North Point Nature Preserve
County: Alpena Established: 2023 Size: ~1,400 Acres
Located east of Alpena, North Point Nature Preserve is home to 1,384 acres of forested wetlands, 4 miles of undeveloped shoreline and rare ecosystems found only along the Great Lakes. It comprises the middle portion of North Point, a natural prominence at the northern rim of Thunder Bay, and lies within the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary which protects nearly 100 historic shipwrecks.
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Visitor Information
Because access to North Point Nature Preserve is through a private easement, opportunities to visit the property are limited to guided tours at this time.
Conservation Value
The rugged preserve features four miles of Lake Huron shoreline divided between Thunder Bay to the south and Misery Bay to the north. Its wetlands are home to carnivorous pitcher plants and the endangered Hine’s emerald dragonfly, and its dune ecosystems harbor healthy populations of the globally rare Pitcher’s thistle.
Conserving Lake Huron’s coastal habitats is an ongoing priority for Huron Pines and its partners to safeguard these areas from development. Our Coastal Priority Zone stretches from Cheboygan County to the Au Sable River and represents a region rich with ecological, geological and cultural resources unique to the Great Lakes.
Many local, state and national organizations are involved in this effort to conserve and manage lands for the benefit of natural communities and the people of Michigan, and the permanent protection of North Point is a big step forward in this goal.
History & Future
In 2018, The Nature Conservancy acquired the property and worked with Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary on a vision to permanently protect the land and its ecological treasures as a nature preserve. Transferred to Huron Pines in late 2022, North Point Nature Preserve is protected forever. A conservation easement is held by The Nature Conservancy, and Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary will lead field trips and assist Huron Pines with community engagement efforts at the preserve.
Activities
Please note: Activities at North Point Nature Preserve are limited to guided events at this time.
iNaturalist is a worldwide community science platform that Huron Pines uses to share information about flora (plants) and fauna (animals) found on our properties. View what’s been observed and learn how you can share your own observations below.