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Information on Traverse City, Michigan and the surrounding Northwest Michigan area

05/26/2006

Area nature preserves

  • Antrim Creek Natural Area (152 acres) From Traverse City, take U.S. 31 north to Eastport. Approximately one mile north of Eastport, turn left (west) on Old Dixie Hwy. Follow Old Dixie Hwy. for approximately four miles. Look for the Antrim City Cemetery on the east side of the road. Just north of the cemetery, turn left on Rex Beach Rd. (a narrow dirt road). Follow Rex Beach Rd. through the center of the Natural Area down to the beach. No formal trail system exists.
  • Bauer Nature Preserve (235 acres)/Pamela L. Polaczyk Preserve (Five acres) To reach Bauer Nature Preserve from Traverse City, take US 31 N. to Eastport and turn right (east) on M-88. Follow M-88 to Central Lake and then turn east on 624 (Old State Rd.). Continue on 624 approximately five miles. Less than one-half mile past Six Mile Lake Rd., turn left on Wilson Rd. (a dirt road). The preserve is at the end of Wilson Rd. From Bellaire, head north on 620 for approximately five miles. Turn east on 624 and go approximately three miles. Feat ures a large parking area and a loop trail, approximately one mile long, located to the right of the kiosk. To the left of the kiosk, Polaczyk Preserve features a quarter-mile, wood-chipped path, which leads to a viewing platform on the Dingman River.
  • Bullhead Lake Natural Area (28 acres) From Traverse City, take Front St. west (becomes North Long Lake Rd.). Follow North Long Lake Rd. around the north end of the lake, to Edgewood Ave. (just past Gilbert Park Beach) and turn left.
  • Carter Strong Bird Sanctuary (Six acres) From Traverse City, head south on US 31. At 14th St. turn right (west) on Silver Lake Rd. Follow Silver Lake Rd. and turn right on Secor Rd. (follow the signs to Boones Long Lake Inn). Secor turns into S. Long Lake Rd. and runs southwest along the lake.Continue around the lake about two miles. Turn right onto West Long Lake Rd., go approximately one mile, and watch for the preserve sign on the right side of the road. There is no formal parking area and no trails exist.
  • Cosner Nature Preserve (131 acres) Located approximately one hour from Traverse City and 20 minutes from Charlevoix. To get there from Traverse City, take US 31 N. to Atwood. In Atwood, turn right (east) on C-48. Follow C-48, then C-65 to Ellsworth. In Ellsworth, take C-48 east to East Jordan. In East Jordan, take M-66 south for three miles.
  • Deepwater Point Natural Area (15 acres) From Traverse City, take US 31 N. to Acme. Just north of Acme, turn left (west) on Shore Rd. The preserve is on the left-hand side, kitty corner from Bertha Vos Elementary School.
  • Grass River Natural Area (1143 acres) From Traverse City, take M-72 east. Turn left on Hill Rd. Turn left on Rapid City Rd. (County Rd. 597). When Rapid City Rd. becomes Torch Lake Dr. (County Rd. 593), turn left to stay on Torch Lake Dr. Go straight to get on to Alden Highway. Entrance is on Alden Highway one-half mile west of Comfort Rd.
  • Kewadin Wetlands Nature Preserve (41 acres) The best way to view this preserve is by boat. It is located along the northern-most shore of Elk Lake just south of Kewadin, not far from the Milton Township Park boat launch. To get to Milton Township Park from the Elk Rapids, take a right on Cairn Hwy. (Ames Rd.), which will take you around the tip of Elk Lake to Kewadin. Cairn Hwy. then turns into Cherry Ave. The Milton Township Park is located off of Cherry Ave. in Kewadin.
  • North Skegemog Nature Preserve (37 acres) Located at the northwestern tip of Skegemog Lake, just north of the Elk/Skegemog narrows and is best viewed by boat. The closest public launch sites are Whitewater Township Park on Elk Lake and the MDNR launch site on Lake Skegemog. To get to Whitewater Township Park from Traverse City, take U.S. 31 N. to Acme. In Acme, turn right (east) on M-72. Take M-72 to Williamsburg and turn left on Elk Lake Rd. (County Rd. 605). Follow Elk Lake Rd. to Park Rd. and turn right. The park and boat launch are at the end of Park Rd. To get to the MDNR launch site, take M-72 east from Acme. Turn left on Baggs Rd. At the end of Baggs Rd. turn left on Lakeside Terrace.
  • Palastra-Holm Nature Preserve (19 acres) This preserve is best viewed by boat. You cannot access it from the road without crossing private property. It is located along one of the last stretches of undeveloped shoreline on Elk Lake, south of Whitewater Township Park, where there is a public boat launch. To get to Whitewater Township Park from Traverse City, take U.S. 31 N. to Acme. In Acme, turn right (east) on M-72. Take M-72 to Williamsburg and turn left on Elk Lake Rd. (County Rd. 605). Follow Elk Lake Rd. to Park Rd. and turn right.
  • Pearl Lake (251 acres) From Traverse City, take M-72 west to Coleman Rd. (County Rd. 669) and turn left (south). Follow 669 four miles and turn right at the intersection of 669 and 610. Immediately after the intersection, turn right again on Almira Rd. (610). Go approximately two miles and turn right on Rayle Rd., a small dirt road. Follow Rayle Rd. a little less than one-half mile to an iron gate.
  • Pyatt Lake Nature Preserve (140 acres) Located just 20 minutes from Traverse City. From Traverse City, follow Peninsula Dr. north approximately 10 miles. Just past Bowers Harbor Marina, turn left on Neahtawanta Rd. Follow Neahtawanta Rd. one-half mile to Pyatt Rd. Turn right on Pyatt Rd. The parking area is one-quarter mile down Pyatt Rd.
  • Railroad Point Natural Area (61 acres) From Traverse City, take U.S. 31 south to Beulah/Benzonia. Just after the town of Beulah, turn right on M-115. Take M-115 to Mollineaux Rd. and turn right. Railroad Point Natural Area is one-half mile down Mollineaux Rd. Look for a small dirt parking area on the right.
  • George and Ada Reffitt Nature Preserve (83 acres) Adjacent to the TART trail, not far from the Traverse City State Park. In Traverse City, turn south on Three Mile Rd. Then turn right on Parsons Rd. (at the light) and park immediately on the left (next to the TART trail). The Reffitt Nature Preserve trail starts immediately south of the railroad tracks on the left (east) side of Three Mile Rd. For handicap access: From U.S. 31 N. (Munson Ave.) in Traverse City, turn south on Four Mile Rd. The first road on the right is Pine Dr. Follow Pine Dr. approximately one-quarter mile and you will see the preserve right ahead of you.
  • Seven Bridges (314 acres) From Traverse City, take U.S. 31 north to Acme. In Acme, take M-72 east to Hill Rd. and go left. Take Hill Rd. to Rapid City Rd. Turn left on Rapid City Rd. and continue to the town of Rapid City. In town, turn right on Valley Rd. Follow Valley Rd. approximately three miles. The parking area for the natural area is located on the left-hand side, one-half mile past Underhill Rd. From Kalkaska, take M-72 west 1.5 miles to Valley Rd. Turn right (north) on Valley Rd. and go approximately seven miles. The parking is located on the right-hand side, 1.5 miles north of Dundas Rd.
  • St. Clair Lake: Six Mile Lake Natural Area (191 acres) A one hour drive from Traverse City. To get there, take U.S. 31 N. to Atwood. In Atwood, turn right (east) on C-48. Follow C-48, then C-65 to Ellsworth. In Ellsworth, take C-48 east approximately two miles to South Arm Township Park and a small parking area on the right (south) side of the road.
  • Skegemog Lake Wildlife Area (3,300 acres) To get to the SLWA main entrance from Traverse City, take U.S. 31 north to Acme. In Acme turn right on M-72. Take M-72 east approximately eight miles to Hill Rd. and go left. Follow Hill Rd. to Rapid City Rd. Turn left on Rapid City Rd., go 2.3 miles and look for the sign and parking area on the left-hand side. You may also visit SLWA by boat. To get to the closest public launch site, take M-72 east from Acme. Turn left on Baggs Rd. At the end of Baggs Rd. turn left on Lakeside Terrace. There are four miles of trails.
  • South Island Nature Preserve (14 acres) Accessible by boat only. Crescent Shores is the closest public boat launch. To get there from Traverse City, take Front St. west (which becomes North Long Lake Rd.). Follow North Long Lake Rd. around the north end of the lake past Gilbert Park beach. Keep going straight on N. Long Lake Rd., which will turn into W. Long Lake Rd. (do not turn right to go to Lake Ann). Follow W. Long Lake Rd. and turn left on Crescent Shores Rd. South Island is located southeast of the boat launch.
  • Trapp Farm Nature Preserve (124 acres) Located just a short distance from downtown Beulah. To reach the main entrance from Traverse City, take U.S. 31 S. approximately 32 miles to Beulah. Just past the Cherry Hut, turn left on Narrow Gauge Rd. Follow the road less than one-quarter mile and look for the parking lot on the left. To get to the east entrance, turn left off of U.S. 31 S. onto Eldridge Rd as you are heading down the hill into Beulah. one-quarter mile down Eldridge Rd. there is an access to the preserve on the right.
  • Torch Bay Natural Area (39 acres) From Traverse City, take U.S. 31 N. 10 miles north of Elk Rapids turn left (west) on Traverse Bay Rd. (the dirt road directly across from Torch Crest Village.)
  • Upper Herring Lake Nature Preserve (163 acres) To get there from Traverse City, take U.S. 31 S. to Beulah/Benzonia. Just south of Benzonia, turn right (west) on Grace Rd. (County Rd. 606). Follow Grace Rd. until you hit M-22. Turn south on M-22 and continue for a few miles. About one mile past Herron Rd., you will see the sign for the preserve on your left (next to an old schoolhouse). Park just off of M-22 near the preserve sign.