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Attractions: Non-Motorized Areas
The Keweenaw has special places set aside to preserve the pristine beauty, biology and/or geology of the site. These areas are open to the public, but are strictly for non-motorized traffic only. Fires, camping & motorized vehicles (and in some cases, even bicycles) are prohibited. When visiting one of these preserves, please remember to stay on marked paths, do not remove any plants, rocks or animals, do not litter and do not trespass on adjacent private land. This will do more than protect the area...it will ensure that others will also be able to enjoy it.
Ahmeek Bete Grise Copper Harbor Eagle Harbor Houghton
Ahmeek
Photo courtesy of NorthWoodsConservancy.org (Click on image to enlarge) Earl K Dore Woodland
Address: Five Mile Point Road, Keweenaw County
When: Open during daylight hours 365 days a year.
The Dore Woods, a North Woods Conservancy site, contains 80 acres of oak and maple hardwood forest and the botanically diverse Taylor Creek gorge. Located northwest of Ahmeek off the Five Mile Point Road, the Woods are accessible via the Gratiot River North trail-head parking area and trail easement at the end of Tanskanen Road...


Courtesy of John Griffith www.northwoodsconservancy.org (Click on image to enlarge) Gratiot River North
Address: Five Mile Point Road, Keweenaw County
When: Open during daylight hours 365 days a year.
Gratiot River North, a North Woods Conservancy site, contains 495 acres including miles of hiking and biking trails and 4,988' of Lake Superior agate-rich cobble shoreline. Fires, camping and motorized vehicles are prohibited. Located northwest of Ahmeek off the Five Mile Point Road, access is via a trail-head parking area and trail...


Courtesy of John Griffith www.northwoodsconservancy.org (Click on image to enlarge) Seven Mile Point
Address: Five Mile Point Road, Keweenaw County
When: Open to the public from noon to sunset on weekends from May 15 to October 15, provided an NWC volunteer host is present.
Seven Mile Point, a North Woods Conservancy site, contains 32 acres and 1,854' of Lake Superior sand, bedrock and cobble shoreline. Located northwest of Ahmeek, off the Five Mile Point Road, access is via Sunset Bay Road. Visit the website for printable...


Bete Grise    back to top
Photo courtesy of Michael D-L Jordan (Click on image to enlarge) Bete Grise Preserve
Address: Gay-Lac La Belle Road, Keweenaw County
When: Open 365 days a year to foot travel and other types of passive recreational use such as hiking, fishing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and the like...
The Bete Grise Preserve, a Nature Conservancy protected area, is a wetland area stretching along Lake Superior from Lac La Belle to Point Isabelle along the Gay-Lac La Belle Road on the Keweenaw's south shore. Bete Grise is recognized as the single most...

Copper Harbor    back to top
Courtesy of The Nature Conservancy in Michigan (Click on image to enlarge) Mary Macdonald Preserve
Address: Off the end of US-41, east of Copper Harbor
When: The site is open to the public year round. Late summer and early fall are the best times to visit this site.
A Michigan Nature Conservancy Site, the Mary Macdonald Preserve at Horseshoe Harbor is arguably the most beautiful Conservancy site in the state of Michigan. The preserve encompasses 1,276 acres of high-quality bedrock beaches and glade communities...


Eagle Harbor    back to top
Lake Eliza, courtesy of George Hite's eagleharborweb.net (Click on image to enlarge) Eagle Harbor Township Recreation Area
Address: Off of M-26 west of Eagle Harbor, between Lake Eliza and Great Sand Bay in Keweenaw County
When: Open year round for hiking and cross country skiing.
The Eagle Harbor Township Recreation Area includes well-defined sand channels and sandy defiles with red & white pine mixed with red oak and boreal forest. There are small, shallow lakes surrounded by dunes with diverse plant communities...

Photo courtesy of Ryan Kildee (Click on image to enlarge) Helmut & Candis Stern Preserve at Mt. Lookout
Address: Eagle Harbor Cut-Off Road, Keweenaw County
When: Open year round 7 days a week for hiking, skiing, showshoeing, nature study, research projects and environmental education programs.
A Nature Conservancy site, the Helmut & Candis Stern Preserve includes 1,371 acres that encompass several thousand feet of frontage along Lake Bailey, a 200+ acre glacial lake and steep wooded slopes with a mix of hardwood and conifer forests and offers...


Houghton    back to top
Click on image to enlarge Michigan Tech Recreational Forest
Address: Along Sharon Avenue/MacInnes Drive, on the Michigan Tech University Campus in Houghton
When: Open year round for non-motorized traffic including hiking, biking and cross country skiing.
The Michigan Tech Recreational Forest, located off US-41 or M-26 along Sharon Avenue, has two distinct trail areas of moderate difficulty with rolling hills of up to 18...