It helps tell the story of Ellison Bay as a peaceful northern Door County village, where the water is always close and the day does not need to be over-planned.
Garrett Bay
Garrett Bay is one of those quiet northern Door County places that rewards guests who like to wander a little beyond the obvious stops. Tucked along the shoreline north of Ellison Bay, it offers a more understated way to experience the water, with a calm, local feel and access to the rugged beauty of the peninsula’s northern edge.
For guests staying at The Griffin Inn, Garrett Bay makes sense as part of a relaxed drive toward Gills Rock, Northport, or Death’s Door. It is not about a packed itinerary. It is about the kind of small shoreline stop that makes Door County feel personal.
Schoenbrunn Trail
Schoenbrunn Trail feels like the kind of Door County discovery that belongs on an Ellison Bay itinerary: quiet, natural, and a little tucked away. I would position it as a softer, less crowded walking option for guests who want to spend time outside without committing to a full state park hike.
Schoenbrunn Trail offers a beautiful reminder that northern Door County is not only about marquee destinations. Some of the most memorable moments come from simple walks, wooded paths, and small pieces of landscape that help you slow down and take in the character of your surroundings.
