DNR, TNC protect public access to 10,000 acres in Keweenaw County

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has acquired nearly 10,000 acres of forests, wetlands and culturally significant land through the recent purchase of property previously held by The Nature Conservancy in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Locally known as Keweenaw Point State Lands, this newly acquired 10,000‑acre public property borders Fort Wilkins Historic State Park to the south and will now be managed as part of the state park.

This addition of public land at the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula strengthens public access, protects important natural and cultural resources and supports long-term recreational and economic benefits for the region. With its forested hills, abundant wildlife and freshwater streams, the Keweenaw Point State Lands embody some of Michigan’s most exceptional landscapes, recreational opportunities and wildlife habitats.

“This project represents a transformative moment for public land conservation and access to recreational treasures in Michigan,” said DNR Director Scott Bowen. “This landscape, shared by both geological history and human heritage, will now forever be in public ownership and accessible to Michigan residents, tribal nations, visitors and future generations to appreciate and enjoy.”

A treasured forest at a crossroads

Efforts to protect Keweenaw Point State Lands as public lands began in 2021, when more than 32,000 acres of forest, wetlands and culturally and historically significant landscapes – also known as Keweenaw Heartlands – were formally placed on the market.

This land had been under continuous corporate ownership for more than a century, and the announcement that it was for sale caused immediate concern and prompted important discussions about its future.

The governor, state and local elected officials and the DNR received hundreds of letters from residents, recreational groups, visitors and regional partners urging that the landscape remain intact, accessible and responsibly managed.

“A variety of people were worried about the possibility of land being fragmented, which would have significantly impacted the area’s recreational trails, threatened the long-term reliability of public access, and had adverse effects on the local economy and the area’s rich natural and cultural resources,” said Helen Taylor, state director of The Nature Conservancy in Michigan. “TNC saw an opportunity to assist with the land sale through a collaborative approach, ensuring many enduring community benefits."

Partnerships create opportunities

To protect the land during this private divestment, TNC purchased the property in 2022 as a temporary owner and immediately began working with the community and the DNR to secure the funding that would make public ownership possible.

On Nov. 5, the DNR acquired 10,000 acres of this property from TNC using approximately $11.2 million in grant funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund and Land Exchange Facilitation Fund.

Early in the process, both the DNR and TNC recognized that this effort required shared responsibility and close collaboration. Both organizations began evaluating how to best support the community going forward. Staff from both organizations began community engagement and planning right away to prepare for the eventual land transfer.

“We worked to align with local priorities including conservation of natural and cultural resources, maintaining the land as a working forest, ensuring long-term public access, and supporting a resilient local economy,” Taylor said.

A new era

Consistent with the DNR Parks and Recreation Division’s mission, Keweenaw Point State Lands will be managed for public recreation and natural resource protection. Any future forest management activities considered will emphasize ecological stewardship, habitat enhancement, public safety and resource health. Forestry practices, including timber harvests, may be considered when they support these objectives and are determined to be appropriate.

In the near future, the DNR will reinitiate a general management plan to help guide future management goals.

The DNR Forest Resources Division will continue managing the adjacent 9,376-acre Baraga Forest Management Unit, where sustainable forestry, habitat management and multiple-use recreation will remain central. 

“The DNR joined this effort because the project aligned directly with the department’s mission and presented a rare opportunity to support a model for responding to large-scale private land divestment,” continued Bowen. “Together, the community, TNC and the DNR shaped a collaborative and forward-looking plan that positioned today’s acquisition for success.”

Future public land acquisition

Approximately 22,000 acres of the Keweenaw Heartlands will remain in TNC’s interim ownership while the organization and the DNR pursue funding to support its future transition to public ownership. More information about the future of this community forest can be found on the Keweenaw Heartlands project page at keweenawcommunityfoundation.org/keweenaw-heartlands.

The newly elected Keweenaw Heartland Recreational & Natural Resources Authority will serve as the community’s voice and steward for these acres in the future.

Public recreation: Expanded access, continued traditions

Public use and access will remain familiar and unchanged in the immediate term, ensuring continuity for residents and visitors. 

• View a map of existing state park property, the newly acquired 10,000 acres and the surrounding forest land. 
• All existing designated motorized trails across the Keweenaw Heartlands footprint will remain open and officially designated. 
• Access on state forest roads, including routes to High Rock Bay, continues without interruption. 
• A Recreation Passport is now required for access to the 10,000 acres, consistent with its designation within the Fort Wilkins Historic State Park boundary.
• Camping and fires on DNR Parks and Recreation Division‑managed lands are allowed only at designated locations, in line with state park rules. 
• Dispersed camping continues to be allowed on Forest Resources Division‑managed state forest lands only, including Copper County State Forest.

Hunting, a deeply valued tradition in the Keweenaw, was approved Oct. 14, 2026, by the Natural Resources Commission as an allowable use on Keweenaw Point State Lands.

Note to editors: Accompanying photos are available below for download. Caption information follows.

• Bird's-eye view. Easterly view of Keweenaw Point State Lands overlooking state-designated ORV trail. Photo credit goes to Devin Leonarduzzi of Paint River Creative.
• Water and pine. One of many inland lakes and Eastern white pine – the state's official tree – within Keweenaw Point State Lands. Photo credit goes to Devin Leonarduzzi of Paint River Creative.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use, and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. 

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters, and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more resilient. The Nature Conservancy is working to make a lasting difference around the world in 83 countries and territories (39 by direct conservation impact and 44 through partners) through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners.