The northern shore of Lake Huron was designated a "Last Great Place" by the Nature Conservancy, a global leader in natural lands conservation. It is no wonder that Aldo Leopold spent his summers in the  Les Cheneaux region. The area is at the very heart of this "natural wonder of the world."
Discover the outdoor world in the Les Cheneaux area at the following locations:
  • Aldo Leopold Nature Preserve
  • Little Traverse Conservancy Trails and Apps
  • North Huron Birding Trail
  • Les Cheneaux Water Trail
  • Friends of the Les Cheneaux Area Trails 
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Aldo Leopold Nature Preserve
This island preserve is accessible only by boat (or over the ice in winter). It provide opportunities to explore the shore, bushwhack through dense conifer forests, or, in limited circumstances, travel along footpaths or two-track roads. Formal trails are evolving.
THE LTC EXPLORER APP makes it easy to fine many hiking trails and nature preserves!
Recently the Little Traverse Conservancy launched a free smart phone app on Google Play and the iTunes App Store called LCT Explorer.  The app gives you detailed information and interactive maps about all of their preserves, including the ones in the Les Cheneaux Islands area. The Marquette Island Preserve, now designated as the Aldo Leopold Nature Preserve, is featured in the app and includes information about Hessel Beach so kayakers who are looking for a place to launch and get free parking while they visit the island know where to go to get started. 

The LTC Preserves listed for the Les Cheneaux Islands area in addition to the one on Marquette Island include the Mackinac Bay Nature Preserve, and the Birge Nature Preserves. ​
None of the Marquette Island preserves would have been made possible without the generosity, perseverance, and love of the islands shown by many residents including George Covington, Bonnie Mikkelsen, Katherine Sheppard, the Ayres, McMillan, and Williams families and many others. Significant funding for the purchase of the Seiberling Stewart Preserve was provided from a grant through the North American Wetland Conservation Act Program.
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North Huron Birding Trail
For many years countless folks have escaped to this area to enjoy the bounty of natural wonders it has to provide. The rocky shorelines and protected bays create excellent habitats for many species of sport fish, a multitude of rare orchids and ferns, and one of the Midwest's most diverse collection of bird species. ​The Les Cheneaux Area is just one of the five unique zones along the North Huron Birding Trail. 
Les Cheneaux Water Trail
The Les Cheneaux area lies east of the Mackinac Bridge along the northern shore of Lake Huron. Thirty-six islands provide sheltered channels and bays within the Straits of Mackinac, a historic harbor area for boaters and explorers. Towering forests with trails and pathways offer unparalleled year-round opportunities for vacations, day-trips, reunions and quiet breaks from city living. Cedarville and Hessel, historic Upper Peninsula port towns with marinas, have unique gift and craft-making shops, galleries, an outfitter and guide service, and places to eat within walking distance from the docks.
The Friends of the Les Cheneaux area trails is a newly formed group committed to improving and adding local non-motorized trails and helping others enjoy the trails. Their website includes an interactive google map with details on most of the local area non-motorized trails. Check out their website to learn more