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Serving Kosciusko County and parts of Elkhart, Marshall & Noble Counties Know Your Neighbor . . . . . . . 2➤ Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Pierceton Days . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Vol. 56, No. 3
Milford (574) 658-4111 • Warsaw (574) 269-2932 • Syracuse (574) 457-3666
114 W. Market, Warsaw, Indiana 46580
Explore the county trails this summer
Text and Photos By ABBY OLIVER Staff Writer
Of the many sights and attractions offered in Kosciusko County, summer calls residents and visitors alike to enjoy the area’s many nature trails and boardwalks. Whether looking for a quiet walk through wetlands, a family-friendly paved path or challenging mountain biking terrain, communities across the county offer trails that showcase local wildlife, lakes and forests. Leesburg The Oppenheim Woods, located at 7127-6929 N. Kalorama Road, is a 63-acre preserve and mature hardwood forest that takes the public back in time to Indiana’s pre-agricultural natural history. Oak, hickory and tulip poplar trees stand tall above native flowers and sedges, and the rolling hills feature one of the more prominent wildflower displays in the county. Along the 1.2-mile trail are signposts that educate guests on the state’s natural heritage and what they can do to preserve it in Kosciusko County. The preserve also offers hiking and mountain biking, and dogs are permitted on leash. North Webster Covering 445 acres, the Pisgah Marsh Area and Boardwalk at 9939 E. 350N offers a half-mile boardwalk for guests to traverse and look out at the surrounding wildlife. The marsh area was set aside to preserve habitat resources for plant and animal species and consists of grassland, wetland, upland forest and lake habitat. Marsh species of interest include common gallinule, sora, green heron, Virginia rail, American coot and black-billed cuckoo. Visitors can enjoy hiking along the wheelchair-accessible boardwalk while observing the surrounding wetlands and wildlife. Guests should also be aware of human hunting activity in the area. Silver Lake Visitors to Wildwood Nature Preserve at 409 E. SR 14 will find 4.5 miles of trails winding through 255 acres of nature. A small pond, forests, vernal pools, a pine planting, wetlands and prairie provide habitat for oak, hickory and many other tree species.
A variety of wildflowers and bird species, including wood ducks and red-headed and pileated woodpeckers, call this preserve home. The concentration of varying terrain also supports many other types of wildlife. The Wildwood Nature Preserve allows hiking, cross-country skiing and dogs on leash. Syracuse The Syracuse-Wawasee Trails, located at 1013 N. Long Drive, offer 11 miles of paved, wheelchair-accessible trails with scenic views of Lake Wawasee and routes through the town of Syracuse. The trail system connects the community center, wetlands, the Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum, downtown shops, parks and other destinations. Bicycling and dogs on leash are permitted, and visitors may park at the Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum. The Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation and Conklin Bay Boardwalk, located at 11586 N. SR 13, features three miles of trails across 40 acres of wetlands, woods and lakeshore. Opened in 2020, the one-third-mile wetland boardwalk extends the Syracuse-Wawasee Trails through the Rolland Wetland Conservation Area and includes four overlooks where visitors can enjoy the scenery. Nearby, the WACF, also known as the Levinson-LaBrosse Lakes and Wetlands Education Center, serves as the foundation’s hub for protecting local wetlands and wildlife. The trails offer hiking, paved cycling, cross-country skiing and dogs on leash. The WACF’s Syracuse Lake Wetland Trails and Buck Island Trail, located at 11636 N. SR 13, encompass 140 acres of wetlands, woods and lakeshore. The Syracuse Lake Wetland Trails include three short trails totaling 0.3 miles, while the Buck Island Trail extends 0.6 miles near the Between the Lakes Preserve around Mud Lake. The trails are open daily from dawn to dusk and provide opportunities for hiking, cross-country skiing and dogs on leash. Visitors can explore wetlands, wooded areas and lakeshore while enjoying land preserved by WACF. The Syracuse-Wawasee Trails will continue to grow with the Wawasee South Continued on page 2
SUMMER STROLL — Kathy and Dale Cline, who live near Atwood, walk the Beyer Farm Boardwalk and Trail during their first visit.
ENJOYING THE TRAILS — Laura Fearnow of Mentone walks the Beyer Farm Boardwalk and Trail with her dog, Copper.