Clay Cliffs Natural Area: The Leelanau Conservancy 4755 North Manitou Trail, Leland, MI 49654
About the Business
Clay Cliffs Natural Area, managed by The Leelanau Conservancy, is a stunning park and tourist attraction located at 4755 North Manitou Trail in Leland, Michigan. This natural area offers breathtaking views of both Lake Leelanau and Lake Michigan and boasts a rare and fragile ecosystem on its sheer clay bluffs. Visitors can enjoy a 1.5 mile trail system that showcases the beauty of the hardwood forest and wildflower sites, as well as a viewing platform above the bluffs with panoramic views of Lake Michigan. The area is home to nesting eagles and a variety of bird species, making it a great spot for birdwatching. Clay Cliffs Natural Area was preserved in 2013 through a partnership with Leland Township and the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, and continues to be a valuable conservation resource for the community. Visitors are reminded to appreciate the view from a safe distance and help preserve the wonders of Leelanau County by volunteering or donating funds to support the conservation efforts.
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Location & Phone number
4755 N Manitou Trail, Leland, MI 49654, United States
Reviews
"Nice short hike through the woods to Lake Michigan overlook. On the way back, the south trail goes through a meadow with views of Lake Leelaneau."
"Great short hike with beautiful views at the overlook and the meadow overlooking North Lake Leelanau!"
"Great place for a hike! Easy loop to lookout is about 1.5 miles. Tons of wild raspberries and blackberries mid-July, and parking is usually not full (eight-ish spots). Beware of the poison ivy on the trails though!! I wouldn’t recommend taking a dog or small children here if you’re at all allergic. Other than that, a very serene and beautiful piece of nature."
"Great place to hike, not terribly challenging. Wooded trails, I bet the loop is between 2-3 miles to hike and there is a very cool lookout at the top of a bluff which is just over a mile from the trailhead... maybe 1.2 miles? I’d highly recommend visiting - it’s just 1-2 miles past Leland (to the east of town) on M-22. The trailhead and trails were accessible in the winter although there wasn’t an insane amount of snow, only 6-8 inches but not much of it was fresh so the trail was clearly defined by footprints (which might not always be the case, FYI the trail is not well posted except for a few intersections)."
"Clay cliffs is perfect for a quick short hike about 2 miles total with an awesome view at the top of the overlook. I suggest hiking both inner and overlook loop. The best time to go is in the evening if you want to catch the sun setting over the lake. The trail is well shaded with small section of the Overlook loop that opens to grassland for about a 1/4 of mile. There is plenty of parking and signs to guide as you explore each loop!"
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