In addition to providing more than 70 miles of trails open dawn to dusk, ACRES offers a variety of hikes & events throughout our region, all year long.

ACRES events are held rain or shine, sleet or snow. We love sharing the natural world with you in all seasons.

ACRES’ National Trails Day Celebration
New and current members receive a free water bottle
Saturday, June 2, 1 pm
WABASH COUNTY | Asherwood Environmental Center
7496 W SR 124, Wabash, IN 46992

Trek the trails with fellow ACRES lovers, then become a member to participate in preservation all year long. All members–new and current–bring home a complimentary ACRES water bottle, valued at $10.

Birding for Beginners
Saturday, June 2, throughout our region

Are you a backyard birder? New to birding? Join your local Audubon Chapter for tips and tricks on spotting winged wonders, all in preparation for ACRES Land Trust’s June 3-9 Bird Blitz on ACRES preserves near you. More on Bird Blitz: acreslandtrust.org/birdblitz

ADAMS COUNTY | Limberlost State Historic Site Visitor Center
200 6th St, Geneva, IN 46740
9 – 10 am presentation, followed by a birding hike through Loblolly Marsh. Bring your own binoculars.
Presented by Robert Cooper Audubon Society

ALLEN COUNTY | Tom and Jane Dustin Nature Preserve
1802 Chapman Road, Huntertown, IN 46748
9 am – noon
Presented by the Tippecanoe Audubon Society

ELKHART COUNTY | Bittersweet Branch Public Library, Zimmerman Room
602 N Bittersweet Rd, Mishawaka, IN 46544
Presented by the South Bend-Elkhart Audubon Society
1 – 4 pm

WABASH COUNTY | Asherwood
7496 W. SR 124, Wabash, IN 46992
Presented by the Mississenewa Audubon Club
8 am – noon

photo by Stephen Perfect

Swift Summer Sunday
Sunday, June 10, 9 am – 11 am
WHITLEY AND NOBLE COUNTIES | Ralph Gates Nature Preserve and Crooked Lake Nature Preserve, a DNR property
Meet at 1040 E 700 N, Columbia City, IN 46725

Join ACRES volunteer Janelle for fast-paced, multi-preserve 3+ mile morning hikes to beat the heat. To carpool, contact Janelle: [email protected].

Share the Trails Hike
Saturday, July 7, 10 am
STEUBEN COUNTY | Beechwood, Foster and Majneri Nature Preserves

Will this places’ beautiful prairie fen be in bloom?!

Share the Trails hikes are non-interpretive walks in ACRES preserves. These casual, easy-going, social outings welcome new folks to the trails and to ACRES. Free to the public, donations encouraged.

Plant Workshop: Practical Field Identification of Common Vascular Plants
Thursday, July 12 – Friday, July 13, 8 am – 5 pm both days
Presented by Scott Namestnik, Senior Botanist, Orbis Enviromental Consulting

Learn in the field with an expert! Participants will spend only a few hours in a classroom; ACRES’ Wayne Township Property in Warsaw, a rare native prairie that is closed to the public, serves as the main venue. To aid your learning, you will receive a custom folding chair and a notebook to create your own “field guide” for continued study. Following the workshop, you will receive a certificate of completion.

Thursday meals on your own. Friday, ACRES will provide a home-cooked breakfast;
Noa Noa Wood Grill & Sushi Bar will provide lunch.

Cost: $150 members, $200 nonmembers

Free lodging is available at Manchester University’s Koinonia Environmental Retreat Center, 6147 S 650 E, Pierceton, IN 46562. Transportation between sites is not provided.

20 seats available, registration opens June 1 for current members, June 11 for nonmembers. Register at 260-637-2273.

Members-only Barn Show Video Release Party
Friday, July 13, 7-10 pm
ALLEN COUNTY | Tom and Jane Dustin Nature Preserve, Dustin Barn
1802 Chapman Road, Huntertown, IN 46748
Barn entrance is just east of the main preserve drive

ACRES members, you’re invited to gather with fellow members to share a late summer evening in The Barn with movie-theater snacks and drinks, and live music by the entertaining duo The Matchsellers: world-class hillbilly music deeply rooted in bluegrass with a mix of old time tradition and shenanigans.

After the sun sets, we’ll watch the world premiere of ACRES new video on enjoying and protecting the places you love. See you there!

A Longer Hike
Saturday, July 14, 9 am
WABASH COUNTY | Kokiwanee
5825 E. 50 S, Lagro, IN 46941

Shorter hikes leaving you longing for more? We’ll cover at least 5 miles on this hike, through the forests and waterfalls of Kokiwanee, across the Salamonie spillway, and through the Salamonie State Forest. You’ll have even longer hiking options if you want more!

Presented by Jason Kissel

Swift Summer Sunday
Sunday, July 15, 9 – 11 am
NOBLE COUNTY | Detering Nature Preserve and Lonidaw
Meet at 1421 Kammerer Road, Kendallville, IN 46755

Join ACRES volunteer Janelle for fast-paced, multi-preserve 3+ mile morning hikes to beat the heat. To carpool, contact Janelle: [email protected]

Three Rivers Festival Open House
Wednesday, July 18, 2 pm – 4 pm
ALLEN COUNTY | Tom and Jane Dustin Nature Preserve
1802 Chapman Road, Huntertown, IN 46748

Celebrate our community’s natural heritage. Meet staff, learn more about our work, and explore the preserve on your own, or join a volunteer-led hike at 2:30. Light refreshments will be provided.

Progressive Canoe Trip for Members
Saturday, July 21, 12 pm
LAGRANGE COUNTY | Oliver Lake
Just west of 540 E 450 S, Wolcottville, IN 46795

Enjoy an afternoon on the water with fellow ACRES members. We’ll launch on Oliver Lake and make our way through The Spreads to Hackenburg Lake, and on to Messick Lake. Bring your own canoe or kayak—we’ll provide snacks and water.

Space is limited, with a limited number of canoes provided by P4C Paddle Club.

Share the Trails Hike
Saturday, August 4, 10 am
Seven Pillars Nature Preserve
0.1 miles east of 3555 E. Mississinewa Road, Peru, IN 46970

Meet fellow nature-lovers on the trails for a casual walk in the woods named for this spectacular 25-foot limestone pillars, also protected by ACRES.

New preserve visitors, look at a map before heading out to this preserve. Some guidance devices might take you to the other side of the river. Heads up, before heading out. Happy trails!

Share the Trails hikes are non-interpretive walks in ACRES preserves. These casual, easy-going, social outings welcome new folks to the trails and to ACRES. Free to the public, donations encouraged.

Swift Summer Sundays
Sundays, August 5, 12, 19, and 26,  9 – 11 am
ALLEN COUNTY | Tom and Jane Dustin Nature Preserve
1802 Chapman Road, Huntertown, IN 46748

Join ACRES volunteer Janelle for fast-paced, multi-preserve 3+ mile morning hikes to beat the heat. To carpool, contact Janelle: [email protected].

Nature Notebook Workshop for Members
Wednesday, August 8, 6:30 pm
ALLEN COUNTY | Tom and Jane Dustin Nature Preserve
1802 Chapman Road, Huntertown, IN 46748

Join us to learn how to make your very own nature-inspired notebook. Local illustrator and printmaker Grace Harman will teach you everything you need to know to make a fun, functional notebook. All ability levels welcome! Snacks and supplies provided. Space is limited. RSVP to [email protected] Presented by artist Grace Harman.

Creek Stomp X
Saturday, August 11, 2 pm
WASBASH COUNTY | Hathaway Preserve at Ross Run
1866 E. Baumbauer Road, Wabash, IN 46992

For the 10th summer, it’s once again time to get up close and personal with leeches, pinching cray sh and biting mosquitoes, fossils, waterfalls, cli s, minnows, salamanders, and—if we are lucky—a snake or two. You’ll get wet, dirty, and inspired.

Presented by the Kissel family.

 

In addition to our public hikes & events, we also offer guided hikes and presentations to private groups. From youth groups, to senior clubs, we’d love to share the trails and our story with you and your group!