Picture a perfect May day: 75 degrees, sunny, a nice breeze. That was the Tuesday before Memorial Day 2023.
My husband Evan and I were approaching the three-day weekend with a perfect weather forecast and absolutely no plans. Was it too late to organize a camping getaway? We were both game. Flash forward four days, and the two of us are anxiously pacing in a Washington Island parking lot waiting for our second ferry of the day.
Tell us who you’d pick to be a Betty this year!
We’re headed to Rock Island State Park, a small island off the northern tip of the Door County peninsula that doesn’t accommodate cars. Although we’re experienced car campers – good at shoving a bunch of junk in our trunk and not scrimping – this is more rustic than we’re used to.
My research didn’t provide enough guidance to know how much to bring. As the gnats circle our heads, I stare at our pile of carefully packed gear already feeling exhausted by the prospect of carrying it all on our backs to the campsite.
The ferry ride to Rock Island is as intimate as it is short. On the 10-minute journey, we sit on benches with our fellow castaways, who share stories about their many visits to this niche park.
As it turns out, Evan and I were lucky to snag a last-minute site – most everyone else had booked a year in advance. Suddenly, Evan starts frantically tapping my knee. I look up to see what had him so excited. It’s the striking, Viking-inspired Rock Island Boathouse, the first thing to greet you as the ferry pulls up to the pier.
We hop off the boat and another sight spells pure relief: wheelbarrow-like pushcarts for hauling gear. Had I known, I would have packed a cooler! We load one up and start the half-mile trek to our campsite. The route starts with sweeping views of the Lake Michigan shoreline before switching to a prairie of purple wild grasses, then crossing into a hardwood forest.
The campsite was spacious and secluded, and setting up our tent was a breeze. After a long day of traveling, we’re only able to catch the sunset before the island goes completely and utterly dark, perfect for a crackling campfire and stargazing. Turns out, the lack of cars – and the resulting stillness – is one of the highlights of camping on Rock Island.
When we awake the next morning, we have one goal in mind: Hike the entire island. With only 10 miles of trails, this is easily done.
We start off toward the 1836 Pottawatomie Lighthouse, the oldest in Wisconsin, stopping for a tour led by volunteers. Then we spend the day meandering through the woods and prairies, searching for wildflowers and slugs (lots of slugs!) and skipping stones along the shoreline.
Rock Island is known for its crystal-clear water and swimmable beaches, but in May, we only brave dipping our toes in. After a long day of adventuring, we sit at one of the picturesque benches near the boathouse and reflect on our trip. We definitely plan to come back, only next time it’ll be without any of the nerves that plagued us at the start.
