Horton Creek Nature Preserve complex
All dogs must be on a leash!
And please clean up after your pooches while using the trails. Learn More
Size
325 acres
Frontage
2.7 miles of Horton Creek frontage.
Land Description
Nearly three miles of trails wind through mature hardwood forests, and young pin cherry stands, primarily at the Schulz Working Forest Reserve and the Taylor Horton Creek Preserve. Hemlock and yellow birch grow along the edge of the creek. Recent logging activities (2017) have occurred at Schulz. A small trail on the Rufus Teesdale Preserve takes you to the river (Teesdale is located southeast of the area shown on the map, and a parking area is found off of Boyne City-Charlevoix Road.)
History
Ernest Hemingway loved to fish for trout on Horton Creek. He refers to it in several stories and memoirs, and it appears to be the model for the creek mentioned in the Nick Adams stories “Summer People” and “The Last Good Country.”
Directions
To access the trail system on the west side of Horton Creek: From Charlevoix, take US 31 northeast 2 miles and turn right on Boyne City-Charlevoix Road. Go 8.6 miles, and turn left on Pin Cherry. Go north 2.1 miles, and the rustic parking area is on the right. From Boyne City, take Boyne City-Charlevoix Road 7 miles, and turn right on Pincherry. Follow the rest of the directions above.
To access the Nick Adams Preserve and the east side of Horton Creek: From Charlevoix, take US 31 east 2 miles and turn right on Boyne City-Charlevoix Road. Go 9 miles, and turn left on Horton Bay Road. Go north 0.5 miles on Horton Bay Road, and turn left on Horton Creek Road. Go 0.7 miles on Horton Creek to get to the Nick Adams Preserve. Go an additional half mile to get to the Taylor Horton Creek parcel. Please note there are no maintained trails or parking areas on the east side of the creek.
From Boyne City, take Boyne City-Charlevoix Road 6.4 miles, and turn right on Horton Bay Road. Go north 0.5 miles on Horton Bay Road, and turn left on Horton Creek Road. Go 0.7 mile on Horton Creek to get to the Nick Adams Preserve. Go an additional half mile to get to the Taylor Horton Creek parcel.
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.
