Bendix Woods County Park
State Designated Nature Preserve [#19; 1971]
Trail. Click to enlarge
This is a large park. I recommend devoting the bulk of your time to the Bendix Woods Nature Preserve, which contains 27 acres of old growth woods, and many trees over a hundred years old. The most direct access is from the Runnels Shelter area; to reach it, take the first right on entering the park and drive to the parking area near the end of the road. From there, the Big Tree Trail (sketched below, 0.5 miles) loops into the preserve. Tacked onto its eastern end is another loop, the Lower Big Tree Trail (0.35 miles). Early spring visitors should see an excellent wildflower display. Purple trillium, trout lily, toothwort, Dutchman’s breeches, wild ginger, mayapple and other species carpet the forest floor.
Trail Map
Click to enlarge
Directions
Saint Joseph County. Timothy Road intersects IN 2 one mile east of the LaPorte-Saint Joseph county line. Proceed 0.5 miles south on Timothy Road to the park entrance on the left. (Fee usually applies)
GPS: N 41 39.907 W 86 30.392
Facilities
Restrooms, nature center, shelters
Finder Sketch
Click to enlarge
Nearby Natural Areas (miles)
Spicer Lake Nature Preserve (7.5)
Potato Creek State Park (16.9)
Luhr County Park (18.7)
Wintergreen Woods (18.8)
Ambler Flatwoods (19.5)