interstitialRedirectModalTitle

interstitialRedirectModalMessage

Places We Protect

John Arthur Woollam Preserve

Michigan

Trees along the sandy shoreline of John Arthur Woollam Preserve in Michigan, with a body of water in the foreground.
Shoreline at Woollam Preserve The John Arthur Woollam Preserve is a popular spot for migratory birds to rest and refuel. © TNC

The 4,300 feet of sand and cobble beach on Lake Huron are a highlight of this preserve.

Overview

Description

The 185-acre John Arthur Woollam Preserve consists of 4,300 feet of stunning rocky shoreline with huge boulders , coastal wetlands, and a coniferous forest grading into northern hardwoods.

Many visitors appreciate this preserve as they hike the Bush Bay Trail, often called the "Narnia Trail" for a magical trail portion along the coast of Lake Huron. While the "Narnia" section and other portions of the Bush Bay Trail stretch outside of the JA Woollam Preserve onto land that isn't owned by TNC, we are proud to work with the local communities and partners on a project to restore and preserve the trail through critical infrastructure upgrades so visitors can enjoy the area for generations to come. You can support this work by offering your perspective of the trail here

The preserve offers significant shoreline for migratory and breeding birds and habitat for rare, threatened plant species such as Houghton's goldenrod. Warm waters near the shore yield masses of flying insects, providing a tasty feast for migrating birds stopping through the preserve. Shoreline conservation is one of the main goals of this preserve.

Visitors might also see a variety of animals including the loon, pileated woodpecker, osprey, deer and several species of neotropical migratory songbirds such as the American redstart and magnolia warbler.

Access

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Hours

Sunrise to sunset.

Highlights

This land is open for foot access and activities such as hiking, snowshoeing and birdwatching.

Size

185 acres

Explore our work in Michigan

Plan Your Visit

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The preserve is open year round. However, the month of May presents one of the best times of the year to visit this preserve, as migratory songbirds are either resting, en route to other destinations or settling on breeding territories for the summer.

  • The John Woollam Preserve is a is a wonderful place to hike, cross country ski, snowshoe, watch for birds and other wildlife, take photos and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature.

    Trails

    There are three trails visitors can enjoy at the preserve:

    Trail to shoreline: 0.5 miles

    Bush Bay Trail 0.9 miles

    Shortcut trail 0.15 miles

    The trails are mostly easy, crossing over flat terrain on well-packed ground. The trail through the "Narnia" area is of medium difficulty due to soft ground and uneven terrain. We are currently working on a trail restoration and preservation project to support the "Narnia" area and Bush Bay trail. If you visit, please recreate responsibly, follow the established trail path, and look out for further infrastructure improvements. Avoid climbing on any rocks or following any unofficial trail paths, as these activities damage moss and plant life in the area. 


    iNaturalist

    Help our scientists and restoration managers keep track of the species in our nature preserves by using iNaturalist. You can record your observations, help others identify species and view other users' identifications. Learn More

    More Ways to Explore
    We offer a variety of ways to explore including geocaching, webinars, events and volunteer opportunities. You can even request a permit to use TNC lands for scientific research! Learn More

  • Hours: Sunrise to sunset

    Parking: There is a small parking lot with 6 designated parking spots at the main trailhead. The parking lot is difficult for longer vehicles, and has a tight turn around and often fills quickly on weekends during peak summer visiting times.

    Restrooms: There are no restrooms available.

    Visitor center: There is no visitor center.

    Picnic area: There is no designated picnic area.

    Wildlife viewing areas: While you can view wildlife throughout the trails, there are no designated overlooks, platforms or wildlife viewing areas.

    EV Charging: EV charging is not currently available.

    Cell phone and Wi-Fi service: Most TNC preserves are located in remote areas, meaning cell phone and Wi-Fi service may not always be available.

  • Wear comfortable footwear suitable for natural trails, but please do not wear heavy, cleated boots that can damage them.

    To protect yourself from ticks, poison ivy or poison sumac, wear long pants and tuck them into your socks.

    No matter the season, each person in your party should bring a full water bottle. Dehydration is a serious risk at any time of the year.

    To get the most from your visit, you may want to bring some or all of the following items:

    • Snacks
    • Camera
    • Insect repellent
    • Rain gear
    • Sunscreen
    • Binoculars
    • Compass
    • Field guides (wildflowers, birds, butterflies & other natural features)
    • First aid kit
  • Our vision is of a world where people and nature thrive together. The Nature Conservancy encourages people of all ages, experiences and abilities to visit our preserves and has a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination of any kind.

    Service animals specifically trained to aid a person with a disability are welcome.

    OPDMDs: The use of Other Power Driven Mobility Devices (OPDMD)s (utility vehicles, ATVs, Segways, golf carts, etc.) on this property has been assessed in accordance with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations. OPDMDs are allowed without restriction along the short section of two-track road that leads to the parking area trailhead. OPDMDs are allowed with restrictions along the 0.5 miles of two-track road beyond the gate to the old cabin site area near the Lake Huron shoreline. Restrictions: Users must call conservancy staff to set up a date and time to have a TNC staff escort OPDMDs along the two-track road to the old cabin site.

    We encourage you to hike open trails and enjoy bird and wildlife watching and other permitted activities. Please do not trespass (or park) on private property adjacent to Conservancy preserves. To protect the plants and wildlife that call the preserve home, TNC prohibits the following:

    • The creation of "social trails," or any walking or running off the established trail
    • Climbing on rocks 
    • Biking and mountain biking
    • Camping, campfires and cooking
    • Caving
    • Fishing (except by permit on designated preserves)
    • Geocaching (except by permit on designated preserves)
    • Horseback riding
    • Hang gliding or paragliding
    • Ice skating
    • Hunting (except by permit on designated preserves)
    • Picking flowers, berries, nuts or mushrooms
    • Removing any part of the natural landscape (shells, rocks, etc.)
    • Rappelling
    • Snowmobiling
    • Swimming
    • Firewood collecting
    • Littering (please remove all trash)
    • Drones – aka Personal aircraft, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) — Self-propelled or other aircraft are prohibited from taking off, landing or being operated on any TNC preserve except for official TNC purposes, approved research, or in an emergency landing situation. We prohibit the private use of drones on our preserves for the following reasons:
      • Privacy and enjoyment of other preserve visitors – In order to avoid capturing images of people who are not related to TNC, and from whom a necessary photo release has not been obtained.
      • Wildlife disturbance – To make sure drones will not disturb resident wildlife, especially areas with many birds or ground based nests.
      • Preserve management – Unauthorized drones operating in areas where active land management is taking place, such as prescribed burning, could lead to potentially dangerous interactions.
      • Respecting neighboring property – Preserve boundaries are not always apparent from the ground. We wish to be good neighbors and minimize the risk of drones accidentally crossing over from our preserves to non-TNC property.
  • Have questions about the preserve? Contact us at miplaces@tnc.org. If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911. If you would like to help us with trail improvements by participating in a survey about your experience, please click here

Boulders on the shore of John Arthur Woollam Preserve.
John Arthur Woollam Preserve The month of May presents one of the best times of the year to visit this preserve, as migratory songbirds are easily spotted. © Jason Whalen/Big Foot Media

Our Work

Donated to The Nature Conservancy by a fellow conservationist, this property was dedicated in 2013 as the John Arthur Woollam Preserve in recognition of the thousands of acres and many miles of shoreline and inland lakes protected throughout Michigan by Dr. John Woollam. The preserve is owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy, on behalf of the many land conservancies and individuals who join us in honoring Dr. Woollam’s accomplishments.

Keep Exploring

From shifting sand dunes to granite bald mountains, explore our preserves and reserves spread across the state of Michigan.

Various sized flag markers note different locations on a map.

Find More Places We Protect

The Nature Conservancy owns nearly 1,500 preserves covering more than 2.5 million acres across all 50 states. These lands protect wildlife and natural systems, serve as living laboratories for innovative science and connect people to the natural world.

See the Complete Map

Make a Lasting Impact

You have the power to make a difference for the Great Lakes State and for our planet. Your support will help fund groundbreaking science and conservation activities that protect the lands and waters you love.

John Arthur Woollam Preserve (3:13) The John Arthur Woollam Preserve protects 4,300 feet of northern Lake Huron shoreline and provides habitat for Michigan species such as Houghton’s goldenrod, Pitcher’s thistle and the pileated woodpecker.