This beautiful 168 acre property was donated to the Little Traverse Conservancy in 1984 by Allan and Virginia McCune of Petoskey. A hardwood forest dominates the landscape, but one can encounter a variety of other communities- a scotch pine plantation, white and red pine plantation, meadow, creek, and floodplain.

A trail system loops through the various habitats on the preserve. The trail system is dedicated to Allen Purchis, whose family homesteaded this area and who loved and cared for much of this land. The spring-fed Minnehaha Creek flows tranquilly through the preserve on its way to Crooked Lake. This creek is one example of the many beautiful streams flowing through northern Michigan. The creek bottom is mostly sandy, but does have some gravel bottomed areas and hiding places for fish such as brook trout.

Directions: From Petoskey, take Mitchell Road east to Maxwell Road. Turn right (south) approximately 3/4 mile to preserve sign on the right (west) side of the road.