62 Houghton
Lake Flats South
Unit 
wildlife viewing
| directions and facility information
Photo: © Bob Hess
This
viewing site is a moderately sized wetland on the west edge of Houghton Lake, Michigan’s
largest inland lake. Current water levels were created in the late1950s
as part of a mitigation project between Michigan DNR and the Michigan
Department of Transportation when the US-27 freeway was built. US-27 on
the west and Old US-27 on the east, plus cross dikes between the two
roadways, enclose the marsh on four sides, providing water level
management. Levels are managed with pumps and control structures to
enhance fish and wetland wildlife habitat. Large birds and other wildlife
can be viewed easily from both highways. A parking area, an elevated
wildlife observation platform, and a fishing deck have been constructed
along Old-27. Because of the convenience of the observation platform and
on-site parking – and the abundant wildlife – Houghton Lake Flats is an
excellent place to watch wildlife, and a great place to stop when you
don’t have a lot of time to spend.
 Wildlife
Viewing
A great blue heron nesting area (called a rookery) is easily seen in the
winter and early spring. After leaf-out, the nests can’t be seen, but the
herons make quite a racket that is easily heard! Photo:©Bob Hess.
This
managed wetland area is lush with wetland vegetation and wildlife. A
quick stop here almost anytime during the spring, summer, and fall will
be rewarded with sightings of osprey, ducks, geese, herons, shorebirds,
and marshland songbirds. Great blue herons are common here. The herons
have established a nesting colony, called a rookery, just to the north on
a nearby wetland. Black terns, an increasingly rare species in Michigan, nest
here and may be seen flying low and hovering over the water as they
search for food. Several osprey nesting platforms have been installed in
the marsh and are used each year by ospreys which benefit from the
excellent fishing in Houghton
Lake. Several bald
eagle nests are located in the vicinity of the Flats and eagles are often
observed as well. Muskrats, raccoons, mink, and river otters live here
year round. They are seen occasionally, most often at dawn. Use
binoculars from your car, from the observation decks, or perhaps even
take a stroll on the mowed cross dikes on the north and south ends of the
flooding to enjoy one of the best and quickest wildlife viewing stops in
mid-Michigan.
This area is open to public
hunting. Contact the Michigan Department of Natural
Resources for affected seasons and locations.
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