Pokagon State Park
- Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Indiana State Parks Hiking Challenges
- Indiana Department of Natural Resources
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| There is normally an entrance fee but on this particular day, per the sign on the right, no fee! |
DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 41.70208, -85.03170
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| Nature Center Parking Lot |
TRAIL MAP:
HIKE DISTANCE: 8.1 miles
THE HIKE:
Travel Day 2 hike on my semi-annual trip from New Jersey to Missouri.
Indiana State Parks offers a series of challenges at some of their parks
where you photograph waypoints to show the staff to receive a finisher's
sticker. This hike has six waypoints. Description of the Hell's Point Challenge on Pokagon State Park's Facebook page.
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| The hike starts on the paved bike path at the opposite end of the parking lot from the nature center. |
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| Coming up on Waypoint 1 ... |
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| ... the historic County Road Bridge. |
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| When the bike path ends it might be confusing where to go as there is no sign. It's the trail just before the stop sign ... |
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| ... Trail 4. |
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| A way in there is a sign confirming it is the right trail. |
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| We are heading right towards the Spring Shelter ... |
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| ... Waypoint 2. |
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| Waypoint 3 - Wetland View. This wasn't much of a view but there are better ones looping around. |
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| Just after taking pictures of this bluebird, the highlight of the hike ... |
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| ... two sandhill cranes! I found out later they would have migrated by now but seems they waited around just for me. I had never seen any before. |
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| You can see the cranes off to the left. |
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| Heading up 84 steps to Hell's Point. |
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| At the top, Waypoint 4 - Hell's Point, which no longer has a view. |
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| Left for the Trail 9 loop. |
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| An up close view of I-69. |
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| Waypoint 5 - CCC Stone Dams |
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| All of the benches along the way are dedicated to people, except this one ... |
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| Heading towards Lake Lonidaw. |
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| Waypoint 6 - Lake Lonidaw |
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| Back on the paved bike trail... |
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| ... to return to the nature center. |
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| A tree full of cedar waxwings. |
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| Back at the parking lot, I parked Brodie in the car and headed to the nature center to claim our reward. |
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| Uh oh, what does that sign say on the right? |
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| This was a Tuesday and it was closed :( Nothing online indicated that would be the case. I was so bummed that I could not get my sticker. But I called the next day and the nice man at the nature center was happy to mail it to me. Yay! |
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| (Photo borrowed from Pokagon State Park's Facebook page.) |
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| Our six waypoint pictures as proof of having completed the challenge. |
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| On to St. Louis. |
Beautiful photos. Sand Hill Cranes a special treat. Glad you will get your reward, you and Brody deserve it. Especially walking all those steps and not to have a view. Where do you stay with Brody. Have fun.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Christine. I always stay at either Motel 6 or Red Roof Inn as they both always allow dogs, no extra charge. Some are better than others and I am getting to know which ones to stay at and which ones to avoid. I particularly like the Motel 6 in Youngstown, OH so that is my go to place when I take the northern route to Missouri.
DeleteThank you for the info on motels. Have a safe drive to St. Louis tomorrow. Look forward to your posts. Glad your hip has healed so you continue on your hiking adventures. Good night. Christine
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cranes! I've never seen those before.
ReplyDelete