Michigan Trail Tuesday is our attempt to showcase a different trail or trail segment each week. The Mitten State is home to thousands of miles of trails, including the new Iron Belle Trail that runs from Detroit in the southeast to Ironwood in the western Upper Peninsula and more miles of the North Country Trail than any other state.

We’ve gone out of our way this year to try and incorporate a “new to us” nature preserve into every trip weekend trip and vacation. When a recent weekend in Mackinaw City and Cheboygan left us with some time to kill before heading out on a shipwreck tour with Nautical North Family Adventures, we were able to visit the Duncan Bay Nature Preserve. This 145 acre preserve had somehow slipped under our radar in previous visits, but we had a great time checking out the trail here and seeing some wildlife.

Starting from an unassuming dirt parking lot down Duncan Ave., the trail here is boardwalk at the start as it makes it way through a marshy area. Our visit was early enough in the morning that sunlight was still peeking through the trees for the first time and the birds were out and active. When the boardwalk ends you can choose to go left or right; either trail option will bring you back to the main trail.

We took the left trail on our way in, running parallel to a mostly dry creek bed that was being visited by robins and northern flickers. After reaching a bridge the trail passes through an open area before it becomes boardwalk again.

The final stretch of the trail before the shoreline is a beautifully constructed boardwalk that passes through wetlands that were full of tall plants dancing in the wind.

After the boardwalk there is a short walk in the sand to reach the shoreline. An observation tower stands off to the left, and the shoreline views are awesome. Look one way and you can see the Cheboygan Crib Light and passing boats, look the other way and you get distant views of the Fourteen Foot Shoal Light, Poe Reef Light, and Bois Blanc Island. On clear days you should even be able to see the Mackinac Bridge!

As we walked the shoreline, the sound of rustling in the bushes ended up being from a young buck who seemed mostly unbothered by our presence. This was an incredible preserve full of wildlife and scenic views, and we will definitely be visiting again when in the area!

To get to the Duncan Bay Nature Preserve from Cheboygan, head east on U.S. 23 then take a left on Duncan Ave. Follow Duncan Ave. for just under a mile and look for the parking area on the left with the Little Traverse Conservancy sign.