Golf carts and lakefront mansions almost won out here. Back in the early 2000s, this stretch of Lake Michigan shoreline was slated to become an 18-hole golf course ringed by more than a hundred luxury homes. Instead, in 2003, the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy stepped in with an $18 million deal that flipped the script entirely, and today Arcadia Dunes: The C.S. Mott Nature Preserve stands as one of the largest protected landscapes on Michigan’s northern coast.
Spread across nearly 4,000 acres straddling the Benzie and Manistee county line, this preserve packs in perched dunes, hardwood forests, working farmland, and two miles of undeveloped Lake Michigan shoreline. With roughly 20 miles of trail crisscrossing the property, it’s become a go-to spot for hikers, birders, trail runners, and mountain bikers looking for a quieter alternative to the busier state park crowds.
Trails Worth Lacing Up For
The Baldy Trails are the headliner, climbing through forest to dune overlooks with sweeping views of Lake Michigan far below. It’s the most popular route in the preserve, and for good reason: the payoff view from the bluffs is the kind that makes you stop mid-stride and just stare at the water.
The Overlook Trail deserves its own mention because it’s genuinely different from anything else here. It’s a universally accessible path leading from the Baldy parking lot to that same jaw-dropping Lake Michigan vantage point, built with a firm, stable surface so wheelchair users, families with strollers, and anyone with mobility limitations can reach a view that used to require a strenuous climb.
On the other side of the highway, the Dry Hill Trails open up a completely different landscape of rolling grasslands and mixed forest, popular with mountain bikers and longer-distance runners. Camp Trail offers flatter, easier terrain that’s ideal if you’re breaking in new hiking boots or bringing along a beginner rider. Pete’s Woods, meanwhile, is the spot locals point to every spring when the wildflower display carpets the forest floor.
Atmosphere & Décor
There’s no visitor center or gift shop here, and that’s kind of the point. This is a working landscape left mostly to itself, where the “decor” is old-growth hardwoods, dune grasses, and orchard rows on the neighboring farmland the conservancy also helped protect. The trails are consistently described as well-marked and well-maintained, with wooden boardwalks and benches placed at logical rest points rather than every few feet.
Because the preserve is split by a state highway, you get two distinct moods depending on which side you’re exploring: dense, shaded forest climbing toward dune bluffs on one side, and open, breezy grassland and farmland on the other. Both halves feel remote and unhurried, even though you’re never all that far from the small town of Arcadia itself.
Other Considerations
Is there a fee to visit? No, parking and trail access are free, which is fairly typical for Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy preserves.
When should I go? Late spring through fall is the sweet spot, with May through October generally offering the best trail conditions; spring also brings the wildflower bloom in Pete’s Woods, while fall color on the dune bluffs draws its own crowd.
Can I bring a bike or go in winter? Yes, several trails including Dry Hill are open to mountain biking, and the preserve stays open year-round for activities like cross-country skiing once snow arrives.
Is it accessible if I can’t handle a steep dune climb? Yes, and this is one of the preserve’s best features. The Overlook Trail was specifically designed as a universal access route so you can still reach a genuine Lake Michigan bluff view without tackling the steeper Baldy climbs.
What are the hours? The preserve is open daily from dawn until dusk.
Arcadia Dunes: The C.S. Mott Nature Preserve
📍 Arcadia, MI 49613
Website: https://www.gtrlc.org/recreation-events/preserve/arcadia-dunes/
