Thorne Swift Photo Collage. Click the collage for a larger version.
Thorne Swift Nature Preserve is one of my favorite photo locations in Michigan and it is well worth visiting from spring through fall. It is just 3 1/2 miles north of Harbor Springs in northern Michigan via M-119, the Tunnel of Trees, and Lower Shore Drive. Directions and maps are at the end of this article. It is one of the field trip options for my nature photography workshops in Northern Michigan.
Basic Information: Thorne Swift trails are open daily from 10:00 am to sunset from typically April 15 through November 14. The Nature Center is open Memorial Day through Labor Day from 10:00 am – 7:00 pm. Call 231-526-6401 for more information. Address: 6696 Lower Shore Drive, Harbor Springs, Michigan.
Showy Ladyslipper Orchids usually bloom there in late June or early July. If you are near there or going to be there soon, now is the time to go see and photograph them.
From the parking lot and visitor’s center there are several nature trails to chose from. One of them wanders by a nice pond on the way to the Lake Michigan lakeshore.
The rare blue-headed variant of a green frog.
One year on one of our field trips were were exceedingly fortunate to be able to photograph the incredibly rare blue-headed variant of a green frog. Only one in 2 millions green frogs has a blue head.
Tachnid Fly, Thorne Swift.
You never know what you might find and be able to photograph. It might be a cooperative insect.
Turkey, Thorne Swift
Or a wild turkey wandering around near the parking lot.
Forget-Me-Nots, Thorne-Swift Nature Preserve, Michigan.
Or some pretty flowers.
Workshop participants at the Thorne Swift beach.
Be sure to arrive at the beach before sunset.
Sunset, Lake Michigan. Thorne Swift Nature Preserve.
This was the sunset before the sun dropped behind the clouds at 8:43 pm.
Sunset, Lake Michigan, Thorne Swift workshop field trip.
And this is when the sun popped out of the clouds three minutes later at 8:46 pm.
Thorne Swift Nature Preserve in far northern Michigan.
Directions:
Harbor Springs to Lower Shore Drive. Click the image for a larger version.
When you leave downtown Harbor Springs on M-119, go 3 miles and slow down. At 3.3 miles look for the sign on the left to Lower Shore Drive. It is easy to miss. Turn left on Lower Shore Drive. It is narrow at the beginning and heads downhill for thr first short stretch.
Lower Shore Drive to Thorne Swift Nature Preserve. Click the image for a larger version.
You will drive a little over 1/2 mile on Lower Shore Drive before you see the large Thorne Swift Nature Preserve sign on your left. Pull into the parking lot and check in at the nature center. There is usually a small admission fee of a few dollars.
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