The Nature Conservancy in Michigan - Maxton Plains Preserve

Maxton Plains Preserve

Maxton Plains is unusual for both its island and prairie like qualities.

Rare Alvar Habitat
© TNC Archives

Why You Should Visit
The 1,185-acre Maxton Plains Preserve, located on Drummond Island in Chippewa County, is arguably one of the world’s finest examples of alvar grassland-an area of vegetation that grows on a very thin soil layer over limestone bedrock. This area has examples of grasslands that have existed since the last glacier receded over 10,000 years ago. Alvar grasslands are among one of the rarest habitats in the world, and can only be found around the Great Lakes, the Baltic region of Europe and the islands along the coast of Sweden. This habitat hosts a unique mixture of arctic tundra and Great Plains prairie plant species. Among these are the prairie smoke, a spring bloomer, and Houghton’s goldenrod, which bloom just as the prairie grasses turn gold in the late summer sun. Little blue-stem grass and prairie dropseed grass also thrives in the sparse soil. This site attracts an array of birds, including such rare and threatened species as the upland sandpiper, osprey, northern harrier and as many as 160 other species of birds.

Location
Drummond Island in Chippewa County, Upper Peninsula

Hours
Open year-round, dawn to dusk

Conditions
Mid-June is the best time to observe the pale-rose blooms of the prairie smoke spread throughout the alvar. In September, the prairie grasses and aspen leaves glow like gold throughout the preserve. We recommend head netting to guard against mosquitoes, black flies, and other insects during the midsummer months. Bring a hat and sunscreen to protect yourself, as the area has little shade.

Alvar is a very delicate natural community. During your visit please respect these simple rules.

Keep ORV’s and bicycles on the roadways.
During the spring and fall rainy seasons, tread lightly on the grasslands.
Avoid walking or driving on thin soil pockets; they are easily compacted by foot traffic and tires.
Do not collect or take plants, animals (non-game), rocks or other natural objects from alvar grasslands.
Leave rocks just as the glacier left them, please, no rock piles or cairns.
Remove any trash you may find and please carry out all that you bring in.

How to Prepare for Your Visit
Please see "Preserve Visitation Guidelines"

Directions
From DeTour Village, Michigan:

Turn right (south) at the second blinking light and follow the road to the ferry dock. It takes about 8 minutes to cross over to Drummond Island. The ferry leaves DeTour Village 40 minutes after the hour, every hour.
Once on Drummond Island, follow M-134 for 7.7 miles to the intersection of M-134 and Townline Road.
Turn left (north) on Townline Road and follow it to Maxton Road. Turn right (east) on Maxton Road and follow it to Maxton Plains, about 7.5 miles to the fork in the road. Five different areas make up our Maxton Plains Preserve and all can be accessed from the Maxton Road fork.
The Bailey tract is roughly 1.5 miles north.
For the Bayside tract at Poe Point, turn right (east) and travel 1.1 miles and park, then walk roughly 1.25 miles north.
The Prince tract can be accessed from the Maxton Road fork by turning left (west) and driving 1.25 miles. This unmarked parcel lies south of the road.
To reach the Wood tract, turn left (west) at the fork and drive 2 miles to the large TNC sign and park. The preserve lies on either side of the road.
The Snay/Stites tract can be accessed by continuing another 1.5 miles west along the road from the large TNC sign on the Wood tract.

What to See: Plants

Alvar: These areas are typically treeless, the vegetation dominated by grasses, sedges and herbs growing in cracks within the bedrock, or in a very thin soil layer over the bedrock. Alvar occurs in areas where all of the soils have been scraped away by wind, water and ice, leaving the 400 million year old limestone bedrock exposed.
Prairie Smoke: Most of the populations found in Michigan occur in dry prairies, barrens, and oak-pine savannas. It is often concentrated on lower slopes, probably favoring areas of increased moisture. On Drummond Island, Prairie Smoke grows on seasonally wet organic soils that overlie limestone pavement, occurring in a natural grassland community known as alvar.
Hill’s Thistle: This perennial species blooms from June through August and persists from about two to five years. Flowering occurs one or two seasons after the establishment of the rosette, most typically in three-year old plants.

What to See: Animals

Northern harriers: These slim bodied, long-legged and long-tailed hawks usually fly just above the ground with only periodic heavy wing beats, banking and gliding slowly over open habitats. The presence of an owl-like facial disk, a unique characteristic of the species, provides excellent auditory capabilities and aids in prey capture. Vocalizations include an alarm or excited call usually described as ‘ke-ke-ke’ or ‘chek-ek-chek-ek.’
Osprey: The "fish hawk" is brown above and white below, and flies with a distinct bend in its wing at the "wrist." Their feet are equipped with spiny scales and long talons that give them a firm grip on slippery fish, their only prey. Ospreys usually select tall trees in marshes along streams and lakes.
Upland Sandpipers: Historically nesting in native Michigan prairies and burnt meadows, this grassland plover-like shorebird has large, dull brown bodies and long legs, featherless above the heel. They prefer to "roost" or perch on old stumps, fence posts or utility poles, landing with wings elevated like a triangle. Its call is a crisp ‘kip-ip-ip-ip’ and is audible for a long distance.

Why the Conservancy Selected This Site
Because it is an alvar grassland, Maxton Plains is a valuable habitat for many rare species.

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
The first purchase of 140 acres at Maxton Plains was completed in 1984. Since then land has been acquired in 1986, 1993, 1996, and 1998, which have expanded the preserve to its current size of 1,185 acres.

Sources of information include MNFI and MDNR.