Whaleback Natural Area

This 10,000-year-old glacial wonder near Leland is an iconic landmark that helps to define our unique Lake Michigan coastline. Whaleback’s fragile bluff rises 300 feet and can be seen from many vantage points in Leelanau. A viewing platform perched on the edge of this 40-acre natural area offers fantastic views of the Manitou Passage—especially at sunset. Huge oak trees and mature hemlocks create a cathedral-like canopy that shelters bald eagles and the varied terrain hosts unusual plants, like the thimbleberry, which is extremely uncommon in Leelanau. Over 1200 feet of Lake Michigan shoreline was protected.

In the spring, sweet woodruff crowds the understory. This pretty, sweet-smelling plant is an invasive species that give the woodland an almost fairy-like appearance; unfortunately, it chokes out all but the hardiest natives, such as baneberry, jack-in-the-pulpit, and squirrel corn. Conservancy naturalists are working to create a more balanced environment.

As you walk north along the top of the bluffs, look left for a patch of thimbleberries (their leaves resemble those of the maple). A very common plant near Lake Superior, thimbleberries only grow in this one stretch of the natural area, and they are extremely uncommon in Leelanau County.

Before reaching the overlook, notice how tall hemlocks and hardwoods create a cathedralesque canopy. These trees shelter bald eagles: look for them flying above the observation deck as well as out over the water.