Protected, owned and managed by the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy.
PLEASE NOTE: Because of sensitive wildlife, dogs are not allowed at this preserve. Also, a central portion of the boardwalk trail is closed each year from April 15 – July 15 in an effort to avoid disturbance of several species of birds as they nest in this critical habitat. Access during this closure remains available from both the M-22 and St. Pierre road parking lots.
Arcadia Marsh Preserve, located just south of Arcadia, offers visitors access to a Great Lakes Coastal Marsh, a rare and declining natural community found only in Great Lakes coastal areas. It is estimated that over 80% of all original Great Lakes marshes have been destroyed. These marshes are some of the most productive ecosystems in the world, and Arcadia Marsh is one of only 15 or so remaining coastal marshes along Lake Michigan’s Lower Peninsula shoreline. Intensive habitat restoration work completed here by GTRLC and a dedicated team of partners has helped improve this ecosystem tremendously after many decades of decline due to invasive species and man-made impacts.
Please be sure to check out our action-packed Arcadia Marsh Bird and Botanical Guide for helpful information on the birds and plants found here!
Read the Arcadia Marsh chapter from our 25th anniversary publication Love the Land: Pass it On.
To learn about creation of the universal access trail here, read the Arcadia Marsh Universal Access trail chapter from our Campaign for Generations wrap publication.
Certain types of hunting are allowed in accordance with state regulations:
- Deer hunting; all forms.
- Small game, waterfowl and turkey hunting. When waterfowl hunting, GTRLC prohibits targeting of coots, common moorhens/gallinules and rail species.
- No trapping
- NO HUNTING OF ANY KIND FROM THE BOARDWALK
For more information, please visit our Hunting Regulations page.
Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers! Boats and anglers can significantly contribute to the spread of invasive species in Michigan’s waterways. Every time you launch into or leave a body of water, please do the following to prevent their spread:
- Clean boats, trailers, and equipment and remove all mud, debris, and aquatic plant material
- Drain water from watercraft, including live wells, bilges, and ballast tanks
- Dry watercraft and equipment thoroughly
- Dispose of bait in the trash–please do not release bait into the water!