Tory's woods conservation preserve
Trail Improvements completed!
The trails at Tory's Woods Nature Preserve underwent construction fall 2024 to enhance access and safeguard sensitive habitat. Since the trails were first established in 2014, shifting wetland conditions caused portions of the path to become impassable during spring and summer seasons.
Thanks to the generosity of the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition and the hard work of NMU Construction Management students, 375 ft of new boardwalks enhanced the southern trails. This boardwalk will help protect the wetland's water resources and sensitive native flora.
A Secret Haven
John and Tory Parlin had been seeking a personal sanctuary for years and couldn’t find what they were looking for downstate. When they first crossed the Mighty Mac in the late 1980’s, a whole new world was opened to them–a beautiful, wild land home to people who were as passionate about protecting land as they are.
As they continued to fall in love with the Upper Peninsula, they began to seek ways to conserve the places in which they had found rest for their souls. They began purchasing land around them with the intent to protect it and decided that donating the land outright to UPLC would be the best way accomplish their conservation goals: to maintain the health of the forest, see the land protected and receive a modest tax break in return, and open the land for the community.
UPLC has managed the Preserve since 2014 for public benefit and the Preserve now boasts nearly 3 miles of trails. The Preserve is now 230 acres of mixed forest and wetland habitat along a significant wildlife corridor. Interpretive signage is being planned so that this magical place can be maintained as an escape and a place to learn about the woods that surround us. Snowshoe hikes and spring flora/fauna surveys are an annual excuse to get out to the Preserve, and if you want up-to-date information on events, volunteer needs at this and other Preserves, sign up for our e-newsletter and follow us on Facebook!
To get to Tory’s Woods Preserve from Marquette, travel South on US41 and take a left onto M28 towards Munising. Drive approximately 10 miles on M28. When you cross the Sand River, look for our sign on the left and take a left onto Section Five Trail (a dirt road). You’ll see the parking area and welcome sign about 200 meters along Section Five.
Tory’s Woods is open for passive recreation during daylight hours. No motors or bikes, please! Do not dump or remove any natural or manmade features. Stay on marked trails! The Preserve is a sensitive habitat and trails have been chosen to minimize human impact. Non-firearm hunting may be allowed with written permission from UPLC, please contact us at (906)225-8067 to discuss hunting permissions on UPLC properties.
