The Vielmetti-Peters Conservation Reserve
123
acres of forest, creeks, and wetlands
The Vielmetti-Peters Conservation Reserve (VPR) is a 123-acre forest reserve with nearly four miles of trails for you to explore, just on the edge of Marquette. The Reserve boasts an incredibly diverse ecosystem in a small area, featuring small waterfalls at the confluence of Midway and Spring Creeks on their way to the nearby Dead River. There are three loops of the trail system that will take you “Over the River and Through the Woods” in a variety of terrain and trail types.
The land was generously donated in 2016 to the UPLC by the Vielmetti-Peters family, and has a become a hub for UPLC's educational programs and hikes.
VPR is adjacent to the newly protect Dead River Community Forest. As we work on developing the management plan and trails for the new reserve, please be considerate of any signage directing limited use. We are working to establish sustainable infrastructure and safe trails that promote respectful visitation to both areas. We appreciate your understanding and patience!
The Reserve is open for passive recreation (no motors, please!) during daylight hours. It is well-loved for snowshoeing in winter, birdwatching in spring, and peaceful summer hikes.
As dogs are not allowed on these trails, please exercise your pets elsewhere in respect of the many animals who call this place home and stay on marked trails. Camping and fires are not permitted. Hunting is not allowed on this property due to the increased visitation on these lands. If you’d like to bring a group out for a hike, we would love to hear about it, and would be happy to provide guidance or information prior to your trip.
To get to the Vielmetti-Peters Reserve from Marquette, take US-41 N towards Negaunee and take the first right out of the Brickyard Road round-about, towards Meijer. Instead of heading straight into the Meijer parking lot, take an immediate left to continue on Brickyard Road and travel approximately 1/4 mile to the end of Brickyard Road. You’ll see a UPLC sign and a county plow turn-around.
In the winter, please utilize Brickyard Rd street parking on the pavement and walk on on the dirt road approximately 1/2 mile to access the reserve. Note that this path crosses private property, please be respectful of our neighbors and remain on the path.
In the summer: you can continue past the 'Dead End' sign on the dirt road until you arrive at the gravel parking lot on the reserve. No overnight parking permitted.
Parking Information
We are excited to share that the new parking area at the Vielmetti-Peters Nature Reserve is now open!
Located at the end of Brickyard Road, the seasonal road allows visitors to drive and park their vehicles in a new gravel parking area directly at the Reserve’s entrance.
The gate for the road will be open in summer and fall, and will be closed during the winter months through spring. The road ends at the parking lot and will only be for access to the Reserve.Please note that no overnight parking, camping, or fires are permitted. Winter parking will continue to utilize street parking on Brickyard Rd.
Our goal is to provide the community safe and sustainable access to the trail network, to minimize disturbance to the surrounding area, and to relieve parking pressure in the neighborhood.
Our plan is to expand the pedestrian trail system into the Dead River Community Forest Bayous parcel north of the VPR in the coming years for low-impact recreational activities. The new parking area will be the trailhead for both parcels once the trail expansion is complete
Forestry education
The Vielmetti-Peters Reserve is part of our sustainable forestry program–which is what the donor, Kathy Peters, always saw as the goal. Working the land means more than cutting down all of the trees for the highest profit margin, though. To us, forestry is a way of rehabilitating forests; a way to improve biodiversity, promote resiliency, and plan for climate change. The Vielmetti-Peters Reserve is one of our Conservation Reserves in our “Forests for the Future” Restoration Forestry Program. These forests help restore ecological systems across the Upper Peninsula as well as supporting UPLC’s mission to protect Land Today for Life Tomorrow. In the future, they will be used as educational sites for local landowners to learn hands-on how to integrate climate change mitigation into their forest management practices.
