Hika Bay Park - Cleveland, WI

The day was a bit cooler and overcast when I made my first visit to Hika Bay County Park. This 13-acre park, located in the village of  Cleveland, follows along the Lake Michigan Flyway, a prominent migratory corridor for birds migrating to and from North America. Each spring and fall birds of all stripes and colors make use of the corridor to rest, feed, and nest.  Prime birdwatching is definitely a popular activity here.  It is a designated eBird hotspot.

The park itself has a public access launching point for boats heading out onto Lake Michigan. A launch fee of $4 is required. There is a kiosk for fee collection on-site. Picnic tables and park benches are scattered throughout the open area, shaded by plenty of trees, and one open-air, reservable shelter.  A fishing derby is hosted at the park each summer.

The highlights here are views of the surrounding wet swales, forest ridges,  dunes and shore, and, of course the open waters of Lake Michigan. Plenty of native plants dot the landscape, including goldenrod and maximillian's sunflower.  On this day, there were several gulls wandering the shore, and flying overhead. Some picking at a large fish washed ashore.

If you're looking for hiking trails, I did not find any, save for a walk along the beach. Swimming is allowed, however, no lifeguards are on-site. On a hot day, I could imagine splashing along the shore to cool off.

Several local watersheds converge in this region, and flow into Lake Michigan. For more information on these, and an extended history of the bay, check out the website for the Friends of Hika Bay.

Park Hours: Daily 6:00am- 11:00pm
Parking Available 
Restrooms Available
​Dogs are allowed, on-leash only.

Location: 1151 Lakeshore Drive, Cleveland, WI (Manitowoc County)
For more information, click here.