Acres: 56
Established: 2002 & 2006
County: Houghton
Category: Public Nature Area

The late Mary Sinish grew up in the Keweenaw, spending summers along the Portage Waterway on her family's land and visiting her grandfather and great-uncle. Inspired by this experience and those at a Wisconsin summer camp, Mrs. Sinish donated 40 acres to the Keweenaw Land Trust with the intention of making the land available to the public, especially children, to provide opportunities to learn about nature and enjoy the outdoors. Located near Oskar Bay, the nature area includes forested and shrubby areas with scattered wet meadows and dense cedar swamps. A trailhead is located partway down Red Brick Road (see map).

Mrs. Sinish augmented the nature area and the quality of life for residents when she bequeathed to KLT an additional 16 acres, including her two homes along 900 feet of shoreline on Portage Waterway. Mrs. Sinish's vision was to establish a nature retreat for those with limited access to the serenity of the outdoors. She envisioned a place where the elderly, children, scouts, artists, and groups who work with the disadvantaged could relax, learn, and enjoy all that nature offers. The KLT has made substantial progress towards this vision and the Marsin Nature Retreat is now a welcome place for organizations, groups, families, and individuals in search of a place to gather and enjoy the environment around us. Please click on the Reservations tab above to learn more about the space and how you can stay here.

The 40-acre nature area is available year round from the trailhead on Red Brick Road. With the help of our dedicated volunteers, we are adding trails and a boardwalk through a high quality white cedar swamp to connect the existing trail network with the lakeshore campus and Retreat.

More Information

Marsin Nature Retreat Floorplan
Marsin Lakeshore Campus Map
Marsin Nature Retreat Use Request/Agreement Form

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