Door County officials announced on Apr. 4 that the North Zone snowmobile trails, which run from Maple Tree Road and Kangaroo Beach Road (Egg Harbor to Baileys Harbor) north to the Gills Rock area, are closed until the 2026-2027 season.
The closure affects a popular section of local recreation and underscores ongoing efforts to protect both public and private property during off-seasons. Officials have reminded residents and visitors that failing to comply with trail closures can result in citations and fines. They also clarified that there is a three-mile wide overlap area between the northern and central sections of the trail system, which remains open when either one of those two sections is accessible. The sledding hill at Peninsula State Park is not part of this trail system, so snowmobiles are not allowed on it.
While outdoor activities remain important for families in Door County, schools continue to play a central role in community life. The top three schools with the highest enrollment for the 2023-24 school year were Southern Door Elementary School with 467 students, Sturgeon Bay High School with 402 students, and Southern Door High School with 315 students according to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
In terms of student demographics for the same school year, white students made up 82.6% (2,674) of Door County’s student body compared to 83.6% (2,724) in the previous year as reported by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Hispanic students accounted for 10% (324), making them the second largest group among county students according to the department. Multiracial students represented about 5.5% (178), placing them as the third most represented ethnic group within local schools based on data from the same source.
Black students comprised one of the smallest groups at just over one percent during this period as noted by the department. These figures highlight changing demographics within local educational institutions while seasonal recreation areas like snowmobile trails remain subject to environmental management decisions.
