Leader: Emily Stork

Site Property Owner: IN DNR

Time: 8:30 A.M. - 11:00 A.M. CT

Rigor: Rugged. No trails through dense vegetation; little to no shade; no restrooms or running water

Address & Directions: 1153 North Clark Road, Gary, IN: Pine Station NP is in on North Clark Road in Gary, Indiana north of the Gary/Chicago International Airport.  It lies immediately along the east side of Clark Road. If you use Google Maps, the address provided is presently working to get you to the correct location for our Pine Station NP driveway. I cannot attest to its ability to work on any other mapping software.  IMPORTANT:  No matter what your mapping software tells you, do not try to approach from the north. You must approach from the south where Airport Road intersects with North Clark Road.  As you drive north on North Clark Road from the intersection of Airport Road and Clark Road, please drive slowly, being mindful to miss the potholes. You will cross ONE and ONLY ONE active railroad track.  After crossing that track, continue north on N. Clark Road. You will pass two driveways on your left (west) that go to abandoned structures. Then you will come to a driveway on the right (east). This is the one you want! The gate is set back from the road a bit.  It should be open and I will be there with my white DNR truck. Come on in to park inside the open gate. (If you crossed more than one active railroad track, you went too far and are at the wrong open gate.)

What to Expect: Like its sister preserve (Clark and Pine Nature Preserve) across the road, Pine Station Nature Preserve contains remnants of the very rare 'dune and swale' topography that formed as glacial Lake Chicago receded thousands of years ago and boasts a plethora of rare plants and animals alike. Unlike Clark and Pine, however, Pine Station has a very colorful history of human activity, most notably including decades of sand-mining which left behind sand scrapes which have been colonized largely by uncommon native plant species now existing in what is like an artificially (and indadvertently) constructed panne community. However, this profound human disturbance of sand mining unfortunately also facilitated the invasion of many non-native plant species over the years, including especially prolific infestations of glossy buckthorn, common reed, purple loosestrife, and many others. Fortunately, over the past couple decades, restoration efforts have ramped up considerably and we have some great restoration success stories to share as we continue our war on the weeds! 

Important notes about the site: Accessibility/preparedness conditions:Pine Station does not have much shade, so come prepared with sunscreen, hat, etc if needed! There are no trails.  Vegetation will always be brushing up against you.  Expect ticks, chiggers, and maybe poison ivy.  Long pants and closed-toed shoes highly recommended.  Wear whatever shoes you are most comfortable in for being off trail / on uneven terrain and please be sure it is footwear that you are okay with getting a little wet and muddy! There are no trails.  Vegetation will always be brushing up against you.  Expect ticks, chiggers, and maybe poison ivy.  Long pants and closed-toed shoes highly recommended.  Wear whatever shoes you are most comfortable in for being off trail / on uneven terrain and please be sure it is footwear that you are okay with getting a little wet and muddy! There are no restroom facilities or running water available. Please bring plenty of drinking water, and bring snacks if you need them!  I don't want anyone getting dehydrated!

Leader: Alexis Dalton

Site Property Owner: Lake County Parks Department

Time: 9:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M. CT

Rigor: Moderate. No trails through dense vegetation

Address & Directions: Tolleston’s gate is to the west of Linde, which is located at 3750 Michigan St. Hammond IN 46323

What to Expect: Make the grand venture to Tolleston Ridges to see how a block of land once isolated by walls of phragmites, carpets of reed canary grass, and bouquets of purple loosestrife has blossomed into a staple of water lilies, foxglove, and turtlehead flowers. Witness a symbol of hope demonstrating the beneficial impacts of dedicated hard work that continues season after season. 

Important notes about the site: There is very limited parking so carpooling is encouraged. There is an option to park at the Gibson Woods parking lot and then carpool to Tolleston from there. The hike will be moderately strenuous. There are no trails on the inside of the preserve but there is a mowed pipeline that we will also walk down. 

Leader: Kris Wielunski

Site Property Owner: Lake County Parks Department

Time: 9:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M. CT

Rigor: Easy. <2 mile hike on flat terrain

Address & Directions: 301 South Colfax Street Griffith, IN 46319

What to Expect: This 1.75-mile hike on flat terrain will explore variety of habitats at various stages of restoration management. Ample parking is available.

Leader: Dave Drogos

Site Property Owner: Shirley Heinze Land Trust, IN DNP, TNC

Times:
9:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M. CT
1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M. CT

Rigor: Moderate. No trails but some gravel roads. Waterproof boots recommended

Address & Directions: Turn east off Kennedy Avenue onto an unnamed access road approximately 75 feet north of the underpass for the I-90 toll road. If you head east you will encounter a gate at the end of the eastern extent of the road (approximately .25 miles). Do NOT turn left at the gate. We will park on the south side of the road and enter the preserve at the gate.

What to Expect: The Grand Cal Nature Preserve is a collection of contiguous, independently owned, nature preserves that showcase riparian riverine wetlands and remnant dune and swale ecosystem. Through consistent, intensive management, populations of rare and endangered species thrive despite constant invasive pressures acting on these natural areas.

Important notes about the site: While the sites do not contain trails most of the tour will be on gravel access roads with intermittent forays into the natural areas. Wetland water levels vary; waterproof boots or a change of socks and shoes is recommended.

Leader: Laura Brennan

Site Property Owner: Indiana Dunes National Park (National Park Service)

Time: 9:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. CT

Rigor: Moderate. Expect loose sandy soils

Address & Directions: Park at the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education at 100 North Lake Street, about one mile north of U.S. Highway 12 in the Miller neighborhood of Gary. Walk across the bridge over Lake Street to the meet at the trailhead.

What to Expect: Meander through globally rare black oak savanna dotted with interdunal wetlands, cross the former headwaters of the Grand Calumet River and wind through towering sand dunes to the south shore of Lake Michigan. This is an out-and-back trail; on our way out, you'll learn about the extensive efforts to restore & protect all of these habitats through invasive plant control, and on our way back you'll experience 2,000 years of succession as you walk back to the Paul H. Douglas Center from Lake Michigan.  

Important notes about the site: Moderate, 3.4 miles in length. Expect loose sandy soils. 

Leader: Doug Botka

Site Property Owner: Shirley Heinze Land Trust

Times: 
9:30 A.M. - 11:00 A.M. CT
12:30 P.M. - 2:00 P.M. CT

Rigor: Easy. Flat terrain trail

Address & Directions: North Lake Park Ave, Hobart, IN 46342

What to Expect: Cressmoor Prairie is one of the largest tallgrass prairie remnants in Indiana.  Located in the town of Hobart, this area was once covered with a mosaic of prairies, marshes, and savannas.  The trail is flat and easy to traverse. Since preserving the remnant in the 1990's, the Shirley Heinze Land Trust has been working to reverse the process of woody succession and treat Invasive species.  Initial species like bush honeysuckle and glossy buckthorn have been hit back, with more recent invasives like reed canary grass and purple loosestrife becoming targets for management in recent years.  With over 330 plant species, including several state listed species, Cressmoor Prairie is a testament to the power of restoration, and the resiliency of many natural systems. 

Important notes about the site: Parking is limited, carpool if possible

Leader: Emily Stork

Site Property Owner: IN DNR

Time: 12:00 P.M. - 2:00 P.M. CT

Rigor: Rugged. No trails through dense vegetation; little to no shade; no restrooms or running water

Address & Directions: Parking for Clark and Pine NP is at Pine Station Nature Preserve which lies immediately across the road from Clark and Pine (1153 North Clark Road, Gary, IN). Pine Station NP is in on North Clark Road in Gary, Indiana north of the Gary/Chicago International Airport.  It lies immediately along the east side of Clark Road.If you use Google Maps,the address provided is presently working to get you to the correct location for our Pine Station NP driveway.  I cannot attest to its ability to work on any other mapping software.   IMPORTANT:  No matter what your mapping software tells you, do not try to approach from the north.  You must approach from the south where Airport Road intersects with North Clark Road.  As you drive north on North Clark Road from the intersection of Airport Road and Clark Road, please drive slowly, being mindful to miss the potholes.  You will cross ONE and ONLY ONE active railroad track.  After crossing that track, continue north on N. Clark Road.  You will pass two driveways on your left (west) that go to abandoned structures.  Then you will come to a driveway on the right (east).  This is the one you want!  The gate is set back from the road a bit.  It should be open and I will be there with my white DNR truck.  Come on in to park inside the open gate.  (If you crossed more than one active railroad track, you went too far and are at the wrong open gate.). 

What to Expect: Clark and Pine Nature Preserve is a remnant of the very rare 'dune and swale' topography that formed as glacial Lake Chicago receded thousands of years ago. Sandy beach ridges are paralleled by long, narrow ponds and marshes. Due to the close proximity of Lake Michigan, the water in the swales is alkaline, supporting a number of plants rarely found elsewhere in Indiana. The overall vegetation is a mix of elements from the west, north, and east. Fifty state ranked plants and a number of rare animals are found here, including blue hearts, paper birch, arctic bearberry, a number of orchids, glass lizards, etc.  Clark and Pine boasts more state listed species on a per acre basis than any other property we manage throughout the state of Indiana. Truly a gem of our nature preserves system, Clark and Pine is a testament to the value of preserving remnants of high natural integrity.  But even in a relatively undisturbed intact remnant like Clark and Pine, preservation is never enough. Portions of Clark and Pine Nature Preserve had become overtaken by invasive plant species, particularly glossy buckthorn, common reed, and hybrid cattails.  Come take guided hike of this preserve which is otherwise restricted to public access and learn about the lengths we have had to go to in order to keep Clark and Pine beautiful!

Important notes about the site: There are no trails.  There is one low wire fence to step over carefully.  Vegetation will always be brushing up against you.  Expect ticks, chiggers, and maybe poison ivy.  Long pants and closed-toed shoes highly recommended.  Wear whatever shoes you are most comfortable in for being off trail / on uneven terrain and please be sure it is footwear that you are okay with getting a little muddy! There are no restroom facilities or running water available. Please bring plenty of drinking water, and bring snacks if you need them! I don't want anyone getting dehydrated!

Leader: Alexis Dalton

Site Property Owner: Lake County Parks Department

Time: 12:00 P.M. - 2:00 P.M. CT

Rigor: Easy. Hike will be on trails

Address & Directions: 6201 Parrish Ave. Hammond IN 46323

What to Expect: An educational hub that has benefited the public for generations, come observe the transformation of disturbed areas of mugwort, thistles, and honeysuckles to beautiful pockets of asters, gentians, and cardinal flowers. Though much progress has been made, war is still waged against invasives including the early detection species Japanese stiltgrass. 

Important notes about the site: There is a parking lot so everyone can drive their own vehicles if needed. The hike will be easy and follow the trails around the preserve.