Darnton Family Nature Preserve
All dogs must be on a leash!
And please clean up after your pooches while using the trails. Learn More
Size
275 acres
Land Description
Just a few miles outside of Boyne City, these trails take you through rolling terrain and varied habitats, including a mix of old hayfields, northern hardwood forests, pine plantations, and conifer swamp wetlands surrounding Porter Creek, a trout stream and important tributary to Lake Charlevoix.
Trail Description
1.5 miles of trails.
History
In the early ‘90s, Jeff Knaggs purchased the land from his grandparents. For decades, the family enrolled the land into a variety of conservation programs. Trees were planted for windbreaks, erosion control, wildlife food, and aesthetics. Over time, the trees were managed within a Forest Stewardship Program, including most recently to control the invasive pest, Emerald Ash Borer. The purchase of the preserve in 2013 was made possible by the Taylor Foundation, the J.A. Woollam Foundation, and the Darnton family. The preserve is named after the Darnton family, whose generations have long loved the Lake Charlevoix region. Two additions totaling 70 acres and 2,000 feet more along Porter Creek were purchased in 2017 by John and Cyndi Woollam.
Directions
ADDRESS: 4251 Behling Road, East Jordan From Front Street in Boyne City, head southwest out of town following the lake until it becomes Marshall Road. Follow 0.3 miles and take a left on Anderson Rd. In 2.5 miles, take a right on Behling Rd. Follow Behling Rd. 0.8 mile to the parking area on the right. Access to the preserve is also available off Dyer Rd, but this dirt road’s intersection with Behling very poor visibility.
Check out the plants and animals found at this preserve using the iNaturalist guide below. Help us document more with iNaturalist.org and eBird.org.
