University of Michigan Biological Station
Nature preserve
2,152 acres12.5 mi of trail
Chickory TrailViolet TrailThe Gorge Hiking Trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
–Not graded
Outdoors in Burt Township
Few parks or trails are on the map in Burt Township
The biggest trail networks: University of Michigan Biological Station (12.5 mi), Indian Point Memorial Forest (4.3 mi), Chaboiganing Nature Preserve (1.7 mi). 22% of Burt Township’s land is conserved, about 2,731 acres. 2,749 acres are parks and preserves, 2,876 per 1,000 residents.
Conserved land
22%
2,731 acres · of 19.7 sq mi of land
Trails
30 mi
1.5 per sq mi of land
Park land
2,749 ac
2,876 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
39%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
6.2 mi
0.6 mi lanes · 5.6 mi paths
Lakes & rivers
2
3 boat launches
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is University of Michigan Biological Station, with 12.5 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Indian Point Memorial Forest
Managed by University of Michigan
274 acres4.3 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
Chaboiganing Nature Preserve
Managed by Little Traverse Conservancy
191 acres1.7 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Mackinaw State Forest - Gaylord Unit
Managed by Michigan Department of Natural Resources
1,698 acres1.5 mi of trail
Penny
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Sturgeon Bay Nature Preserve
Managed by Little Traverse Conservancy
45 acres0.3 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
All 9 parks & preserves
University of Michigan Biological Station2,152 acres · 12.5 mi of trail
Indian Point Memorial Forest274 acres · 4.3 mi of trail · University of Michigan
Chaboiganing Nature Preserve191 acres · 1.7 mi of trail · Little Traverse Conservancy
DirectionsMackinaw State Forest - Gaylord Unit1,698 acres · 1.5 mi of trail · Michigan Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsSturgeon Bay Nature Preserve45 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Little Traverse Conservancy
Niiwin Ziingaak Nature Preserve53 acres
Parker & Ebbers Nature Preserve24 acres · Little Traverse Conservancy
Bear Saw Creek Preserve17 acres · Little Traverse Conservancy
Aaron J. And Adrienne N. Pieniozek Nature Preserve2 acres
Who protects it
2,731 conserved acres
22% of Burt Township’s land. Water is left out: Burt Township has 19.7 square miles of land and 15.4 of water, so the share counts land only. Who manages Burt Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Other state land2,396 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits320 ac
State natural resources17 ac
State Conservation Area · 2,410 acPrivate Conservation · 320 acConservation Easement · 2 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 2 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 1 of 10 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Michigan Biological Station State Conservation Area | Other state land | 2,394 | Open |
| Chaboiganing Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 186 | Closed |
| Nii Win Ziingaak Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 53 | Open |
| Sturgeon Bay Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 43 | Closed |
| Parker & Ebbers Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 20 | Open |
| BearSaw Creek Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 17 | Closed |
| MNRTF Parcel 52 State Conservation Area | State natural resources | 17 | Restricted |
| Aaron J. and Adrienne N. Pieniozek Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 2 | Unknown |
Things to do
5 places to go in Burt Township
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Boat launches in Burt Township
Maple Bay Boating Access SiteIn Mackinaw State Forest - Gaylord Unit
DirectionsMundt Road
DirectionsNeedles Road - Carry-In
DirectionsScenic views in Burt Township
1 scenic view without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Campgrounds in Burt Township
Maple Bay State Forest CampgroundIn Mackinaw State Forest - Gaylord Unit
DirectionsTrails & water
4 named trails and 2 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Unpaved · 5.5 mi
Chickory Trail2.3 mi
Violet Trail1.7 mi
The Gorge Hiking Trail0.4 mi
Penny0.4 mi
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
Biking & sports
6.2 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
0.6 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
5.6 mi
off-road bike paths
Courts & fields
2Tennis
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
When to get out
The best walking months in Burt Township: May to August
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.1 | 10.3 | 11.8 | 13.5 | 14.9 | 15.7 | 15.3 | 14.1 | 12.5 | 10.8 | 9.4 | 8.7 |
| High (°F) | 27 | 29 | 39 | 52 | 66 | 76 | 80 | 78 | 71 | 57 | 43 | 33 |
| Rain (in) | 1.8 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 2.7 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 2.6 | 2.1 |
February is the driest month (1.2 in) and July the warmest (highs of 80 °F). 3.9 inches fall in October, the wettest month. The climate in Burt Township →
Next door
Burt Township and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Tuscarora Township44 miMunro Township32 miBurt Township30 miMullett Township18 miIndian River15 miMaple River Township14 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burt Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Munro Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Tuscarora Township | 2% | 1.5 | 100 | 55% | A− |
| Indian River | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Mullett Township | under 1% | 0.9 | 233 | 34% | B |
| Maple River Township | 4% | 0.4 | 349 | 24% | B |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Burt Township
Where can I hike in Burt Township?
The longest trail networks: University of Michigan Biological Station, 12.5 miles; Indian Point Memorial Forest, 4.3 miles; Chaboiganing Nature Preserve, 1.7 miles; Mackinaw State Forest - Gaylord Unit, 1.5 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Burt Township’s trails?
University of Michigan Biological Station and Indian Point Memorial Forest don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Burt Township?
6.2 miles of bike routes are on the map: 0.6 of painted or protected lanes and 5.6 of off-road paths.
Is there public land near Burt Township?
15,345 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Burt Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 2,749 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Burt Township neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →