Kehl Lake Natural Area

The 279-acre Kehl Lake Natural Area north of Northport features 2,500 feet of undeveloped shoreline along the 74-acre lake, paths that wander through extensive hardwood-conifer swamps, and excellent birding. For many visitors, the most impressive sights are above them: old growth white pines and towering hemlocks whose needles and branches reach for the sky. The trail system includes two loops: the 1.4-mile Outer Loop and the Old Birch Trail, a loop of less than a mile from the trailhead, along with a crossover spur. This 2.1-mile hike is a combination of both loops and includes the Kehl Lake viewing dock.

Photo courtesy: The Leelanau Conservancy