Kehl Lake Natural Area

Kehl Lake Natural Area is an important part of the network of preserved land serving as a wildlife corridor and refuge at the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula. The land surrounding this peaceful lake was used for generations by the Ottawa and Chippewa for seasonal gatherings and camps. The lake’s legging-like shape inspired the name Medahas-ah-eegan in the Anishinaabemowin language, or Leg Lake, which is printed on early maps of the region. In the 1860s, the Kehl family began to farm the Southern part of the property. Along the lakeshore today you will discover pristine water and a towering mixed forest with majestic old growth White Pine trees. The wetlands provide food and cover for wildlife, particularly birds, and contribute to the lake’s exceptional water quality.

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