By Natalie Derrickson
Summer is in full swing, which means more time spent outside. When it’s time to take a break from the pool, look no further than one of Indiana’s shady, serene, and sacred natural spaces.
Indiana boasts a wide variety of nature preserves, each offering unique landscapes and opportunities for outdoor exploration. Here are some notable nature preserves:
White River Woods
Selma
Step into 25 acres of wooded wonderland at White River Woods and enjoy the half-mile hiking trail that gives visitors a glimpse of the wildlife habitat along the White River corridor. With parking, boardwalks, and seating available, a visit to White River Woods is among the most accessible to explorers of all ages.
McVey Memorial Forest
Farmland
Diverse habitats span this preserve’s 249 acres, featuring hardwood forest, river bottom, prairie, and wetlands, with over 3 miles of trail covering it all. McVey’s amenities make it a must-visit, with shelters suited for a snack break and river access plus pond viewing space satisfying one’s desire for waterside serenity.
Dutro-Ernst Woods
Muncie
Witness prairie restoration firsthand at Dutro-Ernst Woods, a preserve on the former Ernst Nursery site, whose young forest, older trees, and wetland are putting on a show thanks to preservation efforts from its conservators, Red-tail Land Conservancy. Children can run free and wild on Dutro-Ernst’s nature playground, while everyone can marvel at the thriving native plants and wildlife that call the preserve home.
Fall Creek Woods
Middletown
Gain an appreciation for nature’s perseverance under the incredible canopy of old-growth trees at Fall Creek Woods within Smith-Crisler State Dedicated Nature Preserve. Challenge yourself and marvel at the not-so-flat Hoosier terrain within the woods, among meandering creeks, to the glacially carved bluff, and view the spectacular overlook.
NATALIE DERRICKSON is a freelancer from Indianapolis.
Photos courtesy of Red-tail Land Conservancy. White River Woods photo courtesy of Jessica Poiry.
