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Two Hearted River Forest Reserve

Visitors are welcome to tour the dedication site.
Entrance to the Reserve dedication site
© Jami Markle
 

Why You Should Visit
Ernest Hemingway's stories of "The Big Two-Hearted" jump off the page just as much today as they did when he wrote them after fishing in this are 85 years ago. The rugged and pristine rivers and forests of the UP touched Hemingway's heart with more than just the fresh fish he caught - the ignited his soul and led him to pursue his passion for writing.

Stories abound from people touched by the beauty of the river. From anglers claiming to have caught the trout of a lifetime to writers inspired by its crystal clear waters, the Two-Hearted causes a stir in the heart of those who see it for themselves.

Location
Luce County in the Upper Peninsula

Hours
Open year-round, dawn to dusk

Conditions
Early May and late July through October are the best times to visit this preserve to take advantage of northern Michigan’s beauty while avoiding the biting insects.

Come prepared with head netting and insect repellant when visiting this reserve, since the black flies and mosquitoes are as plentiful as the other species.

How to Prepare for Your Visit
Please see "Preserve Visitation Guidelines"

Directions
From Newberry, MI:

  • Follow M-123 North for 4 miles. Turn left on CR 407 at Fourmile Corner.
  • Follow 407 for approximately 15 miles to Pine Stump Junction (intersection with CR 414). Continue on 407 another 1.7 miles to Dawson Trail (a small dirt road on the right).
  • There is a Two-Hearted River Forest Reserve Sign at this intersection. Turn right on this road, then take the first left.
  • Park in the clearing a few hundred feet down this road. Walk north across the field, following the trail sign onto a trail that leads through the woods, across CR 407 to a monument and a short trail with more signs about the Reserve and other conservation work in the area.

What to See: Animals

  • Black-backed Woodpecker: These year-round residents are one of only two woodpecker species with three toes. Their call note sounds like ‘churt’ or ‘kyik’ while the rattle call is probably the most distinctive, consisting of three parts: Scream, Rattle, and Snarl, used as a communication aid in establishing territories.
  • Black Bear: As opportunistic feeders, Michigan's only bear species take advantage of many seasonally available foods. In the spring, they enjoy new green vegetation after leaving their dens. Summer foods include insects and wild berries. Nuts and acorns are the best fall foods when preparing for their winter's sleep. Adult males weigh between 150-400 pounds and measure about three feet high when on all four feet and about five feet when standing upright.
  • Moose: Although once common on both Michigan Peninsula's, moose were extirpated in the Lower Peninsula by 1900. By 1931 moose were reported in only 6 counties of the Upper Peninsula. Historically, more moose have been found in Chippewa and Luce counties. The potential exists that moose moved from Canada, across the St. Marys River and Whitefish Point, into these counties.

Why the Conservancy Selected This Site
The variety of wildlife at this preserve is truly astounding. Many of these creatures need vast expanses of unbroken land to survive, and the large acreage at the Reserve provides ideal habitat for them. The purchase of 23,338 acres in the Two-Hearted watershed is part of a larger project called the Northern Great Lakes Forest Project.

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
Unlike TNC's Preseves, the Reserve land is enrolled in the Commercial Forest Act, which means that it is open to public access for hunting and fishing.  Also, we will manage this property to improve its ecological health, which may include some carefully planned timber harvesting.  Timber harvesting is not conducted on Preserve lands.