Monthly Hiking Tours

Led by John Garner – The annual “First Day Hike” is a DNR tradition that is hosted at numerous sites around the state. Led by local DNR staff at Lieber SRA, this hike takes place of the Putnam Parks & Pathways Monthly Nature Hikes.

Led by John Garner – DePauw staff will share their interests and knowledge about this unique habitat. Participants will meet in the parking lot and hike to the retired limestone quarry to learn about its history and operations, the geologic history of the rocks found there, what lives in the quarry, and the affect humans have when they visit.

Led by Kate and Tim Jedele – This hike will identify hot spots for spring-breeding amphibians. The Nature Park is a large habitat for frogs, toads and salamanders, which all breed in the spring. There are multiple ponds in the Park, and participants will be able to see some egg masses!

Led by Ellen Jacquart – Ellen is a member of the Indiana Native Plant Society and is considered one of the leading authorities of spring ephemerals and other native plants in Indiana. The meeting location is at 11312 S County Road 375 W, Reelsville, IN, 47868. We will be hiking on Two Falls Trail which is a moderate, 1.4-mile hike, and a great fit for viewing wildflowers. You can view details about the trail at the link below.

Led by Ashley Adair – The meeting location is at 3301-3727 East CR 675 North, just east of Bainbridge. Hikers will learn how to identify native spring ephemeral wildflowers and discover the connections between these unique plants and their environment. Ashley Adair, a Putnam County native, will lead the hike. She has spent her professional career working in the Purdue Extension system, finding opportunities to spread the joy of spring ephemeral wildflowers.

Led by John Garner – Participants will hike down to Big Walnut Creek to seine the creek and have a rock skipping contest. Participants should prepare to get a little wet as everyone will be encouraged to help sample the creek. This hike will take place during Nature Play Days, and we hope to attract lots of children.

Led by John Garner – Owned by the Little Walnut Creek Conservancy District, with the entrance being straight across from 5306 West County Road 375 North. The hike will pass through a large grove of trees planted 20+ years ago. Plants along the trail will be identified, and participants will stop at a seasonal pond and view a large pollinator planting. Several additional trails have been added along the Owl Trail, and we will discuss future expansion plans.

Led by the Big Walnut Bird Club – This ninth hike of the year, dubbed the Sunflowers and Sunshine Walk, will be led by members of the Putnam County Bird Club and include a visit to several birding spots and the sunflower plantings which should be in full bloom. Quail Forever is working with the Deer Creek Wildlife Staff to add several pollinator areas, and several pairs of binoculars will be available for participants to use.

Led by Jason Keeney – The hike will lead participants in netting and tagging Monarch Butterflies as part of the Monarch Watch Project. Participants will collect wildflower seeds from existing plants and spread them to areas of the nine-acre field with fewer flowers. The pollinator habitat on the southwest side of Forest Hill Cemetery, a collaboration of Quail Forever, the City of Greencastle and Putnam County Soil and Water, is emerging after an initial planting in 2018. The area offers a quiet, relaxing place to walk and enjoy the flowers and the wildlife the flowers attract.

Led by Erin Basiger – Starting at 10 a.m. on the Putnam Nature Trail segment of People Pathways, beginning at the County Road 150 West Trailhead in Limedale. Bring your bicycle to this annual “Cycling with a Conservationist” program that adds variety to the monthly hiking series. Led by Erin Basiger, a Natural Resource Specialist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, with more than a decade of experience as a biologist/conservationist, the bike trip will consist of a 2.6-mile ride out and a 2.6-mile return ride, for a total of 5.2 miles. Participants will learn about and identify various conservation practices, along with plant species and wildlife observed along the trail, and may turn back at any point along the trail if they would like to return sooner. Dress for the weather and bring a water bottle. This event is free and appropriate for all ages, but participants must be at least 18 years old or accompanied by a parent or guardian to participate. People Pathways is a 20+ mile urban and rural system of trails in Putnam County that also is part of the National Road Heritage Trail and the United States Bike Route 50. To register, email [email protected].

Led by John Garner – We will walk to the cliffs and view the woods as the cold weather sets in.  Make sure to dress for the trip.   As the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, it’s easy to lose the motivation to get outside. It’s not as simple to head outdoors in cold weather as it is in the warmer months when you can just throw on your shoes and hit the trail. Our first reaction to the arrival of winter weather is usually to hide under a blanket, but the act of preparing for and going on a hike in cold weather is a great way to positively assert ourselves and embrace the season. Fern Cliff is a registered National Natural Landmark. The hike is on its moderate to rugged terrain. Its abandoned sandstone quarry was the source of the greenish glass that made the first Coca-Cola bottles so remarkable. We will hike down to see the foundations of the buildings that used to be there.

Led by John Garner – We will clean out the bluebird houses to get ready for the Eastern Bluebirds to return in spring and then hike the trail. The hike will go no matter the weather. Whether you are winter’s biggest fan or not, we want you to feel comfortable getting outside and enjoying all four seasons. There are a lot of great reasons to give winter hiking a try: no crowds, no bugs and the quiet calming serenity of the winter landscape. Especially if there’s been a dusting of snow, even trails you’ve hiked a million times before can be transformed into a magical winter wonderland.