Protected, Owned and Managed by The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy
Please Note: To keep Grass Lake pristine and free from invasive species, OUTSIDE WATERCRAFT ARE NOT ALLOWED. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
A centerpiece property of GTRLC’s six-year Campaign for Generations, Upper Manistee Headwaters: The Milock Family Preserve is sure to dazzle visitors of all ages.
The roughly six miles of trail here are ideal for hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and “cruiser” style biking. This is also an excellent preserve for bird watching and wildlife viewing in all seasons.
This property, owned and operated by the Boy Scouts for about 80 years before its acquisition by GTRLC, spans an impressive 1,357 acres and includes a wide variety of high-quality wildlife habitat. Of particular interest is the near complete lack of aquatic invasive species, making this property extremely valuable from a conservation standpoint.
In addition to about a mile of the north branch of the Manistee River, this property includes its own 130-acre spring-fed lake, multiple types of wetland habitat and several kettle-hole ponds. Mixed northern mesic forests and fields provide additional valued habitat. The property supports a large number of species, including loons, bald eagles, smooth green snakes and other species of special concern. As it is also adjacent to state land on two sides, it significantly expands upon previously protected land.
To learn more about how this special place was protected, read the Upper Manistee Headwaters chapter in our Campaign for Generations publication.