Thorne Swift Nature Preserve, Michigan, United States
4.5 (73 reviews) Spent < 1 hour Ranking #4 in Emmet County Nature & Wildlife Areas
Great hike
This is a cute little nature preserve. There are some nice easy walking trails most are wooden walkways. you can go out on a raised deck over the dunes with a great view of the lake. They also have the cutest nature center, really great for families.
Address
6696 Lower Shore Dr, Harbor Springs, MI 49740-8914
Mobile
Website
http://landtrust.org/NaturePreserves/ThorneSwiftInfo.htm
Current local date and time now
Wednesday, May 15, 2024, 0:22
User Ratings
4.5 based on (73 reviews)
Excellent
76%
Good
23%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Reviews
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5Too Y 5:00 PM Jan 13, 2020
Special Place to Visit
This is a diverse ecological system that encompasses a boardwalk over wet marshy areas, a wooded dune trail, and a section of pristine Lake Michigan beach. Each area is a little different. There is also a nature center staffed by an on site caretaker who manages the property year round. He feeds several species of local wildlife including turkeys, birds, and a couple almost tame raccoons by keeping a food box that the critters visit when they feel like a snack. It was pretty funny to see a "blond" raccoon named Blondy eating an actual white bread sandwich, next to a flock of foraging turkeys! The beach area is great for photography and has a bench to relax on and have snack. Lots of beautiful stones tucked into the beach sand. The east loop trail has many very old trees identified with information plaques and contains the oldest birch tree I have ever seen. The wetlands loop contains lots of very large Angelica plants that have amazing Dr. Suess like bloom pods. And on certain days, depending on the late summer weather, thousands of monarchs assemble and wait for the perfect conditions to migrate south over Lake Michigan. Talk to the caretaker about when to catch this astounding sight and bring your camera! A local wolf was also spotted near the road here in early January, likely hunting for a straggler in the large population of deer that winter in this cedar swamp and the meandering spring feed streams. This is a quiet, serene, place to explore, with some parking available, and bike racks for those who are cycling along the beautiful Lower Shore Drive area. Well worth a visit!
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5mishmosh_1 5:00 PM Jun 2, 2022
Refreshing walk in the woods
Saw wildlife! Pleasant staff, very welcoming. Walking path was easy hiking—wood chips and boardwalks and well maintained. Trails were very calming quiet experience. Extra Great if you need to relax and reset. We saw frogs(stop and look in the pond), deer, wild turkey, interesting plants, trees. Theres a Walk down to small beach. Another spot lets you view the lake from a boardwak on a dune.
