Visit
Located on 128 scenic acres, The Clearing is really one of those places you have to see to believe.
Planning Your Visit
Located near the tip of Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula, The Clearing is situated on the Niagara Escarpment, a limestone cliff that rises out of Lake Michigan’s Green Bay and defines the western edge of Door County. The Clearing’s physical assets — beautiful views of the water and the setting sun, historic stone and log buildings and hiking trails that wind through the property’s 128 acres of forest and meadow – combine to create one of Door County’s great cultural and natural treasures.
Hours:
Visitor Center
Weekdays: 8 – 4
Weekends: 12 – 4
Bookstore
Weekdays: 8 – 4
Weekends: 12 – 4
Office
Weekdays: 8 – 4
Campus (May – October)
Weekends: 12 – 4
Weekdays CLOSED*
The Clearing Campus is Closed From:
4 PM on Sunday through 12 PM on Saturday*PLEASE NOTE: For many years, The Clearing has had a “closed campus” policy while resident classes are in session. This means that the area west of the main road through The Clearing property – the area where the old buildings are located (the Lodge, Schoolhouse, Workshop and cabins) – is closed to visitors, including those participating in one and two-day workshops at The Clearing, from Monday through Friday. This closed campus policy is strictly enforced in order to ensure the privacy of resident students and instructors and to enhance the retreat aspect of The Clearing experience. THANK YOU for respecting their privacy.
Campus (November – April)
Weekends 8-4
Weekdays 8-4
Site Maps
Trail Map
Campus Map
Docent Led Hikes
Most Saturdays & Sundays | May – October
1 – 3 PM | Jens Jensen Visitor Center
The fabled history, folklore and landscape of The Clearing Folk School are the subject of free interpretive hiking tours through the campus and historic buildings, led by our volunteer docents. The two-hour hiking tours begin at 1:00 p.m. at the Jens Jensen Visitor Center, 12171 Garrett Bay Road, Ellison Bay.
The Clearing Folk School was established in 1935 by renowned landscape architect and conservationist, Jens Jensen after first purchasing the original farmstead property in 1919. The Clearing is listed on both the National and State Registers of Historic Places. It continues to provide classes and workshops in the folk school tradition focusing on the arts and fine crafts, humanities and natural sciences. Visitors will also have an opportunity to browse The Clearing Bookstore and Gift Shop. For more information, contact The Clearing at (920) 854-4088 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Hiking tours are free and open to the public, and last approximately 2 hours. Sturdy walking shoes are recommended as terrain is rugged in places.
