How to Get a Newport Wilderness Permit

Seventeen hike-in sites along eleven miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, in a park with no drive-up camping at all.

Check Newport Wilderness permit availability

About Newport Wilderness

Seventeen hike-in wilderness sites, one of them a group site, along eleven miles of Lake Michigan shoreline. Booked under the Wisconsin DNR "Backpack" category, not the ordinary campsite category.

Newport is the only Wisconsin state park where the entire campground is walked to. DNR calls it a wilderness area and describes it in its own words as "over 2,300 acres of forest on 11 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, 30 miles of hiking trails, and backpack camping as a quiet alternative to bustling Door County." Door County in summer is one of the busiest destinations in the upper Midwest; this is the part of it you have to walk into.

The Experience

Sites sit near the water, and Lake Michigan sets the volume for the night. The park has no showers, no camp store and no vehicles anywhere near the sites, so once your pack is down the day is over. After dark the reason people book eleven months out becomes obvious — DNR calls this "one of the darkest spots in the state."

What to Expect

Wisconsin DNR counts 17 backpack (hike-in) campsites here, one of them a group site, and says all of them can be reserved.

You carry everything. DNR: "Campers must hike or bike in all gear and supplies. There are no carts available at the park."

DNR publishes no distance to any Newport site, so plan for the trail lengths rather than a stated walk-in figure — the park's loops run from 1.0 to 7.0 miles.

Each site has a pit toilet, a fire ring with a flip-up grill, a lock box for food and a bench or two.

There is no water at the sites. DNR: "Water is available at the park office or at a solar pump near the picnic shelter by Lot 3 (seasonally)."

No showers anywhere in the park.

Get Newport Wilderness Alerts

Be first to know when cancellations happen.

Set Up Alerts

Permit Requirements

Camping is allowed in designated campsites only.

All garbage must be carried out of all campsites.

Firewood is not sold at Newport. You may gather wood that is dead and down; cutting anything from a live tree is illegal.

Firewood brought in must be certified or come from within 10 miles of the park.

Reservations run up to 11 months ahead, and backpack sites may be booked for a single night (family campsites carry a two-night minimum in season).

Check-in is 3 p.m., checkout is 1 p.m.

No more than 14 days of camping in any 21 days.

A family site takes a parent or parents with dependent children plus up to two guests, or a group of no more than six people of any age.

The park is closed to non-campers between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., and no camping unit may be set up or taken down in those hours.

Fires in fire rings and grills only.

Pets on a physical leash no longer than 8 feet.

A vehicle admission sticker is required.

Gear & Preparation

Required Gear

•Water containers — the nearest supply is the park office or the seasonal solar pump by Lot 3
•A pack that carries every night's gear in one trip; the park has no carts
•Rubbish bags — everything you bring out with you
•A stove, since firewood is not sold and gathering is limited to dead and down wood

Recommended Gear

•Red-light headlamp — Newport is an International Dark-Sky Association Dark Sky Park
•Wind shell for the Lake Michigan shoreline sites
•Footwear with a stiff sole; DNR describes the tread as "easy to moderate, with some rocks, tree roots and narrower tread in places"

Hazards & Safety

Lake Michigan wind. DNR: "Users of small watercraft or floatation devices should be aware of the wind conditions on Lake Michigan. Strong west winds can blow watercraft away from the shoreline."

Rocky shoreline footing — DNR flags the Sand Cove and Duck Bay trails with "Watch your footing in rocky areas."

Water systems across the Wisconsin state park system are weather-dependent and may be off from roughly Oct. 1 through May 15, which includes the pump you would be filling at.

Best Time to Visit

Newport is a designated Dark Sky Park — one of 18 in the United States and, per DNR, only the second in the Midwest — so a clear, moonless night is the thing to plan around. DNR's own advice is to arrive in daylight: "If you are planning to come up to Newport to visit our dark sky park, it is always a good idea to come during the day to familiarize yourself with the viewing areas." The park is open year-round, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Written by

PermitSnag Team

100+ wilderness permits, extensive backcountry experience

This guide is based on personal experience obtaining wilderness permits and is regularly updated to reflect current policies and strategies.

Learn more about our team →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a Newport Wilderness permit?

Newport Wilderness permits require advance reservations. Book online as soon as reservations open for your desired dates.

When is the best time to visit Newport Wilderness?

What gear do I need for Newport Wilderness?

Essential gear includes: Water containers — the nearest supply is the park office or the seasonal solar pump by Lot 3, A pack that carries every night's gear in one trip; the park has no carts, Rubbish bags — everything you bring out with you, A stove, since firewood is not sold and gathering is limited to dead and down wood.