Backyard Adventures

4D PIKE PUBLISHING BACKYARD ADVENTURES 2017 C & Z Roofing 1-812-582-2440 Shingle • Metal Cody Caldemeyer | Zach Langebrake FREE ESTIMATES c.zroofing14@gmail.com It's your getaway, and it's important to you. Let us help you Shelter it. Ask us about Shelter's boat and PWC coverage options. David Cordray 812-386-8495 201 E. State Street, Princeton dcordray@shelterinsurance.com We're your Shield. We're your Shelter. PIKE STATE FOREST 5994 E State Road 364, Winslow, IN 47598 Phone: 812-367-1524 Pike State forest offers 33 miles of horse trails and a self- registration campground. Hiking is available on the forest property's fire lanes and bridle trails. All horses brought, driven or ridden onto the State Forest must have a valid annual horse use tag. Hikers and riders are advised to wear hunter orange or other bright clothing while on trails during hunting season. FERDINAND STATE FOREST 6583 E. State Road 264, Ferdinand, IN 47532 Phone: 812-367-1524 Ferdinand State Forest offers 8.8 miles of mountain bike trails. Mountain bikes are only permitted on those desig- nated trails. Swimming and camping is available. HIKING TRAILS Twin Lake Trail ..................................... 1.9 miles Kyana Trail ............................................ 2.6 miles Firetower Trail ....................................... 1.2 miles Foxey Hollow Trail ................................. 1.3 miles South Ridge Trail ................................... 1.8 miles PATOKA RIVER NWR The refuge office is located at 510 ½ West Morton Street, Oakland City, IN 47660. Contact 812-749-3199 or patokariver@fws.gov. A nationally-funded area, the Patoka River National Wild- life Refuge and Management Area, was established in 1994. Bordering Pike and Gibson counties, it currently comprises 6,600 acres and is expected to grow to 22,472 acres of wet- lands and forest along 30 miles of the Patoka River. Walking trails, all less than 1-mile, including Otter Run and South Fork, provide visitors with pristine views, along with some great bird watching. The refuge was established to provide a habitat for migra- tory birds and to protect and manage the river corridor of bottomland hardwood wetlands. The area is growing in popularity and has been designated as Important Bird Areas by the National Audubon Society because of large nesting populations of prothonotary warblers and interior least terns. The area has several places for paddling opportunities and five easy walking trails. HIKING TRAILS Boyd Trail ........................................... 0.23 miles Maxey Trail .........................................0.58 miles Otter Run East .................................... 0.64 miles Otter Run West .................................... 0.60 miles South Fork Trail .................................. 0.20 miles LINCOLN STATE PARK State Road 162, Lincoln City, IN 47552 Phone: 812-937-4710 The 1,747-acre park was established in 1932 as a memorial to Lincoln's mother, Nancy Hanks. The Little Pigeon Creek Baptist Church and Cemetery, located on the property, is where Lincoln's sister Sarah is buried. Lincoln State Park offers 10 miles of hiking trails, two sce- nic lakes, and an interpretive center to help you experience early life of settlers in southern Indiana. The park offers campgrounds, cabins or group cottages. HIKING TRAILS Lake Trail – Easy – 1.5 miles: Starts at the boat rental building (CCC ranger cabin) and goes around the south shore of the lake. John Carter Trail – Moderate – 2.1 miles: John Carter was a Lincoln family neighbor. This trail starts east of the gatehouse and proceeds through beautiful pines. Sarah Lincoln Grisby Trail – Moderate – 1.7 miles: Passes through the Sarah Lincoln Woods Nature Pre- serve, the park's most pristine and unusual area. The dry upland forest has many steep slopes. James Gentry Trail – Moderate – 3.7 miles: Passing through mature forest, the trail returns south of S.R. 162 to the Howell Shelter. A short side trail takes you to the Weber Lake trail. Mr. Lincoln's Neighborhood Walk – Moderate – 1.7 miles: This trail branches off of Trail 1 at the picnic shel- ter and passes the Little Pigeon Creek Baptist Church and the gravesite of Sarah Lincoln Grigsby, the Gordon Home and Mill sites. Weber Lake Trail – Easy – 1.8 miles: The hike consists of old field succession stands of trees, a CCC pine grove, and the newly reclaimed Weber Lake. The lake is testi- mony to the reclamation efforts. LINCOLN BOYHOOD MEMORIAL State Road 162, Lincoln City, IN 47552 Directly across from Lincoln State Park. Phone: (812) 937-4541 Walk on the same ground that Abraham Lincoln did when he was a youth. There are more than 2 miles of hiking trails in the park. The Lincoln Boyhood Trail connects the Pioneer Cemetery to the Living Historical Farm. The Trail of Twelve Stones begins at the Living Historical Farm and ends near the pioneer cemetery. The two trails form a loop of about one mile. The Boyhood Nature Trail loops about one mile through the woods north of the Living Historical Farm. HARMONIE STATE PARK 3451 Harmonie State Park Road,, New Harmony, IN 47631 Phone: 812-682-4821 Harmonie State Park is located on the banks of the Wabash, 25 miles northwest of Evansville. A beautiful swimming pool, shady picnic areas, ravines and pristine landscape await you here. This is a trail lover's paradise! Six trails are available for walking, biking and nature hikes. Cabins and campsites are available. HIKING TRAILS Moderate – 1 mile: A relatively short trail leading from the youth tent campground into a ravine and gradually ascending into wooded areas and grassy plateaus and past one of the largest pecan trees in the state. Moderate – 1.5 miles: Leads from the modern camp- ground between wooded hills, descending to a small steam. The trail meanders through an old country road next to a fast flowing brook, with some steep hills. Moderate – 1 mile: Begins at the Poplar Grove picnic area and continues past the water tower. The trail overlooks a small stream, which it eventually crosses. Moderate – 2.5 miles: A fairly long trail with steep hills, winds through forests descending into ravines and streams. Easy – 0.75 mile: Beginning near the campground gatehouse, crosses the dam on a small wildlife pond and returns to the campground. This is a good trail for observing pond life and white-tailed deer. Easy – 0.75 mile: Cherry Hill picnic area loop. River Walk – 0.25 mile: This walk follows the Wabash River from picnic area to boat ramp. HOME HIKES closer to CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE > STORY BY FRAN PETIT PHOTOS BY FRAN PETIT AND ERIC GOGEL

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