A Boardwalk Walk Through Arcadia’s Coastal Marsh

The wooden boardwalk begins simply enough, then carries you straight into the marsh. Before long, open water, reeds and dense wetland growth replace the usual edge-of-the-trail view, and the landscape has room to spread out on both sides.

This is a rare Lake Michigan coastal marsh, explored on a smooth, level route that makes the wetland unusually easy to enter and observe. The boardwalk runs about 0.9 mile one way, or roughly 1.7 to 1.8 miles for the full out-and-back walk.

It is a peaceful outing with a pleasingly uncomplicated purpose: walk slowly, look around, listen for birds, and stop when something in the water or brush catches your eye.

The boardwalk has no elevation changes and is broad enough for two-way traffic. A person using a wheelchair can move along the route comfortably, while walkers can pause to look over the rail or scan the vegetation without turning the path into a bottleneck.

Benches and pull-off areas arrive often enough to make the stroll easy to take at a relaxed pace. They are useful resting spots, of course, but they also make fine little observation stations when a bird call or a ripple in the water suggests that it is time to wait a minute.

Accessible parking and trail access are available, and parking is conveniently reached from M-22 in Arcadia. Admission is free, which makes the preserve an easy addition to a drive along this stretch of the Lake Michigan coast.

Birdwatching is one of the main pleasures here. Waterfowl, songbirds, herons, trumpeter swans and ravens have all been seen in the preserve, along with many other species. As many as 200 bird species have been recorded in the area.

The open views make waterfowl especially enjoyable to watch. A pair of binoculars helps, but even a slow unaided scan of the water and marsh grasses can be rewarding; this is not a place where every interesting thing is hidden deep in the woods.

A bird-identification app can add a small layer of fun to the walk, especially for families or casual birders who hear a call before they spot its owner. Children can make a game of naming birds, comparing shapes and colors, and noticing how different species use different corners of the marsh.

The bird list may get the attention, but the marsh has plenty of smaller activity. Turtles may be seen resting on logs, while frogs, active insects and native wildflowers offer reasons to keep looking down as well as out across the water.

Muskrats have been spotted near brush along the boardwalk, and the wetland also supports beavers, mink and salmon. None of these animals is guaranteed to appear on a given stroll, which is part of the gentle rhythm of the place: you are observing a living marsh, not visiting an exhibit.

For photographers, the route offers useful variety without demanding a long hike. There are broad wetland scenes, birds on the water, plant details along the path and the occasional surprise of movement in the reeds.

Interpretive signs and information stations along the boardwalk explain the marsh ecosystem and introduce species that may be encountered here. They give the walk a little structure without making it feel formal or overprogrammed.

The signs are especially handy for a multigenerational outing. A grandparent, parent and child can all stop at the same panel, look back into the habitat and put a name to something they have just seen—or start looking for it.

For people who do not consider themselves hikers, that educational element is inviting. The route asks for no scrambling, route-finding or special outdoor skill; curiosity does most of the work.

The marsh is often quiet enough that bird calls and the ordinary sounds of the wetland become the background. The benches encourage a less hurried visit, with time to watch the water instead of treating the boardwalk as a path to conquer.

Early morning can be a comfortable time to walk before heat and busier periods build. Evening has its own appeal, with cooler temperatures, changing light and the possibility of swans bringing a bit of life to the open water.

The boardwalk is exposed in places, so wind can be very much part of the outing. An outer layer is sensible on a cool day, and the open setting also receives plenty of sun.

Binoculars and a camera are the most useful extras. The pace is slow enough for wildlife watching, and the route can be a quick scenic walk or a longer outing spent reading signs and stopping for birds; a relaxed family visit can easily fill about two hours.

There are no restrooms or other on-site facilities. The preserve is focused squarely on the boardwalk and wetland, so it helps to take care of those practical needs before arriving.

Dogs and other pets are not allowed on the boardwalk. Some boardwalk sections have railings, while others do not.

During nesting season, generally from spring into mid-summer, a portion of the boardwalk closes to protect nesting birds. The remaining route is still accessible, but the full out-and-back walk is not available during that period.

Outside the preserve, the outing fits naturally into an Arcadia drive. Some visitors continue toward the Lake Michigan beach area around sunset, pairing the enclosed world of marsh grasses and waterfowl with a wider view of the shoreline.

Fishing has also been enjoyed in the preserve area, though the boardwalk itself remains best suited to walking, watching and lingering over the water.