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Kehl Lake
Natural Area Trail |
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Kehl Lake
Natural Area
Drive north of
Northport on M-201 Drive 2.5 miles, turn left on Snyder Road. Drive
.5 miles, turn right on Sugarbush Road. Drive .7 miles to the corner of Kehl
and Otis Roads; go straight on Kehl for .2 miles. You will see a sign for
the Natural Area parking lot.
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 A
small lake very close to the shore of Lake Michigan. The natural area
trail takes you through a majestic white pine (some thought to be
over 200 years old) and red maple forest. The land then gently slopes to
wetter areas dominated first by an old-growth pine-hemlock forest,
followed by birch, poplar and cedar marsh. These wetlands provide food and
cover for wildlife, particularly birds, and contribute to the lake’s
pristine water quality. Smallmouth bass and northern pike thrive in the
lake. Along the property’s 1,800 feet of undeveloped lakeshore, you might
see herons, kingfishers, and loons; over 100 species of birds have been
spotted here. |
| Native Americans also buried their
dead here and gathered medicinal herbs from the wetlands. An ancient
campsite sits right off the trail. Notice the “Marker Tree” off to the
right of the trail near the lakeshore When this white pine was a
sapling, it was manipulated to grow with its distinctive kink, creating a
striking landmark |
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Joanne's next hike in
2005.....look for more photos |
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