Placeholder
Alert here

Create an Account

Some text here

Import Trip Plans

You or someone using this computer or device previously created Trip Plans.
What should we do with these plans?
Make these Trip Plans part of my account
Discard these Trip Plans

Login

Some text here

Password Reset

Please enter the email you used to set up your account.
We'll send a link to use to reset your password.

Check Your Email

If there is an account with the email address , we will send you a link to reset your password

Antrim Creek Nature Area & Rex Beach
4.8

Address
Rex Beach Rd,
Ellsworth, MI
Phone
231-533-6265

Antrim Creek Natural Area is a 156-acre tract that lies just south of the Charlevoix/Antrim County Line and only 1.5 miles from US-31. It’s most notable feature is the nearly one mile of Grand Traverse Bay shoreline, the longest stretch of undeveloped coastline remaining within the entire 132 miles of the bay between Norwood and Northport.

Antrim Creek is home to an array of natural diversity including hardwood forest, forested wetland, conifer swamp, shrub thicket, meadow, wet meadow and coastal dunes. It supports a wide range of flora and fauna including tow endangered plants; Pitcher's Thistle and Lake Huron Tansy. In the spring wildflower enthusiasts to see Starflower, Indian Pipe, Yellow Trout Lily, Wood Lily, Columbine, Twin Flower, and Jack-In-The Pulpit blooming in all their glory.

Distance: 2.1 miles
Trail Type: Foot path, Nordic ski trail
Terrain: Grand Traverse Bay, shoreline dunes
Difficulty: Easy

 

Hours
Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours
Recreation Type
Beach Biking / Hiking Trails
Hiking Difficulty
Easy

Google Reviews

4.8

Valerie Lamb

9 months ago
What a wonderful area! The beach is amazing, covered in rocks, puddle stones, and the occasional Petoskey. The water was a little mucky as you get closer to large collections of rocks, but it does get better as you walk along the shoreline.

Nancy Kelley

a year ago
We visit here often. It’s a big loop with options to lengthen or shorten the loop. I love it because 1/2 the loop is in beautiful woods with wide, well maintained trails and half is on the Lake Michigan shoreline/beach. It’s a perfect hike to do with visitors. Not too long and easy to do in tennis shoes or a Teva like shoe. There are two entrances and either starting point is great but if I had to pick one, I’d pick the south entrance and then start by walking through the woods first and then looping back on the beach. The trails are flat enough and wide enough that everyone feels comfortable - more of a walk than a hike. There is lots of nature to be seen and the slower you walk the beach the more likely you are to find a Petoskey stone or a little critter. Our older dog and our older parents all enjoy this 1.25 mile loop. Lastly, there is poison ivy along the trail but stick to the trails and you’ll be fine. I’ve included a pic for those who don’t know what it looks like. “Leaves of three, let it be”.

Christopher Schmidt

a year ago
Had a great time in this nature area. No crowds, beautiful natural surroundings and lots of Petroskey stones. Great place to walk the shoreline and take in a sunset. The actual sunset pictures were taken just down the coast at another small beach but had the same western view and just as empty.

3rd Coast Images

2 years ago
What a great rustic beach! Road to enter meanders through a beautiful natural lakeshore forest ecosystem opening up to the bright vivid blue waters of Lake Michigan. Clearly not well known by tourists as of yet, on a late July Saturday afternoon there are less than 20 people as far as the eye can see down either sides of the coast. This is a Pure Michigan beach if I've ever seen one...and I've seen a lot of them.

Jim Nielsen

a year ago
This a great somewhat hidden gem of a beach and nature area. We have been here several times and always very few others. Yesterday we had over a mile of beach to ourselves. The beach will keep rock hunters busy for hours.

Loading...

Opening in a new tab...