By Tom Dabertin The Oak Savannah Trail is one of my personal favorites. The paved path starts at Oak Ridge Prairie County Park (301 South Colfax in Griffith). There is always plenty of parking available; it’s scenic, and has both under and overpasses to avoid major street crossings at I-65, Broadway and Cleveland. The path is multiple use, but bicyclists far outnumber joggers, etc. and people are always polite in yielding…
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It is a great time for some much-needed nature exploration. Northwest Indiana is lucky to be home to…
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Looking to spend the remainder of your good summer days outside? I was lucky enough to stumble upon one of the best hidden-gems in Northwest Indiana, the Gabis Arboretum. Tucked away in southern Valparaiso, driving around the area you wouldn’t expect to find six miles of gorgeous hiking trails anywhere near you. Spending most of my hiking time at the Indiana Dunes National Park, it didn’t occur to me that there was a secret oasis right in my backyard. …
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I never knew that Gabis Arboretum existed and oh man have I been missing out! This 300-acre preserve is packed with a variety of trails, gardens, woodlands, prairies, and wetlands. When I told my sister I was interested in exploring this place, she got excited because she had been there a few times with her students. She could not believe I did not know about it! We decided to make the drive out to Valparaiso on a Thursday afternoon with the dog. I was immediately impressed with the preserve right off the bat. Driving through the entrance feels like you are passing into a fairy world. The Active Times said this place is the most romantic place in Indiana and I would have to whole-heartily agree…
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There has been a lot of rain in this area these past two months. A lot of rain. Outdoor adventures I’ve been wanting to go on had to be put on hold. My poor dog has been so bored of late because of this. So, when I woke up last Saturday morning to sunshine, I had to take advantage of the nice summer weather. One of my favorite things to do with my dog is to go hiking and so we choose the Lemon Lake County Park in Crown Point, Indiana as our designation…
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Lake County Parks has eight fun ways to get moving and get outside in Northwest Indiana! 1. Bust out your bike Head over to Oak Ridge Prairie to access the Oak Savannah or Erie Lackawanna bike trails. 2. Head out for a hike Did you know Lake County Parks has over 100 miles of hiking and walking…
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Sunday bike rides are a tradition in our family, especially during the summer months. There are quite a few trails around the northwest Indiana area and we love exploring them. So, as per tradition, this past Sunday my father and I smeared on the sunscreen, loaded up the bikes, and drove out to where the Oak Savannah Trail starts in the Oak Ridge Prairie County Park. Completed in 2015, this trail runs between Griffith and Hobart. It is about nine miles one way and connects with the Prairie Duneland Trail in Hobart. The trail ends at N. County Line Road…
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I own two mountain bikes and rarely ride them. I want to change that! The improvements that have been made to our miles and miles of bike/walking trails are phenomenal and inspired me to break out of my comfort zone … and ride my bike to work (and back). …
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If you’re interested in seeing one of Indiana’s most unique natural areas - over 14,000 years in the making - then Pinhook Bog near Michigan City is the place for you. For those unfamiliar with the term, a Bog is a unique ecosystem that forms when a wetland only takes in water from rain or snow. Pinhook Bog is even more distinctive for being a “Quaking Bog,” where moss has grown into a semi-solid mat floating above the water. Bogs tend to be very fragile ecosystems and Pinhook Bog is no exception: usually a gate closes off the trail leading over the Quaking Bog to protect the landscape…
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Getting my crew outside and active is one of my goals every day of every trip. Indiana Dunes is breathtaking, really something to see. We visited Indiana Dunes West Beach trails as a part of a familiarization trip with Visit the South Shore…
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