Protected, owned and managed by the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy.
This exceptional 40-acre addition to our Misty Acres preserve was made possible by the generous donation from the estate of John J. Helstrom, in honor of his life and love for Michigan’s lands and waterways.
This quiet area consists of wetlands that have formed at the base of rolling hills and deep ravines that slope toward the Betsie River. These wetlands provide critical habitat for state and federally-listed bird species such as the Louisiana Waterthrush, and act as filters for sediment that would otherwise lower the water quality and health of the river.
Because of its extremely valuable and sensitive ecological features, the Conservancy encourages guests to remain on the neighboring Misty Acres preserve. There is no separate parking area for the John. J. Helstrom Quiet area, nor are there any trails through the property.