Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy

Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy We protect significant natural, scenic, and farm lands - and advance stewardship – now and for future generations. Get outside! www.gtrlc.org/preserves

We serve a regional community that includes Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Manistee counties in northwest Lower Michigan We've protected 46,000 acres of land including dozens of parks and natural areas for you to enjoy!

If you’d like to join in the conservation work we all do together, there are opportunities all summer long! We’ve highli...
06/05/2026

If you’d like to join in the conservation work we all do together, there are opportunities all summer long! We’ve highlighted a couple below.

Starting next week, we’d love your help building a brand-new trail system at The Ridge property near Traverse City! Those who join us for this work session will get a sneak peek of a property that’s not yet open to the public. Volunteers will help protect the valuable habitat on this property by constructing sustainable trails that will guide future use. No experience is necessary—GTRLC will supply gloves and tools. Wednesdays from 9:45 a.m. to noon through July 15. Sign-up/details: https://www.gtrlc.org/recreation-events/events/

If spending time with like-minded folks in a beautiful, sustainably built, and climate-controlled building is more your speed, join us for a gratitude gathering at the Conservation Center. Every year, the Conservancy sends out appeals for support to further our mission of protecting land, and every year we are overwhelmed with gratitude for the generosity of our donors. We have found that spending time writing simple yet personal thank-you notes to our donors is a fantastic way to share our appreciation—and even more meaningful when those notes come from fellow supporters. Will you join us? Every Thursday in June, from 1–3 p.m. Sign-up/details: https://www.gtrlc.org/recreation-events/events/

Thanks so much!

We are delighted to share exciting news that has been years in the making: Last week, the City of Traverse City official...
06/02/2026

We are delighted to share exciting news that has been years in the making: Last week, the City of Traverse City officially closed on the acquisition of 528 acres adjacent to the Brown Bridge Quiet Area.

The conservation value of this property is extraordinary, with high-quality dry-mesic forest and riparian wetlands that provide critical habitat for rare and state-threatened species, including the Trumpeter Swan, Bald Eagle, Common Loon, Osprey, and Red-shouldered Hawk. It safeguards water quality within the Boardman/Ottaway River watershed, expands passive outdoor recreation, and provides future trail connections.

Traverse City voters overwhelmingly supported using the Brown Bridge Trust Fund to support the project, and the city was awarded a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant in 2023. After navigating the appropriations process, we're excited to say the finish line has finally been crossed, and it was worth every step.

None of this would have been possible without the residents of Traverse City, who have shown time and again their commitment to protecting the places that make this region extraordinary — and without supporters like you, whose dedication to conservation makes this work possible.

While the property is now publicly owned, additional work must occur before the site can safely support regular public access. Stay tuned for updates on the City of Traverse City website.

View GTRLC’s active projects: https://www.gtrlc.org/land-protection-stewardship/active-projects/

As spring moves through its amphibian song progression from the early spring peeper cacophony to mesmerizing toad trilli...
05/29/2026

As spring moves through its amphibian song progression from the early spring peeper cacophony to mesmerizing toad trillings, green frogs (Rana clamitans) now announce themselves with their distinctive loose banjo string call. Whereas many of the early breeding frogs and toads are wrapping things up, green frogs keep their “strumming” up through July and into August so they’ll accompany us on our adventures all summer long.

Green frogs can be seen at many GTRLC nature preserves that have wetland and pond areas so keep an ear and an eye out for them on your next excursion.

These beautiful images of green frogs were taken by Justin Grubb at Lower Woodcock Lake Nature Preserve - a great place to visit any time of year.

Find a preserve: https://www.gtrlc.org/recreation-events/preserve/

05/23/2026

Beaches are a defining element of our region, offering opportunities for both recreation and connection with the natural world. For many, Memorial Day weekend marks the start of beach season, so we ask that you keep a few things in mind.

When visiting the beach, it's important to remember that we share these spaces with a variety of plants and animals. Preserve and Natural Area beaches provide critical habitat for unique flora and fauna, and it’s our collective responsibility to protect these vital environments.

Watch this short video to learn about proper etiquette in these beloved and essential coastal zones. We—along with our plant and animal neighbors—greatly appreciate and depend on your help and cooperation.

Thank you, and enjoy your time at the beach!

Find a preserve: https://www.gtrlc.org/recreation-events/preserve/

As temperatures rise in the spring, wildlife emerges from hibernation and begins to move around. Specifically, you may h...
05/14/2026

As temperatures rise in the spring, wildlife emerges from hibernation and begins to move around. Specifically, you may have noticed turtles crossing roads during this time and wondered why they put themselves in danger.

The main reason is that turtles have not evolved to recognize roads and cars as threats. Driven by primal instincts such as hunger and reproduction, they cross roads in search of food, mates, or suitable nesting sites. Unfortunately, female turtles searching for nesting areas are the most affected. This is especially troublesome because it eliminates not only the individual turtle, but also their potential offspring for that year and all future generations they could have produced. This is particularly concerning because even common species like the Painted Turtle can take up to 10 years to mature. Consequently, it is crucial to watch for turtles and drive carefully to help protect them.

The Painted Turtle is the most common and well-recognized species in our region (and is also Michigan’s state reptile!), with nine other turtle species also calling our state home. Some species, such as the once-common Wood Turtle and Eastern Box Turtle, are experiencing rapid population declines due to habitat loss, vehicle collisions, and poaching. This makes the land and habitat protection work we do together even more important.

Thank you for your continued support, and please keep an eye out for our slow-moving reptilian friends as they emerge and move about this spring.

Pictured are a collection of turtle species known to live on GTRLC -protected land.

Explore: https://www.gtrlc.org/recreation-events/preserve/

Now is that special time in spring—after the snow has melted but before the forests leaf out—when our beloved and beauti...
04/29/2026

Now is that special time in spring—after the snow has melted but before the forests leaf out—when our beloved and beautiful wildflowers are in bloom. It is truly a magical time.

A favorite place to visit this time of year is Arcadia Dunes: The C.S. Mott Nature Preserve’s Pete’s Woods. It is nearing peak bloom, so be sure to add it to your list.

If you’d like to learn a thing or two about wildflowers (and learn you will!), consider joining the incredibly knowledgeable volunteer Paula Dreeszen for her popular wildflower hike at Pete’s Woods on Wednesday, May 6, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Sign up here:
https://gtrlc.my.salesforce-sites.com/es/event/home/springwildflower050626

If you’re not able to attend but still want to glean some of Paula’s wisdom, watch this very informative video:
https://www.gtrlc.org/field-notes/spring-wildflower-hike-at-arcadia-dunes-petes-woods/

GTRLC-protected properties with particularly wonderful wildflower displays:

Arcadia Dunes’ Pete’s Woods:
https://www.gtrlc.org/recreation-events/preserve/arcadia-dunes/
Railroad Point Natural Area:
https://www.gtrlc.org/recreation-events/preserve/railroad-point-natural-area/
Hickory Forest Natural Area:
https://www.gtrlc.org/recreation-events/preserve/hickory-forest/

As always, wherever you go this spring please tread lightly—keep your dog on a leash, stay on the trails, and refrain from picking or trampling the flowers. We don’t want to disturb the flowers or the early pollinating insects doing their important work.
Enjoy!

The Fresh Coast Film Festival is coming to Traverse City and the Grand Traverse, Leelanau, and Little Traverse Conservan...
04/24/2026

The Fresh Coast Film Festival is coming to Traverse City and the Grand Traverse, Leelanau, and Little Traverse Conservancies are presenting "Stories of Hope" with support from Interlochen Public Radio for the opening night kickoff event.

The festival celebrates the outdoor lifestyle, water-rich environment, and resilient spirit of the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest. It brings together the best in adventure, environmental, and cultural filmmaking from around the world while creating a community venue for Great Lakes storytelling.

"Stories of Hope" features five inspiring short films that will show simultaneously at ELEV8 Climbing Gym in Traverse City and six art house theaters across northern Michigan, including The Vogue Theatre of Manistee, The Garden Theater of Frankfort, The Bay Community Theater of Suttons Bay, Elk Rapids Cinema, The Lyric Theatre of Harbor Springs, and Charlevoix Cinema III.

At ELEV8, meet the filmmakers and participate in an audience Q&A after the films!

Admission is free (with suggested donation) and first-come, first-served with any donations benefiting those venues.

Opening night details:
Thursday, April 30, 2026
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Details: https://www.oldmissionculture.org/freshcoastfilmtc/event-three-mz467-9slf2-zjnms-7fcgf?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExOUoyTUxPNFBUejlsUk1SUnNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR4enjZheMrINfebASQwdu6FB4R6UkhZWY6Cv5Hq9nMLkinq-TZnjHkq0CcsRA_aem_eEnDP3lUjyxXMiv9KmPUOQ

GTRLC is also hosting an outing for festival-goers on Sunday, May 3rd (12-2pm) at The Ridge, a proposed project that will help safeguard the water quality of Grand Traverse Bay, save wildlife habitat, and open up recreational opportunities.
Hike Details: https://www.oldmissionculture.org/freshcoastfilmtc/event-three-mz467-9slf2-zjnms-7fcgf-ky6e4-7wxjb-tpwh6-et9sa-cfkcd-tmbxj-ctzhm-5e6kf

We hope to see you there!

It’s time to find new owners for equipment that we no longer have use for at Misty Acres Farm so Jim Lambert Auctioneers...
04/21/2026

It’s time to find new owners for equipment that we no longer have use for at Misty Acres Farm so Jim Lambert Auctioneers will conduct a farm implement auction for us Saturday, May 9th - 10am.

Proceeds will go towards equipment better suited to help us carry out the work we do today and achieve our sustainable agriculture goals.

If you or somebody you know is a small-scale farmer, homesteader, or otherwise interested in farm equipment please share this post and check out the auction information at the link: https://lambertauctions.com/gt-conserv-farm-auction

As we continue to hold everyone affected by the recent flooding in our thoughts and keep our collective fingers crossed ...
04/17/2026

As we continue to hold everyone affected by the recent flooding in our thoughts and keep our collective fingers crossed that the high water will subside shortly, we hope folks will soon have the chance to get out and enjoy spring.

Our events calendar is full of exciting opportunities for the season. We hope you’ll plan to join us for upcoming nature hikes or volunteer workdays, whether you’ve enjoyed them for years or are considering your first visit to our preserves. Space is limited, so reserve your spot today!

Curious about volunteering with GTRLC? Join us to learn more about how you can be part of an incredible, conservation-minded community this season at the Volunteer Orientation on Friday, April 24, at 4 p.m.

For a full list of all upcoming events please visit our event calendar: https://www.gtrlc.org/recreation-events/events/

Please note that our calendar is best viewed on a desktop where you can filter events by type and region. We are working diligently to improve the mobile experience. We apologize for the inconvenience!

Address

2846 3 Mile Road N
Traverse City, MI
49684

Telephone

+12319297911

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