Merry Lea

Trail

This remarkable place includes eight miles of well-maintained trails that traverse a wide variety of habitats. Goshen College uses it as an environmental learning center, but their students aren’t the only beneficiaries. Thousands of area schoolchildren pass through each year, so this is one of the few destinations in this book that may have a lower visitor count on weekends than during the week.

Merry Lea comprises more than a thousand acres. It includes much of the shoreline of Bear Lake, and encompasses numerous wetlands, meadows, and woods; indeed, represented ecosystems include most of those found in northeastern Indiana. The trail network is dense, with many junction points (marked by letters on posts) allowing a variety of routes. Be sure to pick up a trail map at the learning center (stop in if it’s open – there’s a nice natural history bookstore on the premises) adjacent to the parking lot; the sketch opposite depicts only the central parts of the trail system.

Onion Bottom

That’s because I recommend spending the bulk of your time at Merry Lea in those areas, especially around the Onion Bottom Wetland, which lies only a short stroll to the north of the parking area. Once an onion field, this restored wetland is now full of life. Even the dead trees that rise like skeletons above the water’s surface host woodpeckers (and no doubt many burrowing insects). Trails circle the wetland and short spurs allow closer inspection at several spots. Look for turtles, ducks, dragonflies, the occasional snake, and Canada geese that will insist on noting your presence with extended and noisy commentary.

The path through Bear Lake Prairie offers views of Onion Bottom and Bear Lake, as well as an opportunity to get your feet wet, as the tread is often partially under (shallow) water. Keep an eye out for blue flag iris along this stretch. The Shew Wetlands are nice, and definitely worth checking out – who knows what you might see? Trails also extend to the northwest and northeast; the latter area more recently farmed. The land in this part of the property retains some of its agricultural character, along with an old farmstead. There’s an alternative parking area here, but not much wildness.

TRAIL MAP (Click to enlarge)

DIRECTIONS

Most of the text on these
Indiana Natural Areas pages
is excerpted from my book
Wild Indiana, available from
local bookshops or Amazon.
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