Door County officials announced on Apr. 4 that the Southeast Zone trail system, including Potawatomi State Park and the Ahnapee State Trail to County Road X, will remain closed until the 2026-2027 season. The closure covers trails from Gordon Road south over the Bayview Bridge and extends to the southern county line, with boundaries defined by County Road M and part of the Ahnapee Trail.
The announcement states that trail conditions are currently marked as closed. Notices remind residents and visitors to respect both private and public property during this period. “BE AWARE THAT FAILURE TO ABIDE BY TRAIL CLOSURES CAN RESULT IN A CITATION AND FINE!” according to county officials.
The closure affects an area used by many community members, including families with children attending local schools. Southern Door Elementary School had the highest enrollment in Door County for the 2023-24 school year with 467 students, followed by Sturgeon Bay High School with 402 students and Southern Door High School with 315 students, according to data from Wisconsin’s Department of Public Instruction.
During that same school year, white students made up a majority of Door County’s student body at 82.6%, a slight decrease from the previous year’s figure of 83.6% as reported by state education statistics. Hispanic students represented about 10% (324) of all enrolled students—the second largest group—while multiracial students were third at roughly 5.5% (178), according to state records.
Other demographic details show that black students accounted for just over one percent (1.1%) of those enrolled in county schools during this period according to education department figures.
Residents are encouraged to check detailed maps available online for Potawatomi State Park winter use guidelines and are reminded that adherence to trail closures is mandatory until reopening.
