Monthly Hiking Tours
Organized and led by John Garner, the Putnam Parks & Pathways Education Committee Chair, the Monthly Hiking Tour series takes visitors on an adventure through a number of Putnam County nature preserves, pathways, and unique outdoor attractions. John’s knowledge of nature is a wonderful tool to leverage on these hikes and his experience of being a public educator for decades shines through. Ask questions, take your time and talk to those around you.
The series was created to enjoy the outdoors at a leisurely pace. Free and open to any age or experience, the “hikes” as we call them, are really just a casual walk through the forest. Beginners can keep up with no problems, there is no registration and you are free to turn around and leave at any time. Or, stay a while after the hike and take some photos or speak with one of the other professionals that John recruits to assist with the hikes. Local leaders, DePauw staff and even “Nature Celebrities” like Michael A. Homoya author of multiple books including “Wildflowers of the Midwest” participate as guest leaders.
Often hosted on the second Saturday each month, the series began in January of 2022 and will continue indefinitely. Support for this series is simple. Become a Friend of the Park. By joining Friends of the Park of Putnam County, your membership helps to build the Putnam County Outdoor Recreation Endowment that fuels projects and events such as this. To do so, please click the link below to learn more about Friends.
John has begun scheduling free, family-friendly hikes in 2025. So far, only a few hikes have been scheduled. You can find the information for those hikes below. Details about additional hikes will be added as they are scheduled.
Led by DNR Staff – This hike is sponsored by the staff at Lieber SRA and Friends of Lieber. Join us at the campground parking lot at 10:00 a.m. for this fun, annual First Day Hike. The length of the hike is approximately 1.5 miles and hiking boots are recommended. Bring binoculars for some great bird viewing (if the birds cooperate!) Other State Parks in the area are also offering a first day hike. A roaring fire, cookies, and hot chocolate await at the Nature Center after the hike.
Meeting at, and focused on, the retired quarry operation we will discuss the history of both the location and the geology of the rocks found there. DePauw University staff will attend to discuss the wildlife and natural elements that flourish within the quarry today.
Putnam Parks & Pathways has purchased tree identification signs to put up on the People Pathways in Putnam County. The first phase of placing the signs will be on the Fillmore Trail. We will drive the posts and attach the signs at the common trees along the trail.
The first hike in April will be at Lieber State Recreation Area on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at 9:00 AM. We will hike the new Trout Lilly trail which should be in full bloom with spring ephemerals.
The 4b hike of 2025 will be at Hall Woods on April 12, 2025 at 9:00 AM. Hikers can expect to learn how to identify native spring ephemeral wildflowers at Hall Woods and discover the connections between these unique plants and their environment. Ashley Adair will lead the hike. Ashley, a Putnam County native, has spent her professional career working in the Purdue Extension system. Ashley has found opportunities to spread the joy of spring ephemeral wildflowers to all who would listen.
The 4c hike will be at the Fern Cliff Nature Preserve on April 19, 2025 at 9:00 AM. The hike will be led by Cathy Meyer. Cathy was a longtime naturalist for Bloomington Parks. We try to have several hikes in April when Spring ephemerals are blooming. Cathy will share her knowledge of spring wildflowers and plants. Fern Cliff was designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1980 and dedicated in parts as a State Nature Preserve in 1988 and 1996. From Greencastle: From the southeast corner of the Courthouse Square, go south on Jackson one block to Walnut Street. Go west (right) on Walnut (which becomes County Rd. 125 South) for approximately four miles. Turn south on County Rd. 500 West (which will become 525 West, 550 West, and 600 West) approximately three miles to County Rd. 375 South. Turn west (right) to the Fern Cliff entrance, which is approximately one mile further.
The 5th hike of Holly Cook will be leading the May 10, 2025 at 9 AM hike at Big Walnut Nature Preserve. It is located between Roachdale and Bainbridge. Holly is an enthusiastic nature lover and enjoys learning everything about her environment. An interest since a young child in wild edibles, now includes mushrooms. She began her interest in mushrooms around 2020. First learning about the ones used in cooking, but just as important, the ones that can do a person harm. Mushrooms can be found in all seasons in Indiana, even the winter. In May, it will be hit or miss on what we find. Hopefully there will be a good rain before the hike. We will explore some of the different types of caps, stems and types of pore producers such as the gills and pores that are used in identification. Mycology is the study of mushrooms. Mushrooms play an essential role in breaking down organic matter. Without them, we would be buried in our own debris! Even if we don’t see many mushrooms, it is a beautiful preserve of old-growth woods and abundant wildflowers. Depending on rain, it will either be a mushroom hike or a wild edible hike.
In addition to holding the Education Committee Chair position for Putnam Parks & Pathways, John leads a Facebook Group called “Putnam County Families In Nature.” This group is open to anyone and John regularly posts information about upcoming events and fun factoids about nature, please, feel free to join the group!