August 13, 2026.
More than 73,000 acres of the Michigamme Highlands in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula have been placed under permanent conservation protection through a conservation easement acquired by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
The property spans portions of Baraga, Iron and Marquette counties. The DNR acquired the conservation easement at the end of March on behalf of the public.
The protected area includes the summit of Mount Arvon, Michigan’s highest natural elevation, along with 37 miles of rivers, 220 miles of perennial streams, 96 lakes and ponds, and more than 13,600 acres of wetlands.
The easement also protects approximately 4,800 acres of deer wintering habitat and nearly two miles of the Yellow Dog River. The property provides habitat for moose, fisher, black bear, coaster brook trout, rainbow trout and Coho salmon.
Public access is included in the easement. Non-motorized recreational access is available across the property, while more than 77 miles of roads and trails are designated for snowmobiles and 70 miles for off-road vehicle use. The property also includes seven miles of non-motorized trails and three miles of equestrian trails.
The conservation easement includes permanent requirements for sustainable forest management. According to the DNR, those provisions are intended to support continued forest management and economic benefits in the region.
The project was funded through more than $15 million from the federal Forest Legacy Program, more than $4.2 million from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund and a $1 million grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation funding included $550,000 from Walmart’s Acres for America program and $450,000 from the Life Time Foundation.
Michigan has now protected more than 238,000 acres of forest land through the Forest Legacy Program.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources said the Michigamme Highlands conservation easement will provide long-term protection for forests, wildlife habitat, fisheries, wetlands and recreational access across the property.