The boardwalk trail will take you into the heart of the marsh where wildlife flourishes. It offers an immersive experience into nature and would be a fabulous field trip for families.

Plan to spend at least an hour – but likely more – enjoying this beautiful natural space in Arcadia Michigan.

The boardwalk was opened in 2019. Building the trailway across the Arcadia Michigan Marsh (16791 Northwood Hwy, Arcadia, MI 49613) was a huge process that involved the restoration of the marsh, followed by construction of the 3/4 mile, universally accessible, boardwalk on an old railroad grade.

Park in either of the two parking areas: M-22 or St. Pierre Road in Arcadia Michigan to access this easy nature boardwalk trail.

Trail Map Download

At just under a mile, this universally accessible pathway system travels over diverse wetlands and all but guarantees abundant wildlife sightings.

Plus, it’s not every day you get to hike through a marshy nature preserve and get the perfect IG backdrop. The boardwalk goes on and on, giving you endless ways to incorporate it into your photos.

You have almost a mile of boardwalk to play with here – it’s a great opportunity to take unique family photos – and maybe even score one for your Christmas or holiday cards.

NOTE: No dogs are allowed at this Arcadia Michigan preserve.

Also, a central portion of the boardwalk trail is closed each year from April 15 – July 15 to protect several species of nesting birds.

The wildlife at Arcadia Marsh Preserve is off the hook.

We suggest to slow down and take your time when you visit – if you rush, you’ll miss the little things that make this place so special – like the birds.

The Arcadia Marsh hosts over 150 species of birds including 17 state endangered, threatened, or species of special concern. Your group might enjoy counting and attempting to identify as many bird species as possible.

In fact, this destination is a pivotal stop on the Sleeping Bear Birding Trail.

Pro tip: Bring binoculars. This place is huge and they will make your trip even more memorable.

You will not believe the amount of wildlife you can spot.

Here are just a few different spcies you may see on your visit:

• Great Blue Heron
• Mute Swans
• Muskrat
• And oh so many toads!

As if that wasn’t enough to convince you, there’s the vegetation.

No matter the season, you’re in for a treat when it comes to plants in Arcadia Nature Preserve.

You might be tempted to dismiss the things that grow in wetlands as swampy, but there really are special things that you won’t find just anywhere. And they offer important supports to the wildlife that call the marsh home.

Here’s a glimpse of a only few plants at Arcadia Marsh:

Blue Vervain, a really strikingly beautiful plant (hello Vampire Diaries). They can grow up to 5 ft tall! They draw all kinds of pollinators and even hummingbirds. Blue Vervain grows in the Summer into Fall.

Milkweed is another plant you might come across. See if you can catch a glimpse of Monarch Butterflies as they flutter and fuss over the milkweed plants.

Portage Point Resort
8567 Portage Point Dr, Onekama, MI 49675

If Arcadia Marsh is a trek for you, consider making it an overnight destination. A great home base for a long Manistee weekend is Portage Point Resort.

If you’ve never stayed at the resort before, you might be in for a surprise.

They have adorable cottages and the saltwater infinity pool is amazing! You might even discover a new love for shuffleboard.

This is a condo resort, which is perfect for families. Some units have a full kitchen and two bedrooms so everyone can have their own bed and space to spread out.

It’s a great place to stay if you want to explore the area more!