Looking for things to do in Door County in fall? No matter if you’re planning a Door County trip in September when it’s still warm out, October when fall foliage is peaking, or November when this seasonal destination slows down, there is plenty to do on the peninsula. Here are the top 10 things to do in Door County in fall.
Jens Jensen Curvy Road
Jens Jensen Curvy Road is one of the most photographed spots on the Door County peninsula. It’s particularly beautiful in fall. This winding road was designed by landscape architect Jens Jensen, and, according to local legend, Jensen designed the road with the intention of forcing drivers to slow down and enjoy the view. For the best chance at photos here without strangers in the background, we highly recommend visiting as early as possible — around sunrise if you can — before the crowds come. Additionally, watch our viral easy photography hack video here to make your photos of the road even more epic. Watch and listen for cars, as the hills can make oncoming traffic hard to see at times.
Eagle Panorama
Eagle Panorama in Peninsula State Park offers another spectacular view in Door County in fall. It is a quick stop overlook that boasts views of several Lake Michigan islands, including Chambers Island, Horseshoe Island and Strawberry Island. There is a small fee to enter Peninsula State Park, but the various stops, hikes, viewpoints and engulfing fall foliage here — especially during peak fall foliage — definitely make the entrance fee worthwhile.
Tip: Check Peak Fall Foliage
Peak fall foliage is typically between the second and third week of October in Door County. A difference in just one week can make or break whether you see fall foliage! If you want to see the most vibrant colors possible, book your trip in mid-October. Check Travel Wisconsin’s fall foliage map to track real-time fall color reports.
Eagle Tower
Another classic spot to see fall colors in Peninsula State Park is Eagle Tower. Eagle Tower is a 76-foot observation tower, originally built in 1914 as a fire tower. It’s fully accessible by ramp. Or, you can climb 108 stairs to the top instead. At the top, you’ll see thousands of trees from a bird’s eye view, as well as impressive views of Lake Michigan’s bayside. Visiting in September before fall foliage peaks? Or in November after fall colors have passed? Don’t worry. This observation tower is worth the stop no matter the time of year.
Cozy A-Frame Cabin
Few stays are more quintessential in fall than a cozy stay at an A-frame cabin like our very own Fjord & Frame. Our Door County A-frame cabin rental here at Fjord & Frame is a luxury A-frame new build that sleeps up to 10 guests. During your stay, you’ll have sole access to an entire mile of private hiking trails, a custom sauna, a hot tub, and catamaran nets for stargazing or sunbathing. Better yet, you’re only five minutes away from both downtown Sister Bay and downtown Ellison Bay. We’re currently under construction! You can follow our building progress here. We plan to open in spring 2027. Join our waitlist to be the first to know when bookings open.
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Ellison Bluff Overlook
Clearly, Door County is home to numerous epic viewpoints. In addition to Eagle Panorama and Eagle Tower, another must-see lookout spot is Ellison Bluff Overlook. Ellison Bluff Overlook resides inside Ellison Bluff County Park toward the northern tip of the peninsula. It’s free to visit, much less crowded than Peninsula State Park, and has impressive views of Ellison Bluff and Lake Michigan. Plus, during peak fall foliage, you’re totally immersed in fall colors on the drive into the park.
Washington Island Stavkirke
If you want to venture even farther north, off the coast of the peninsula, a visit to the Washington Island Stavkirke on Washington Island is another wonderful thing to do in Door County in fall. The Washington Island Stavkirke is a replica Norwegian stave church that was built by local carpenters as an ode to the prominent Scandinavian heritage present in Door County. A visit to Washington Island does require a ferry ride across Death’s Door, the notorious water passage that gives the county its name. But, the ferry ride is usually smooth and a fun thing to do in Door County in and of itself. Like Eagle Tower, the Washington Island Stavkirke is worth the trek whether fall foliage is peaking or not. Although, seeing the stave church engulfed in fall foliage is a major Door County bucket list check.
Bjorklunden Chapel
Alternatively, if you don’t want to ferry all the way to Washington Island, there is another under-the-radar stave church replica located on the peninsula between Jacksonport and Bailey’s Harbor: Bjorklunden Chapel. Although smaller than the Washington Island Stavkirke, Bjorklunden Chapel is a fantastic alternative if you don’t have time to make it to Washington Island. This stave church is still an ode to Scandinavia engulfed in foliage. Plus, there are beautiful views of Lake Michigan next to the chapel here too.
Attend A Fall Festival
Next, one of the best things to do in Door County in fall is attend one of the county’s many fall festivals. Fall festivals run almost every weekend from September through October, with a different town hosting a different festival each weekend. For example, Sister Bay hosts its annual Fell Fest. Bailey’s Harbor hosts its annual Autumnfest. And, Egg Harbor hosts its annual Pumpkin Patch Festival. At the festivals, you can expect food vendors, live entertainment, fall activities, local art vendors and even carnival rides. Moreover, there are dozens of trick-or-treat parties across the peninsula on Halloween. If you’re planning a Door County fall trip itinerary, it’s worth checking to see if there is a festival running during your trip.
Pick Your Own Pumpkins Or Apples
Door County is known nationwide for its orchards and vineyards. So, there’s no doubt that picking your own apples or pumpkins is one of the most fun autumnal things to do in Door County in fall. If you’re visiting Door County in September, particularly the middle to end of September, apple picking will be at its peak. Seaquist Orchards is one of our favorite apple orchards in northern Door. It has a lovely orchard store straight out of a Hallmark movie, as well as child-friendly attractions like a playground and fall activities. Plus, it’s in Sister Bay — just five minutes away from our Fjord & Frame cabin.
On the contrary, if you’re visiting in early to mid-October, pumpkin picking will be at its peak. Both DENN Door County and Red Barn Corn Maze have pick-your-own pumpkin patches. Both of these pumpkin patches also offer corn mazes, which leads us to our final thing to do in Door County in the fall…
Corn Mazes & Hay Rides
Lastly, like we just alluded to, another iconic thing to do in the fall is to walk through a corn maze. The DENN Door County corn maze is uniquely themed to the game of Life. On the other hand, the Red Barn Corn Maze is intricately designed every year to display an impressive drawing from above. Red Barn operates a haunted maze, too, if you like an adrenaline rush, as well as hay rides around the corn maze and pumpkin patch.
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