Directions
Enjoy this grassland driving loop through neighboring active and retired agricultural fields. From Engadine head north on M-117 for 3.5 miles then turn west (left) onto Mile Alley Road for 1 mile. At Pleasant Ave head north (right) and go 1.5 miles and turn east (right) onto Mckelvey Road. Continue straight across M-117 to stay on Mckelvey Road for about 2 miles then turn south (right) onto Krause Road. After about 1.5 miles turn west (right) onto Mile Alley Road. When you return to M-117 head north to go to Newberry or south to go to Engadine. In the winter, Mile Alley Road east of M-117 is not snowplowed.
Engadine Grassland Area Driving Loop
Naubinway - St. Ignace
Birding Information
The Engadine Grasslands is home to Mackinac county’s greater agriculture area which includes hay fields and grassland for sheep, dairy cattle, beef cattle, and horses. These grassland areas provide suitable habitat for several species including sandhill cranes, snowy owls and many sparrow species including clay-colored sparrow, grasshopper sparrow and many savannah sparrows. Although sharp-tailed grouse can be seen at times they are not nearly as abundant as they are in Chippewa County. Other species of interest include the bobolinks, red-tailed hawks, red-shouldered hawks, American kestrels, and eastern meadowlarks.
Area Information
Engadine is home to a small Amish community, one of the last dairy farms in the Eastern Upper Peninsula and the Hiawatha Sportsman's Club, which is a private club with over 35,000 acres available to its members. Engadine has a gas station, a small pond and hiking path by the township hall, a few restaurants, hardware store, school, and small public library, and in the summer an ice cream store. Nearby is the little resort town of Curtis. Curtis has a lot to offer in a small-town setting and has endless private lodging options on the Manistique Lakes.
Bathrooms
No
Parking
No
Road Birding
Yes
Hiking Trails
No
Viewing Platform
No
Winter Access
Yes