Hathaway Family's Regina Caeli Nature Preserve
All dogs must be on a leash!
And please clean up after your pooches while using the trails. Learn More
Size
92 acres
Land Description
A mix of open field and wooded uplands, this property is just a few minutes from downtown Mackinaw City, and even closer to Mackinaw Schools. You can enjoy peeks of the Mackinaw Bridge from its highest points. This preserve provides access to the Tip of the Mitt Trail which travels east-west across the northern tip of the lower peninsula.
Trail Description
A parking area is found at the high point of the property. A half-mile universally accessible trail loop was created in 2025. From this trail, you can connect to the Tip of the Mitt Trail and head east toward The Headlands or west toward Mackinac City. (Note: Tip of the Mitt Trail is not universally accessible.)
History
Judge James A. Hathaway bought this farm in the 1950s. With the plan to have a Christmas Tree Farm. When the tree farm could no longer be maintained, and James and his wife Carmelita passed, the three children, Tom, Lita, and Drank, decided the best way to honor their vision for the land was to donate the farm to LTC as a nature preserve. A sustainable harvest removing invasive scotch pine occurred in 2020, and a parking area and universally accessible trail were completed in Fall 2025.
Directions
ADDRESS: 1057 W. Central, Mackinaw City
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.