Highlights
Linda Ott generously donated a portion of her land on the Keweenaw Peninsula to KLT in December 2025 to establish the Silver River Wetlands Nature Area. Bailey Creek flows through this 40-acre property in the shadows of rock before joining the Silver River, flowing through forested wetlands on its way to open, sunny marsh before emptying into Lake Superior.
A key feature the Silver River Wetlands is a rock ridge paralleling its 0.7 miles of frontage on Highway M-26 across from the Michigan Audubon’s Lake Bailey Sanctuary. The ridge is a modest continuation of the more massive resistant conglomerate layer known as the West Bluff that holds up Brockway Mountain Drive further to the east. At the Silver River Wetlands, the ridge consists of both a relatively thin resistant conglomerate layer and an equally thin basaltic lava flow. This impressive and imposing feature has potential to offer spectacular vistas across the Keweenaw Peninsula to Lake Superior if we can find a safe route for a footpath on this steep topography, something to be explored as KLT staff get to know this land better in 2026 and develop a management plan to guides its stewardship.
Planning your visit
KLT staff will be developing a management plan in 2026 and starting to explore potential opportunities for trails for easier access. The topography is steep as the majority of the property is on a rock ridge. While there are currently no trails, the property is open to the public, and there is parking across the street at the Lake Bailey Nature Area.
Why this place is special
The property falls within an Important Habitat Area (MI-041) comprising the northern portion of the Keweenaw Peninsula for its high biodiversity, rare plant and animal habitats and unique geological features (LAMP Biodiversity Conservation Assessment for Lake Superior). The project would contribute to strategic conservation corridor along the north shore of the Keweenaw Peninsula and expand on conservation efforts of KLT and other adjoining conservation lands.