Take a tour of Pyatt Lake Natural Area on Traverse City’s Old Mission Peninsula with Glenn Chown, executive director of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy.
In this video, Chown explains how thousand and thousands of years ago, Pyatt Lake was actually an arm of Grand Traverse Bay and represent, today, an outstanding example of dune and swale ecology. The preserve plays host to more than 250 plant species and each spring orchids and trillium carpet the ground in a sea of color, making it, perhaps, the most botanically diverse property in private ownership in Grand Traverse County; In addition, migrating waterfowl use the lake as a resting area, and warblers, winter wrens, woodpeckers, and owls all flourish in the maturing forest.
Pyatt Lake Nature Preserve is located just 20 minutes from Traverse City . Take Peninsula Dr. north approximately 10 miles. Just past Bowers Harbor Marina, turn left on Neahtawanta Rd. Follow Neahtawanta Rd. 1/2 mile to Pyatt Rd. Turn right on Pyatt Rd. The parking area is 1/4 mile down Pyatt Rd.