Rogers Family / Dressel / Jordan River Preserve Complex
All dogs must be on a leash!
And please clean up after your pooches while using the trails. Learn More
Size
208 acres combined
- Rogers Family: 156 acres
- Jordan River: 40 acres
- Dressel: 10 acres
- Jordan River Sedge Marsh: 2 acres
Frontage
More than two miles along the shores of the Jordan River.
Land Description
These Jordan River preserves include diverse habitats ranging from mixed hardwood/conifer swamp to upland savannahs. From the preserves, the river empties into the Jordan River spreads on the outskirts of the city of East Jordan.
Trail Description
Two parking areas are available, along with an easy universally accessible 1.5-mile trail system at the Rogers Family Homestead Preserve. The trail includes a loop that goes along the Jordan River.
A mile of railroad grade was recently improved for accessibility and is considered part of the Don & Eileen Klein Nature Trail. The Klein Trail continues past the north end of Rogers Preserve for an additional half mile of universally accessible trail along the edge of the Jordan River, passing the Friends of the Jordan Watershed Center and ending at Sportsman's Park.
Just upstream of the preserves lies a public access/canoe launch, making for an excellent paddling destination that ends in East Jordan at the edge of Lake Charlevoix.
History
In 1869, Samuel G. Rogers and his wife Eleanor moved from Ontario to homestead the land that is now the Rogers Preserve. The land was cultivated with oxen and horses, and hay was grown to feed the beef and dairy cattle and pigs. Family members still own the adjacent plantation. Pat Bonadeo donated an additional 2 acres to the Rogers Family Homestead Nature Preserve in 2021.
Directions
ADDRESS: 501 Echo Street, East Jordan, MI 49727 and 7944 Rogers Road, East Jordan, MI 49727
From downtown East Jordan, travel northeast and then east on M-32 for 1.3 miles to Rogers Road. Turn right, and the preserve is ½ mile down on the right.
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.