The Jagers love to take on a challenge and set off on adventures! There’s no better place to explore than our own backyard and we have never taken for granted that we live within 20 minutes of the Indiana Dunes National Park. The NPS rangers at the Indiana Dunes have been sharing the love of nature with park visitors by leading a guided trail hike once a week since mid-May as part of the 1966 Challenge. The 1966 Hiking Challenge celebrates the park’s founding in 1966 by completing 19 hikes that cover 66 miles of trails in the Indiana Dunes National Park. While we missed the kick-off with the rangers, we decided to join in the fun by hiking a trail a day starting with the Heron Rookery Trail in Michigan City, Indiana.

The drive to Heron Rookery reminded Derek of the country roads near Asheville, North Carolina where he grew up. While it didn’t take long to get there, the drive was a scenic journey surrounded by open fields on country roads that transitioned into gravel the closer we got to our destination. It was an overcast morning with a high of 78 degrees and I had planned on running this trail since the trail map indicated a flat out-and-back trail at 3.3 miles. I’m glad that we brought hiking shoes, long pants, and raincoats just in case the weather turned because the first glance into this trail was that it was very overgrown. We would hike instead!

The trail had an easy terrain following the Little Calumet River that was once home to over 100 Great Blue Heron nests. After 60 years of nesting here, the herons have since moved on to other locations but the woods are alive with birds, slugs, dragonflies, and mosquitos. Yes, mosquitos! It might have just been the conditions in early morning following an overnight rain, but walking through the overgrown plant life alongside the river was a sticky swarm of mosquitos that would spontaneously ebb and flow alongside the river. The key is to always be in motion and not pause for photos, look through binoculars, or sit down to take a swig of your water bottle. With our hoods pulled tight, we power-walked through the forest recording our surroundings to memory with mostly passerby views.

I must say that the views of the forest and the river below were beautiful! We felt like true adventurers committed to completing the first hike of our challenge. Sometimes uncomfortable conditions bring back the most interesting stories that keep us laughing when we retell them after the journey is over!

Observations:

We started at the East trailhead lot at 1336 600 East, Michigan City, IN and began our hike through the most narrow section of the trail. Once we got out from the brush and up above the river, the open areas felt like we could be on a trail in New England or Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Walking through nature is always a good thing no matter what obstacles we face! As the trail veered away from the river, the mosquitos fanned out and the trail opened up with beautiful woodlands. This section of tall trees and wooden bridges made it all worth it to me. I was able to loosen down my hood and let the breeze cool me down.

When we reached 1.7 miles to the other parking lot, we turned around and hiked it all again back to where we started!

Suggestions:

• The trail can get muddy and slick with a close drop-off to the river below. Wear hiking shoes and watch your step.
• While gazing at the treetops, keep an eye on the roots below. It can get a little knotty at times. (An older couple behind us used hiking poles. )
• Wear long sleeves and bug spray. No additional commentary needed.
• Check for ticks on your return.
• Unless you are an experienced trail runner, it is best to walk this trail instead of running.

Highlights:

• Low crowds
• Sweeping views of the river
• “Dragonfly Alley” where jewelwings fluttered around us as we entered their space
• Melodies of bird songs in the treetops
• Flora galore
• Easy hike that you can’t get lost on!

3.3 miles hiked at Heron Rookery and our first trail completed on the 1966 Hiking Challenge!