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.

The Chocolay Bayou Nature Preserve is located south of Marquette, near where the Chocolay River empties into Lake Superior. Here at this UP Land Conservancy property you can enjoy the trails and boardwalk while taking in the scenic views and birdwatching opportunities. What was once home to the first steam-powered sawmill in the area was preserved from future development in 2016. We had a chance to stop and check out this beautiful preserve back in June and would encourage others to visit when they’re in the Marquette area.

The preserve is located off of Main St. in Harvey, just a short distance from U.S. 41. The sign for the preserve sits back from the road a little bit so be looking for it on the left. If you reach the Chocolay Shores Apartments or the boat ramp you’ve gone too far (as we did on our first attempt). The gravel parking lot has room for a couple cars, and preserve/trail information is posted on the board near the trailhead (shown above).

The trail heads into the woods and we immediately could hear a lot of birds. I had expected this preserve to be great for seeing waterfowl, but within a few minutes we had observed several different warblers, nuthatches, sparrows, and other birds before even getting to within view of the water. The main trail was easy to follow and in a short distance it led to a downhill turn towards the boardwalk and the rest of the preserve.

The boardwalk was well maintained and led to a loop trail that connects to the Iron Ore Heritage Trail at its northeastern corner. A trail off to the northwest heads out to the bayou, where a bench offer a great spot to sit and observe the wildlife. The trail then loops back around to the boardwalk for the return trip to the parking lot.

Chocolay Bayou Nature Preserve had many informational signs posted, highlighting the birds and trees that can be found there.

There is a beautifully painted observation blind in the upper loop of the trail, which provides great views from above the bayou.

Our total hiking distance at this preserve was just under one mile from exploring the whole thing. After visiting here, we recommend a visit to Lake Superior Smokehouse Brewpub down the road. They have a great selection of smoked meats, delicious sides, and thirst-quenching brews if you’ve worked up an appetite during your visit to the Chocolay Bayou Nature Preserve!