I believe that Nature Preserves
and Wildlife Sanctuaries are hidden gems and the 75-acre Lake Bluff Bird
Sanctuary is a one of those places. A leafless December day may not be the prettiest time to visit here but we had
the place to ourselves!
We have been here a couple of times now and hiked the
trails … except the Bluff Trail to the beach.
What goes down must come back up.
However, the property does include 1,700 feet of Lake
Michigan beach.
Lake Bluff Bird Sanctuary Map
Bluff Trail
Lake Michigan Overlook
One of the unique things about this place is the
two state champion trees (a sycamore maple and a giant sequoia) that grow on
this property. There is also a former Michigan
Champion Cottonwood tree here too. The
arboretum has over 70 trees not normally native to this area.
Giant Sequoia
Giant Sequoia
We hike the quarter mile Cottonwood Trail which follows a ridge 100'
above the lake shore.
Cottonwood Trail
Cottonwood Trail - Lake Michigan
Eddie & Gertrude Gray donated the property
to the Michigan Audubon Society. The
4,000 square foot main house was built in 1938 and now serves as a Bed & Breakfast. The Visitor Center was the former pool house.
Eddie & Gertrude Gray House - Lake Bluff B&B
Visitor Center - Former Pool House
For more information on the Lake Bluff Bird Sanctuary,
please click on the following link:
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