Video Credit: EJHS Video Class
Visit the absolutely beautiful boardwalk along the pristine Jordan River. Checkout wildlife, experience the outdoors and connect with nature.
Length of Wooden Boardwalk: half mile
Where: The boardwalk starts at the Friends of the Jordan River Watershed building at 101 Union St. East Jordan, MI and stretches for a half mile across two Little Traverse Conservancy nature preserves (Jordan River Sedge Marsh Nature Preserve and Dressel Nature Preserve) and connects directly to the Rogers Family Homestead Nature Preserve on the southern end.
Trail Description: The ADA-accessible boardwalk features two bump-outs for viewing. One is an overlook platform to look at the eagle’s nest across the river, and the other is a bench to stop and take in the beauty of the Jordan River.
About the Trail: Don and Eileen Klein and their three children were an outdoorsy, adventure-loving family who traveled north for years. In the last several years of her life, Don would take Eileen on walks at many trails including several Conservancy preserves. Eileen suffered from Alzheimer’s and the doctors repeatedly told Don that his commitment to getting her in nature was far better than any medicine they could give her. After Eileen’s passing, Don learned about the opportunity to create a trail in East Jordan. Don loved the idea of a safe and accessible trail and boardwalk along the river for someone in a wheelchair, someone walking with a cane, or someone pushing a stroller. He could envision an overlook off the boardwalk offering views of raptors nesting along the river, or of the mink and muskrats moving through the wetlands. Thanks to 152 additional donors and a partnership with Little Traverse Conservancy, Friends of the Jordan River Watershed, the City of East Jordan, East Jordan Chamber of Commerce and local citizens, the Don & Eileen Klein Nature Trail was completed in June, 2024.
