Lake Perrault Fen Trail

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A fen with carnivorous plants, rare floating orchids, and a boardwalk!

Perrault Fen (historically known as Perrault Bog) is located near Lake Perrault in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, roughly three miles southwest of Painesdale.

The true marvel of Perrault Fen is its unique, primeval ecosystem. It is protected as part of the Robert T. Brown Nature Sanctuary, an 18-acre preserve managed by the Michigan Nature Association.

You can read more about this trail on this site at Robert T. Brown Sanctuary – Lake Perrault Nature Trail

The wetland shares its name with Charles Perrault, the famous 17th-century French author widely considered the “Father of the Fairy Tale”. He penned some of the world’s most iconic stories, including Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty, and Bluebeard. While he has no connection to this remote slice of Michigan wilderness, the fen itself holds plenty of its own fascinating ecological marvels.

The Real “Story” of Perrault Fen

A Glacial Kettle Lake: Lake Perrault is a 39-acre kettle lake formed by melting glaciers thousands of years ago, sitting atop ancient Copper Harbor Conglomerate rock.
Carnivorous Plants: Because the fen is highly acidic and nutrient-poor, it has forced its plant life to adapt in fascinating ways. The floating mat of sphagnum moss is home to pitcher plants and sundews—carnivorous plants that survive by trapping and digesting unsuspecting insects.
Rare Floating Orchids: The delicate environment also supports wild, rare orchids and sedges that thrive in the squishy, saturated peat.
The Boardwalk Trail: To protect this fragile environment (and prevent hikers from sinking into the waterlogged ground), a dedicated boardwalk and observation platform allow visitors to walk directly out into the middle of the fen.

Today, it is a peaceful spot popular for quiet hiking, birding, and rustic, free dispersed camping along the lake’s edge.

While hiking along the boardwalk, I read the signs of carnivorous plants along the way, which is something I rarely see on my hikes. There are several ‘off-trails’ that you can explore and some logging roads around the lake itself that you can take your 4×4 truck on.

The trail was easy to walk on with beautiful views.