Highlights
Featuring stunning sunsets and crashing waves, this preserve is conveniently located on highway M-26 about four miles west of Copper Harbor. The preserve features boreal and mixed hardwood forests, lowland swamp, a portion of the bedrock glade in the Keweenaw, and a bedrock and cobble beach along 643 feet of undeveloped shoreline on Lake Superior with several small islands just off shore. The Preserve is one of only three A-ranked Michigan occurrences of the globally-rare (G2) community type bedrock beaches, so rock hounds can find fossilized stromatolites, ripple marks, and rain impressions.
Planning your visit
The Preserve is located at Dan's Point, one of only three A-ranked Michigan occurrences of the globally-rare (G2) community type bedrock beaches. Fossilized stromatolites, ripple marks, and rain impressions can also be found here. It is open to the public for non-motorized recreation. A small parking area and informational sign can be found on the north side of M-26. A deep hole just offshore serves as an attractive area for recreational divers.
Why this place is special
This property is owned by the Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District, and was acquired in partnership with the Land Trust through the Michigan Coastal Management Program. The Preserve is part of a nearby network of preserves owned by the Copper Country Audubon, Eagle Harbor Township, and the Michigan Nature Association. Easement donor Gina Nicholas provided generous assistance and matching funds to establish this preserve, named in honor of her grandparents, and easement donor Renate Giannini donated additional acres in memory of her son, Christian Giannini. KLT holds a conservation easement on the property, doubly protecting the nature area for future generations.
Maps & documents
The following documents provide additional details about this nature area.