The Mission to Save Michigan’s “Narnia Trail”
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There’s a place in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula where cedar trees seem to grow straight out of boulders, green moss covers nearly every surface, and a lamppost waits in the woods. It’s the Bush Bay Trail near Cedarville, better known as the Narnia Trail. But social media fame has brought a less magical problem: visitors damaging the landscape that brought them here.
The Nature Conservancy (TNC), which helps steward the trail with neighboring landowners and local partners, is working to repair the damage. Hikers can help by understanding what makes this place special. We can help by sharing important information on how to avoid loving it to death.
Where to Find Michigan’s Narnia Trail
The Bush Bay Trail winds through cedar forest, coastal wetlands, and rocky terrain along Lake Huron east of Cedarville, in the Les Cheneaux area of the eastern U.P. Its route includes The Nature Conservancy’s 185-acre John Arthur Woollam Preserve and neighboring property.
The trail’s unofficial nickname refers to the world of C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia. Between enormous moss-covered rocks and a rustic lamppost, it’s not hard to see the connection.
Beyond the photo stop, dolomite boulders and cedars share space with sensitive wetland plants. Houghton’s goldenrod, a threatened wildflower, is among the plants protected at Woollam Preserve.
We included the Narnia Trail in our guide to hidden gems in the Upper Peninsula. Sharing beautiful places comes with responsibility.
How a Once-Quiet Trail Became a Conservation Problem
For years, Bush Bay was largely a local treasure. According to TNC, it once drew roughly 5,000 visitors annually. After 2020, online attention pushed visits to an estimated 45,000 to 50,000 in the peak 2024 season.
That’s a lot of boots on a trail built around fragile wetlands, especially when some of those boots leave the established path.
The problem isn’t popularity itself. It’s how that popularity changes the land.
TNC reports that sections of the trail widened from about two feet to eight feet. Hikers avoiding mud create unofficial side routes that trample vegetation and attract more foot traffic.
Climbing on boulders for photos adds another kind of damage, stripping or crushing moss that takes decades to grow back.
Why the Moss Matters More Than You Might Think
The moss covering Bush Bay’s boulders isn’t just decoration. The thick moss holds moisture and helps build the growing conditions that allow cedar roots to take hold on bare-looking rock. Together, moss and cedars create a cool, humid pocket of forest.
Those soft-looking green patches are also slow-growing. According to TNC, developing the carpets of moss seen along the trail can take decades. A single climb can dislodge years of growth.
The same goes for the wildflowers and ferns growing nearby. They aren’t souvenirs. In the spirit of Leave No Trace, take pictures and memories only. Leave the land as you found it.
In other words, the moss isn’t there to make your photo look better. It’s one reason the place looks like Narnia at all.
What The Nature Conservancy Is Doing to Restore Bush Bay Trail
In 2026, TNC and its partners began improvements designed to make hiking easier on visitors and less punishing on the landscape. Partners include landowners, residents, and Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.
Visitors will notice some changes already. The Bush Bay trailhead turnout was resurfaced, portable restrooms were added, and a temporary information kiosk and directional signs help people find and follow the established route.
More substantial work is being planned, including approximately 300 feet of boardwalk over wet sections where hikers have been stepping around mud and widening the trail. The goal is to protect plants and keep hikers out of the mud. The boardwalk project is in planning and permitting, with restoration efforts expected to continue into 2027.
TNC is also studying moss, ferns, and other sensitive species to measure how the habitat responds. Local feedback sessions have also shaped the project.
For project updates, visit The Nature Conservancy’s Bush Bay Trail page.
How to Explore Narnia Trail Without Damaging It
Visiting Michigan’s version of Narnia doesn’t mean tiptoeing or avoiding the enigmatic beauty. It just requires some attention to conservation detail.
Stay on the official trail, even when the ground is damp. If conditions are too wet for your footwear, turn around rather than making a new route around the mud. The shortcut that looks harmless today can become tomorrow’s damaged side trail.
Leave the boulders and trees for looking, not climbing. A photograph isn’t worth destroying decades of moss growth. Don’t peel moss from rocks, pick wildflowers, or collect stones and other natural objects.
Bring a bag for everything you carry in and then carry out, including snack wrappers, fruit cores, empty bottles, and other trash.
You can help beyond the hike, too. If you share photos or video, choose images taken from the marked trail rather than encouraging people to climb rocks or step into vegetation. Consider explaining why the moss matters in your caption.
Narnia has plenty of room for imagination. The wetland doesn’t need any new paths.
Planning a Visit to Bush Bay Trail Near Cedarville
The John Arthur Woollam Preserve entrance is about 6.3 miles east of the M-134 and M-129 intersection in Cedarville. Follow the preserve sign south onto a two-track road to parking. The Bush Bay Trail also has a separate turnout and trail access; check TNC’s current trail information and map before choosing where to start.
TNC lists a 0.9-mile Bush Bay Trail segment within its preserve trail information, plus a half-mile route to the shoreline and a short connecting trail. Distance depends on where you start. Though mostly flat, Narnia has uneven, sometimes soggy footing.
- The preserve is open from sunrise to sunset.
- Parking is limited, especially on busy summer weekends.
- Seasonal portable restrooms are generally available May through October at the Bush Bay trailheads, but plan ahead outside those months.
- Bring water, insect repellent, and suitable shoes.
Afterward, spend some time in Cedarville or Hessel, where the Les Cheneaux area has waterfront scenery, local businesses, and other ways to enjoy the region. The Les Cheneaux visitor guide is a good place to explore your options.
Keeping the Magic in Michigan’s Narnia Trail
Visiting Bush Bay Trail can be the start of caring about its future. Not everything beautiful needs to be touched, climbed, or collected. Watch the light filter through the cedars. Photograph the lamppost. Listen to Lake Huron beyond the trees. Leave the moss on the rocks where it has spent decades growing.
The best ending for Michigan’s Narnia story is one where the next generation still gets to discover it.