Other
Nature Preserves in Cheboygan County
Bessey Creek
Nature Preserve
This preserve, located near the Judson Pike Marsh Preserve, consists of 300
feet of frontage on Douglas Lake at the mouth of Bessey Creek. Bessey Creek
drains Judson Marsh which is a prime spawning area for northern pike. The Conservancy
purchased the property in 1989 with financial assistance from the Douglas Lake
Improvement Association and the people of Douglas Lake.
Giauque Nature
Preserve
This one acre parcel, donated in 1991 by Mary Catherine Bingham, is located
between M-27 and Ranch Road just south of Topinabee offering approximately 600
feet of scenic road frontage. Not far from Mullett Lake, the wetlands on this
preserve provide shelter and food for wildlife.
Judson Pike
Marsh Nature Preserve
Darrell Judson donated this property to the Little Traverse Conservancy in 1986
in memory of his grandparents, John and Georgianna Judson, pioneers and homesteaders
who previously owned and farmed the property. This preserve consists of 56 acres
of low wetland with 300 feet of frontage on Douglas Lake. It provides important
wildlife habitat and improves the water quality of the lake by filtering out
sediments and nutrients. Cattails and other aquatic plants thrive along the
shoreline, while aspen and red maple dominate other portions of the property.
Northern pike fingerlings are reared here as a benefit to the fishery in the
lake.
Directions to
Judson Pike Marsh: From Petoskey take US 31 north 18 miles to Van Rd. and turn
right. Take Van Rd. east 2 1/2 miles and turn left on Silver Strand Rd. Follow
Silver Strand Rd. about 1 1/4 miles to its intersection with Ingleside Rd. The
preserve is to the right of Ingleside Rd. at the intersection.
Needle Point
Nature Preserve
The Conservancy acquired this 36 acre preserve from Dr. and Mrs. Robert Ziegler
between 1990 and 1993. The property was given in part by the Zieglers and purchased
in part by the Conservancy with money donated by Mullett Lake residents and
the Americana Foundation. Needle Point is an undisturbed forested wetland dominated
by cedar, but also occupied by balsam fir, white spruce, and white birch. One
of the most significant features of this preserve is that it borders Mullett
Lake. This preserve provides wildlife habitat, a scenic view from the road and
the lake, and helps maintain the water quality of Mullett Lake.
Pigeon River
Nature Preserve
Accessible only by boat, the Pigeon River Preserve borders approximately 1/4
mile of the Pigeon River and 1/4 mile of the Little Pigeon River, which meet
on the property. Elk, deer, and beaver are among the residents of this 40-acre
preserve comprised of low and wet land. George and JoAnn Jury donated this preserve
in 1983.
Sturgeon Bay
Nature Preserve
Burt Lake residents saw the need for conservation when the former Hentkowski
property, located on Sturgeon Bay Road, was listed with a Cheboygan realtor.
These residents largely funded the 40 acre purchase by the Conservancy. One
of the main concerns of these people was the amount of northern white cedar
that had been cut and removed from the property in recent years. They believed
if the cutting continued it could greatly alter the character of the wetland,
as well as have a negative impact on the water quality of Burt Lake.