Photos by: Mark Smith
We’re excited to offer four new trails for you to explore this fall. Whether they’re within a natural area you already love, or a brand new preserve, we welcome you to discover each of these uniquely Leelanau landscapes. All offer adventure and tranquility.
Pat’s Preserve at Lime Lake
Pat’s Preserve spans 60 pristine acres on Lime Lake’s southwest shores. Protecting more than 1,000 feet of unspoiled shoreline, it offers views of Sugar Loaf and the Conservancy’s Teichner Preserve. As a natural sponge, the wetlands absorb rainwater, preventing erosion and pollutants from the nearby Maple City Highway. Established in 2019, the preserve unveiled its quarter-mile, all-abilities boardwalk trail at the end of the summer. Pat’s Preserve is a biodiverse haven featuring northern forests, conifer swamps, and vibrant meadows. It teems with wildlife, from bears to brook trout, providing a lush showcase of nature’s beauty for all to explore.
Palmer Woods Forest Reserve
The majestic forest of Palmer Woods invites you to explore even more hiking options. A singletrack hiking trail has been added north and west of the trail that parallels Wheeler Road, connecting the main Palmer parking lot and Krumweide. Also a singletrack hiking loop has been added just south of Darwin Road, a staff favorite for winter snowshoe adventures. Located near Big Glen Lake, Palmer Woods offers recreation year round. New cross country ski grooming equipment was acquired this year to help maintain the growing network of crosscountry ski trails. This northern hardwood forest shares five miles of border with Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. In addition to recreation trails, the natural area features two large deer exclosures for scientific exploration, and the Dan and Helen Palmer Fern Garden with a boardwalk complete with interpretive signage. Please follow marked trails, as cell service is limited. Choose your own adventure at this Leelanau Conservancy gem.
The Ingraham Preserve at Cedar River
Step into the wild heart of Leelanau at the Bart and Gail Ingraham Preserve, an 80-acre expansion of the Cedar River Preserve. This preserve gives you dry-land access and a new perspective of the wetland and river system. The 1.3-mile Ridgeline Trail offers a panoramic view of Solon Swamp, the Cedar River, and South Lake Leelanau. It also offers an enchanting view of a vernal pool within a large kettle hole. Learn more about the gift from the Ingrahams that brought this treasure to life by visiting our website. As always, the Cedar River Preserve offers opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, and immersion in diverse, unspoiled nature.
Stites Natural Area
Shaped by ancient glaciers and carved by winding streams, Stites Natural Area is a pleasure to wander. Follow bending ridgeline trails that offer views that stretch to Old Mission Peninsula when the leaves fall. In autumn, the northern hardwood forest erupts in vibrant colors, while spring paints the forest floor with trillium and lady’s slippers. Beech, maple, ironwood, and red oaks lace the land, nurturing wildlife like grouse, woodcock, deer, and bobcats. Take a walk on the new .91-mile trail. Enjoy the sublime of nature while being within a mile of the downtown Suttons Bay village center. You may witness century-old giants with three-foot diameters, and you could even spot bear tracks on the old two-track.
