In 2014, Abby accomplished what she so passionately wanted to achieve. She saved her woods. During the early efforts to preserve the Arcadia Dunes, before the boundaries were finalized for the various tracts, this slice of coastal forest was slated for re-sale and no doubt development. That was before Abby Mahan Garland, director of Preservation Stewardship for the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, began surveying and documenting the ecological uniqueness of the area.

She returned to the GTRLC office with an extensive plant list and made an impassionate appeal that this land should be included in the proposed nature preserve. From that day forward this mesic northern forest was known simply as Abby’s Woods. After it was included as part of Arcadia Dunes, Garland went on to spearhead the invasive species work from her beloved woods, removing garlic mustard and other foreign plants.

Today Abby’s Woods is a 145-acre tract wedged between Dry Hill and Camp Arcadia Trails. It features less than 1.5 miles of trail but serves as an important link as it connects two popular mountain bike trails from two trailheads on St. Pierre Road. Most mountain bikers utilize the Abby’s Woods Trailhead to reach either trail when the parking lot at the St. Pierre Trailhead is full.

But the preserve is well worth a slow contemplation on foot to soak in the wildflowers, songbirds and huge hardwoods that grace the trails especially in the fall. It’s possible to do a 1.75-mile loop of just the Abby’s Woods trail by adding a quarter-mile segment along St. Pierre Road, a scenic gravel road with light traffic.