public nature preserves

Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy’s public nature preserves are open to everyone all year round, from dawn to dusk with no admission fees . . .
and your support keeps them that way!

click to quickly find:

map

preserve list

recreation features

rules & FAQ’s

discover

Click on these buttons to visit individual preserve pages where you will find trail descriptions, maps, photo galleries, and more!

Armintrout-Milbocker
Nature Preserve

ALLEGAN COUNTY

Hickory Creek
Preserve

BERRIEN COUNTY

Portman Nature
Preserve

VAN BUREN COUNTY

Black River
Preserve

VAN BUREN COUNTY

Hidden Marsh
Sanctuary

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY

Spirit Springs
Sanctuary

CASS COUNTY

Bow in the Clouds Preserve

KALAMAZOO COUNTY

Hidden Pond
Preserve

BARRY COUNTY

Topinabee Lake
Preserve

BERRIEN COUNTY

Chipman
Preserve

KALAMAZOO COUNTY

Jeptha Lake
Fen

VAN BUREN COUNTY

Wau-Ke-Na, W.E. Smith Preserve, North

ALLEGAN COUNTY

Coon Hollow
Preserve

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY

Kesling Nature
Preserve

BERRIEN COUNTY

Wau-Ke-Na, W.E. Smith Preserve, South

ALLEGAN COUNTY

Corey Lake North Bay Preserve

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY

Pilgrim Haven
Natural Area

VAN BUREN COUNTY

Wolf Tree
Nature Trails

KALAMAZOO COUNTY

Armintrout-Milbocker Nature Preserve

ALLEGAN COUNTY

Black River Preserve

VAN BUREN COUNTY

Bow in the Clouds Preserve

KALAMAZOO COUNTY

Chipman Preserve

KALAMAZOO COUNTY

Coon Hollow Preserve

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY

Corey Lake North Bay Preserve

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY

Hickory Creek Preserve

BERRIEN COUNTY

Hidden Marsh Sanctuary

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY

Hidden Pond Preserve

BARRY COUNTY

Jeptha Lake Fen

VAN BUREN COUNTY

Kesling Nature Preserve

BERRIEN COUNTY

Pilgrim Haven Natural Area

VAN BUREN COUNTY

Portman Nature Preserve

VAN BUREN COUNTY

Spirit Springs Sanctuary

CASS COUNTY

Topinabee Lake Preserve

BERRIEN COUNTY

Wau-Ke-Na, W.E. Smith Preserve,
North Tract

ALLEGAN COUNTY

Wau-Ke-Na, W.E. Smith Preserve,
South Tract

ALLEGAN COUNTY

Wolf Tree Nature Trails

KALAMAZOO COUNTY

public preserve rules and FAQ’s

SWMLC’s public nature preserves are great for hiking, unwinding, exploring with kids, walking with friends, wildlife watching, looking for plants, sketching, photography, trail-running, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing . . . and more!

Help make our public nature preserves safe and enjoyable for people and wildlife by following these rules:

Yes!

Dogs on 6-foot leashes

Dog poop removed from preserve

Take your trash
with you

No . . .

Bikes on trails

Motorized vehicles

Littering

Horses

Alcohol

Removal of plants, animals, or large quantities of rocks

Camping

Fires

Firearms

Hunting or trapping without permission from SWMLC

Boats

Shore fishing

 How much does it cost to get into your preserves?

SWMLC’s public nature preserves have no admission fee and are open to everyone. But as a local nonprofit organization that relies on public support, donations are greatly appreciated. Your support helps create and maintain welcoming public preserves for the whole community to love. You can feel good in knowing that by giving, you’re protecting the habitats where endangered plants and animals thrive, saving acres of land from being developed, ensuring that there will always be healthy ponds where kids can hear frogs and see fish, restoring native plants that sustain wildlife, and protecting water quality for millions of Michiganders.

  When are your preserves open?

SWMLC’s public nature preserves are open every day from dawn to dusk. Please note that access to some preserve parking areas may be limited during heavy snow events.

  Are dogs allowed on your public preserves?

Dogs are welcome at SWMLC’s public preserves but must be kept on a 6-foot leash at all times and dog waste must be packed out. Ground-nesting animals are upset by loose dogs and may abandon their eggs or babies if disturbed. In addition, children, adults, and leashed dogs may feel threatened when approached by a loose dog. Please help keep our nature preserves a haven for people and wildlife – even chipmunks deserve a safe place to call home!

It takes a long time for dog waste to degrade and our preserves have many canine visitors, so the poop can really pile up alongside the trails – which is especially gross once the snow thaws and a winter’s worth is unveiled. This creates a very unpleasant experience for trail users. In addition, dog waste can pose a water quality issue in areas where the natural flow will take it into a wetland, stream, or lake. This is why dog owners must take their pet’s waste with them when they leave the preserve.

  Why don’t you provide trash cans?

Because our non-profit land conservancy serves such a large area (the nine-county corner of southwest Michigan) and our staff is small in number, we are not able to maintain trash cans at our public preserves. Please be responsible and pack out your trash – including dog waste.

  Are restrooms available?

Most SWMLC public nature preserves do not have restrooms. The exception is Pilgrim Haven Natural Area near South Haven.

  Where can I get a trailmap?

Links to trail maps may be found on individual preserve pages. Trailhead maps and “You are Here” maps that are posted trailside are slowly being added to many of our public preserves.

  Can I reserve a preserve for a special occasion such as a family reunion or wedding?

Sorry, SWMLC public nature preserves may not be reserved for private functions.

  Is rock collecting allowed?

Rocks may not be taken in large quantities (ie. buckets or other containers), but a small number may be collected for study or souvenirs.

  May I fly a drone at one of your preserves?

Drones may not be flown at SWMLC preserves without permission or invitation. We try to make our nature preserves into safe refuges for wildlife, and some birds (notably eagles, hawks, and owls) may feel threatened by drones, especially during nesting season.

  Stay on trails

This helps prevent erosion problems and protects delicate wildflowers and other plants from being trampled.

  Can I hunt on a SWMLC preserve?

Hunting and/or trapping are not allowed on SWMLC preserves without permission from SWMLC staff. Hunters that have been given permission to hunt at a SWMLC preserve as part of our ecological management plans are required to post their presence at the preserve entrance and remove signage when they leave. PLEASE NOTE: All of our hunting slots are currently filled and turnover is very infrequent. You may add your name to the waiting list, but please understand that the list is very long and it is unlikely that you will be contacted in the near future.

  Do you have something to report?

If you find something that isn’t right – such as vandalism, dumping or a trail blocked by a fallen tree – please contact us via email. You will be helping us and your community! For emergencies, please call 911.

Nature has our backs. Let’s return the favor.

Our public preserves remain free and open from dawn to dusk – and your support helps keep them that way!