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Wildlife Viewing Areas
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Millie Mine Bat Cave, Park Ave, Iron Mountain, MI 49801, Phone: (906) 774-8530. The Bat Mine is a critical hibernating and breeding location for up to one million bats, one of the largest concentrations of bats in the world. Bats begin arriving at the mine in late August and early September. They remain in the mine shaft throughout the winter and begin emerging in late April and May. The best time to view bats is right at dusk as they begin to emerge from the mine entrance.
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Bete Grise Preserve, Gay-Lac La Belle Road, Bete Grise, MI 49950, Phone: (906) 225-0399. The Bete Grise Preserve, a Nature protected area, is a wetland area stretching along Lake Superior from Bete Grise to Point Isabelle along the Gay-Lac La Belle Road on the Keweenaw's south shore. The area features two miles of premier Lake Superior shoreline and contains roughly 1500 acres of diverse wetland types. There is a small undeveloped parking area on the north side of the Gay-Lac La Belle Road at the boundary between Sections 2 & 3 with a clearly defined trail that leads to the beach. Motorized vehicles, camping or overnight use, fires and removal or collection of any vegetation or nature feature (except berry picking for personal use) are prohibited. Pets on leash are welcome. Open year round to foot travel and other types of passive recreational use such as hiking, fishing, non-groomed cross country ski trails, snowshoeing and the like. HUNTING IS ALLOWED BY WRITTEN PERMIT.
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Boney Falls Basin, County Road 523, Gladstone, MI 49837, Phone: (906) 786-1660. This scenic, forested impoundment on the Escanaba River offers beautiful scenery and good wildlife viewing. Hiking trails, small boat access, and a primitive campground add to the attractiveness of this site. Eagles and hawks are commonly seen soaring above the impoundment and river corridor. Fly fishing for brown trout is popular in this area from June throughout the summer. Available at this site: restrooms, trails, picnic area, camping, fishing, boat ramp, drinking water. The river is shallow, so canoeing may be difficult during periods of low water.
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Brockway Mountain Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary, Brockway Mountain Drive, Eagle Harbor, MI 49950, Phone: (906) 337-4579. The Brockway Mountain Sanctuary has a walking trail approachable from Brockway Mountain Drive. The Oren Krumm Trail starts at the parking area on Brockway Mountain Drive and is about 1/4 mile long ending at a lookout point with a long view of the wooded hills to the south. Brockway Mtn Nature Sanctuary encompasses 78 acres below the east end of Brockway Mtn and protects some important species of plants that are unique to Michigan only in Keweenaw County. There is also a 1.6 mile hiking trail to be enjoyed.
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Brockway Mountain Drive, Copper Harbor, MI 49918, Phone: (906) 337-4579. Located in Copper Harbor. Brockway offers you a 9 1/2 mile drive that is has breathtaking views of Lake Superior and thousands of acres of the Keweenaw. It is the highest above sea-level drive between the Rockies and the Alleghenies. It is designated as an official Michigan Wildlife Viewing Area. The biggest wildlife attraction here is the annual migration of birds-of-prey from mid-April to mid-June.
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Davidson Lake Wildlife Viewing Area, U.S. Forest Service, Trout Creek, MI, Phone: (906) 852-3500. This site contains a diversity of habitats and a maze of hiking trails. Pick up a brochure at the site or at the Forest Service office. Because of its diversity, a wide range of wildlife viewing opportunities exist including ruffed grouse, woodcock, bear, marten and fox in the upland areas; wetland areas include beaver, river otter, and mink. From Trout Creek, go north on Gardner Rd. to Five Mile Rd. Turn right. Go 3 miles to sign for Wildlife Management Area.
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Deer Marsh Interpretive Trail, Sidnaw Road, Sidnaw, MI 49961, Phone: (906) 852-3500. The well-maintained interpretive trail at this site gives a close look at the plants and animals that live in and around wetlands. The trail traverses forests and open areas as it snakes around the main body of Deer Marsh. You may see a wide variety of wetland wildlife such as ducks, geese, herons, shorebirds, beavers, and otters. Also, watch for deer, eagles, osprey, and songbirds. Best viewing opportunities are in the spring, but summer and fall can be good, too. Portions of this area are open to public hunting. Contact the Michigan Dept of Natural Resources for affected seasons and locations.
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Eagle Harbor Environs, M26, Eagle Harbor, MI 49950, Phone: (906) 337-4579. The Eagle Harbor environs encompass the 37 acre Clark Memorial Nature Sanctuary & the 25 acre Eagle Harbor Red Pines Dunes Nature Sanctuary the hiking trail is 4.3 miles.
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Estivant Pines Nature Sanctuary, Manganese Road, Copper Harbor, MI 49918, Phone: (906) 337-4579. The Estivant Pines Nature Sanctuary is a 377 acre wilderness, hiking trails, you may see several of the 85 species of birds, 23 species of ferns, 13 types of native orchids, old mine workings, rock out-cropping along with virgin cedars. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are available during winter months.
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Hardwood Impoundment, Fordville Rd, Foster City, MI 49831, Phone: (906) 875-6622. This area offers some great viewing opportunities of wildlife that have grown accustomed to vehicles passing them along the two dikes that cross the impoundment. A small boat access site is also available. Bald eagles nest in the vicinity and are frequently sees roosting or hunting along the dikes. On the lakes and wetland areas you may see mallards, Canada geese, grebes and other waterfowl. Look for herons wading in the shallow water. Belted kingfishers are also common in the area.
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Helmut & Candis Stern Preserve, at Mount Baldy, Eagle Harbor, Eagle Harbor, MI 49950, Phone: (906) 225-0399. A Nature Conservancy site, the Lookout Mountain Preserve includes 1371 acres that encompass several thousand feet of frontage along Lake Bailey, a 200+ acre glacial lake and steep wooded slopes with a mix of hardwood and conifer forests and offers spectacular views of Lake Superior and the Keweenaw from atop Mt Lookout, nearly 700 feet above the shoreline. Motorized vehicles, off-road vehicles, bicycles, pets, smoking, camping and fires are prohibited. Access is just south of Eagle Harbor, east of the Cut-Off Road. Open year round 7 days a week.
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Isle Royale National Park - Species include moose, wolf, red fox, beaver, hare. Information center. (906) 482-0984
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Keweenaw Shore Nature Sanctuary, M-26, Eagle Harbor, MI 49950, Phone: (906) 337-4579. The Keweenaw Shore Nature Sanctuary is a unique nature sanctuary with one of the most interesting short trails in the Keweenaw, the 3/4 mile trail crosses some of the best geology in the Keweenaw area and has 4 different plant communities.The hike can be continued through the more difficult upson Lake Sanctuary."All Michigan Nature Association Rules Apply".
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Lake Bailey Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary, M-26, Eagle Harbor, MI 49950, Phone: (906) 337-4579. The Lake Bailey Sanctuary parking area is at the east end of Lake Bailey on M-26 in Keweenaw County. The hiking trail begins at the back of the parking area and goes approximately 1 mile back to the south ridge. The trail is a challenge in places, as it is steep and the shallow soils on this north-facing slope are constantly creating deadfalls to cross.
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Marquette State Fish Hatchery - Produces trout. Interpretive brochure available. (906) 249-1611
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Oswald's Bear Ranch, 13814 County Road 407, R.R.# 1, Box 153, Newberry, MI 49868, Phone: (906) 293-3147. Bears roam freely within three well maintained natural habitats which you can walk about each perimeter. While strolling the grounds, Oswald will point to each of his 23 grown North American Black Bears and list their different personalities, names and even their weight. Open daily from Memorial Day weekend through September.
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Redwyn Dunes Nature Sanctuary, M-26, Eagle Harbor, MI 49950, Phone: (906) 337-4579. Redwyn Dunes is a 20 acre nature sanctuary with a 1/3 mile long trail that runs through sand dunes, past dune ponds and along a pebble and sand beach of Lake Superior. "All Michigan Nature Association Sanctuary rules apply."
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Seney National Wildlife Refuge, 1674 Rufuge Entrance Rd., Seney, MI 49883, Phone: (906) 586-9851. The 95,212 acre of diverse wetland and upland habitats that support a wide variety of wildlife. and about 65% of the refuge is wetland for over 200 species of birds and mammals, white-tailed deer, wolves and black bears, beavers and otters also are included in the wildlife here. Programs and tours help you learn about the wildlife here or you can take a self-guided tour. The visitor center is open May 15 to Oct 15, seven days a week for information or maps.
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Thompson’s State Fish Hatchery, 944 South State Highway M-149, Manistique, MI 49854-8922, Phone: (906) 341-5587. Enjoy the interpretative programs that provide information on the importance of small tributaries to the Great Lakes, how watersheds work and how a hatchery operates. With both indoor and outdoor rearing facilities the fish hatchery produces a wide range of fish species for both inland and Great Lakes waters. Coldwater species produced for Great Lakes waters include Atlantic salmon (the only state hatchery to produce these fish), brown trout, steelhead, and chinook salmon. Brown trout and rainbow trout for inland waters are also produced at this hatchery. Coolwater species produced at this facility include walleye and northern muskellunge that are used for both inland and Great Lakes waters. Open to the public at no charge 7:30 am to 3:30 pm seven days a week.
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Whitefish Point Bird Observatory, 16914 North Whitefish Point Road, Paradise, MI 49768, Phone: (906) 492-3596. Whitefish Point is a narrow peninsula that reaches several miles into Lake Superior toward Canada. During spring and fall, Whitefish Point is one of the best birding sites in Michigan. Hawks and finches start things off in mid-March and peak in late April. In spring Whitefish Point is one of the best sites in the country for owl viewing. Watch for Boreal, great gray, great- horned, short-eared, and long-eared owls. May brings concentrations of blue jays, grosbeaks, and waterfowl. Red-throated and common loons, scoters, and whimbrels are commonly seen. If the weather holds, viewing remains good until mid-November.
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