NE Indiana hikes

[Rocketgirl]

Growing up in rural Indiana came with lots of outdoor time in the woods. I’ve only been back in Indiana for two years after being gone thirty and no longer know the ins and outs of where to go. I’ve mostly stuck to the great State Park trails and explored some ACRES land trusts. Does anyone have any recommendations for NE hikes?

 

[Michigan Slim]

My daughter is at an Acres Land Trust sight off Coldwater Road north of Fort Wayne right now. Says pretty trails and a nice hike. It's called Bicentennial Woods. There are several around here. Rolling woodlands and creeks.

 

[Rocketgirl]

My daughter is at an Acres Land Trust sight off Coldwater Road north of Fort Wayne right now. Says pretty trails and a nice hike. It's called Bicentennial Woods. There are several around here. Rolling woodlands and creeks.

Thanks! Appreciate the recommendation.

 

[SumtnFancy]

Thanks! Appreciate the recommendation.

Metea Park outside Leo has nice trails!

 

[Rocketgirl]

Metea Park outside Leo has nice trails!

Thanks! I’ve not been here. Is there a particular trail that you think is best?

 

[SumtnFancy]

Thanks! I’ve not been here. Is there a particular trail that you think is best?

There are only a handful of trails there and you can essentially hike them all in an afternoon, but it's a nice little oasis and worth a day trip!

 

[XtremeVel]

My daughter is at an Acres Land Trust sight off Coldwater Road north of Fort Wayne right now. Says pretty trails and a nice hike. It's called Bicentennial Woods. There are several around here. Rolling woodlands and creeks.

Rocket girl, we took you there just last fall. It was the place up in Huntertown area where a good portion of the walk was along the stream. If you look at your pics, you’ll remember it. It’s well worth the trip anytime to go

Now Metea. We haven’t been there yet. Wanna go this weekend ? I believe it’s a county park and if so, hopefully like Fox Island , they allow mushroom hunting.

 

[Michigan Slim]

I do not believe you can pick mushrooms at Matea.

 

[XtremeVel]

I do not believe you can pick mushrooms at Matea.

Thanks. We would surely of asked tho. I know fox island (another Allen county park) allows for a $3.00 additional fee on entrance But most , if not all , the city parks do not allow.

 

[Rocketgirl]

Rocket girl, we took you there just last fall. It was the place up in Huntertown area where a good portion of the walk was along the stream. If you look at your pics, you’ll remember it. It’s well worth the trip anytime to go

Now Metea. We haven’t been there yet. Wanna go this weekend ? I believe it’s a county park and if so, hopefully like Fox Island , they allow mushroom hunting.

Oh, I remember ... it’s the one with the bridge across the stream. That one is awesome!
I’d definitely be up for going to Metea this weekend. Hopefully the weather hasn’t messed with the mushroom season.

 

[XtremeVel]

Yes Michigan Slim. You were right. Here I just bought my Allen county park pass last Saturday and it says right in it mushroom hunting allowed only at Fox Island. Now watch, we’ll see a ton of there now. LOL

 

[XtremeVel]

I’d definitely be up for going to Metea this weekend. Hopefully the weather hasn’t messed with the mushroom season.

No. It’s not allowed there. Only at FoxIsland. I’d still be up to go. We’ve never been there either.

 

[Rocketgirl]

No. It’s not allowed there. Only at FoxIsland. I’d still be up to go. We’ve never been there either.

Well, I’m in regardless. It’s been a long winter and getting out will be a great thing. Thanks so much for the invite. Maybe some day we should try an INGO folks hike. I wonder if there would be any interest.

 

[spencer rifle]

I work at Metea County Park, so I can answer all your questions.
Much of Metea is state nature preserve, so no collecting of any kind. Fox Island was one of the first state nature preserves, so they had mushroom hunting excluded from their limitations. Might be the only preserve that allows it.
There are not many morels at Metea. A few, but nothing like FI. Wildflowers are nearly at peak now, so this will be a good week to visit.

Also North Metea, entrance off Hursh Road. Looks a lot like Bicentennial Woods in some places, and a good place to get away from crowds.

I offered an INGO foraging hike last year, and could do it again if there is enough interest. Many other subjects are also available.

Upcoming programs are listed on the Metea County Park FB page and at
www.allencountyparks.org

 

[JettaKnight]

My daughter is at an Acres Land Trust sight off Coldwater Road north of Fort Wayne right now. Says pretty trails and a nice hike. It's called Bicentennial Woods. There are several around here. Rolling woodlands and creeks.

That's a good one, could be hard to find parking.

Vandolah is another large one near by that I like, lot's of ups and downs near Cedar Creek.

 

[teddy12b]

I offered an INGO foraging hike last year, and could do it again if there is enough interest. Many other subjects are also available.

I took my wife and kids to this foraging hike last year and I would recommend it. If it happens again this year I'll try to make it again. We don't live 5 miles from Metea and it's a nice place to go for a walk.

Another nice trail is the Bloodroot Trail, but it's around an hour away from Fort Wayne. It's a 12 mile loop that's marked out very well and it's almost completely flat other than a handful of small hills. Water access on the trail is usually a puddle here or there. Although it goes along a river there would be some bushwacking involved to get to the river and usually there's water in low spots along the trail.

 

[worddoer]

There were some nice trails I liked around Roush Lake next to Huntington, but since it moved to the Army Corps of Engineers from being a state park, they let most of the trails grow closed. I guess the only one left is next to the dam.

Does anyone know of some good NE Indiana trails outside of Allen County / Fort Wayne.

We like to kayak / canoe at Chain 'O Lakes, but I haven't tried their trails.

Edited to add: Ouabache in Bluffton has some nice and easy trails. One is a nice smooth paved trail that goes all the way into town.

 

[Rocketgirl]

I work at Metea County Park, so I can answer all your questions.
Much of Metea is state nature preserve, so no collecting of any kind. Fox Island was one of the first state nature preserves, so they had mushroom hunting excluded from their limitations. Might be the only preserve that allows it.
There are not many morels at Metea. A few, but nothing like FI. Wildflowers are nearly at peak now, so this will be a good week to visit.

Also North Metea, entrance off Hursh Road. Looks a lot like Bicentennial Woods in some places, and a good place to get away from crowds.

I offered an INGO foraging hike last year, and could do it again if there is enough interest. Many other subjects are also available.

Upcoming programs are listed on the Metea County Park FB page and at
www.allencountyparks.org

Thanks! This is great information. I’d sure be interested if you offered a foraging hike again. (Or any hiking for that matter, lol) I’ll check out the fb page!

 

[Rocketgirl]

I took my wife and kids to this foraging hike last year and I would recommend it. If it happens again this year I'll try to make it again. We don't live 5 miles from Metea and it's a nice place to go for a walk.

Another nice trail is the Bloodroot Trail, but it's around an hour away from Fort Wayne. It's a 12 mile loop that's marked out very well and it's almost completely flat other than a handful of small hills. Water access on the trail is usually a puddle here or there. Although it goes along a river there would be some bushwacking involved to get to the river and usually there's water in low spots along the trail.

Explored a small section of the Bloodroot last year but definitely plan to do the whole thing this year! Thanks so much for the suggestion and recommendation of the Metea hike. I’m ready for this weather to stay springlike and get out!

 

[Rocketgirl]

There were some nice trails I liked around Roush Lake next to Huntington, but since it moved to the Army Corps of Engineers from being a state park, they let most of the trails grow closed. I guess the only one left is next to the dam.

Does anyone know of some good NE Indiana trails outside of Allen County / Fort Wayne.

We like to kayak / canoe at Chain 'O Lakes, but I haven't tried their trails.

Edited to add: Ouabache in Bluffton has some nice and easy trails. One is a nice smooth paved trail that goes all the way into town.

Also outside of Bluffton is this one. It’s a nice river trail and there are a few different paths through nearby woods. https://acres.codechameleon.com/preserve/acres-along-the-wabash/