Thorne Swift Nature Preserve
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NOTE: Dogs and horses are not allowed at this nature preserve.
Size
30 acres
Frontage
950 feet along Lake Michigan with 300 feet as a public beach.
Land Description
A mix of upland dunes and lowland cedar swamp, a small pond, and Great Lakes shoreline.
Trail + Facilities Description
A large parking lot lies adjacent to the Elizabeth Kennedy Nature Center. A total of 1½ miles of trail, dune observation platform, pond observation platform, pavilion, amphitheater, and seasonal guided programs all make this an excellent family destination.
Thorne Swift trails are open daily from 10:00AM to sunset from typically April 15 through November 14.
The Nature Center is open Memorial Day through to Labor Day from 10:00AM - 7:00PM. Call 231.526.6401 for more information.
History
In 1981, Elizabeth Kennedy donated the Thorne Swift property to Little Traverse Conservancy. The Conservancy leases the property to West Traverse Township.
Directions
ADDRESS: 6696 Lower Shore Drive, Harbor Springs - From Harbor Springs, take M-119 northwest 3.8 miles to Lower Shore Drive. Follow Lower Shore Drive for ½ mile. The preserve sign is on the left.
Check out the plants and animals found at this preserve using the iNaturalist guide below. Help us document more with iNaturalist.org and eBird.org.