Kernan Memorial Nature Sanctuary
Managed by Michigan Nature Association
45 acres0.5 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse · Photo: Cliff Kinney, B.pub at en.wikipedia · Public domain–Not graded
Outdoors in Gore Township
Few parks or trails are on the map in Gore Township
The biggest trail networks: Kernan Memorial Nature Sanctuary (0.5 mi). 6% of Gore Township’s land is conserved, about 241 acres. 47 acres are parks and preserves, 383 per 1,000 residents.
Conserved land
6%
241 acres · of 6.8 sq mi of land
Trails
1.3 mi
0.2 per sq mi of land
Park land
47 ac
383 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
3%
of residents within ½ mile
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 Kernan Memorial Nature Sanctuary, with 0.5 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Thumb Area Underwater Preserve
Nature preserve
27,211 acres
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Thelma Sonnenberg Memorial Plant Preserve
Managed by Michigan Nature Association
2 acres
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
Who protects it
241 conserved acres
6% of Gore Township’s land. Water is left out: Gore Township has 6.8 square miles of land and 43.1 of water, so the share counts land only. Who manages Gore Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
USDA easements (NRCS)188 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits53 ac
Conservation Easement · 188 acPrivate Conservation · 53 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 188 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kernan Memorial Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 51 | Open |
| Thelma Sonnenberg Memorial Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 1 | Open |
Things to do
2 places to go in Gore Township
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Gore Township
2 beaches without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
History along the way
History →1 place on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service).
Pointe Aux Barques LighthouseStructure · listed 1973
About itWhen to get out
The best walking months in Gore Township: May to September
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) | 9.2 | 10.4 | 11.8 | 13.4 | 14.7 | 15.5 | 15.2 | 14.0 | 12.4 | 10.9 | 9.6 | 8.9 |
| High (°F) | 29 | 31 | 39 | 50 | 62 | 72 | 77 | 76 | 70 | 58 | 45 | 34 |
| Rain (in) | 2.3 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 2.9 | 2.5 | 2.2 |
February is the driest month (1.9 in) and July the warmest (highs of 77 °F). 3.3 inches fall in May, the wettest month. The climate in Gore Township →
Next door
Gore Township and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gore Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Rubicon Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Port Hope | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Huron Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Gore Township
Where can I hike in Gore Township?
The longest trail networks: Kernan Memorial Nature Sanctuary, 0.5 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Gore Township’s trails?
Kernan Memorial Nature Sanctuary and Thumb Area Underwater Preserve don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Gore Township?
605 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Gore Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 47 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Gore 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 →