Parks & Trails

Loblolly Marsh Nature Preserve is Indiana’s 250th dedicated nature preserve. Its 475 acres include marsh, forest, and prairie. The preserve is open to the public from dawn to dusk and features a tree identification trail, approximately 3.5 miles of easy walking trails, and a ¼ mile ADA handicapped-accessible trail with benches. The preserve is located 3 miles west of Bryant on Hwy 18, turn north on County Road 250W, and travel ½ mile to the parking lot: 8323N 250W, Bryant, IN 47326. The preserve is on both sides of the road and parking is available north of the Loblolly Creek. Scroll down this page for more trail information.

If visitors would like a more in-depth and personalized visit, a rent-a-naturalist program is available through the Limberlost State Historic Site. A Limberlost naturalist will walk with you along the trails and point out the plants and animals of the preserve and also describe the history of the land, including how Gene Stratton-Porter studied, wrote about, and photographed the area. For more information contact Curt Burnette, Limberlost Site Naturalist: 260-368-7428 or cburnette@indianamuseum.org

History of Loblolly Marsh Nature Preserve

This land was purchased from five different landowners who entered their land into the Wetland Reserve Program. The residual value was purchased using Indiana Heritage Trust funds. Other donors include ACRES Land Trust, Ropchan Foundation, M.E. Raker Foundation and Friends of the Limberlost/Limberlost Swamp Remembered Committee. The restoration of the wetlands began in 1992.

Many of the soils in the Loblolly Marsh are floodplains that connect to the Wabash River and they support river bulrush, sedges and prairie cord grass. Several muck flats support bur reed and cattail marshes. The upland areas are equally divided with prairie and restored forest land. A twenty-five acre mature woodland is a mixture of upland and bottomland hardwood trees.

This area was drained by a steam powered dredge from 1888 to 1910. During these years of drainage, Gene Stratton-Porter wrote the majority of her most successful novels and nature studies about the Limberlost area. The Loblolly Marsh was the heart of the Limberlost. Once the wetlands were converted to farmland, and cropped from 1910 until restoration in 1992, crop losses from periodic flooding plagued the landowners almost yearly. But the biggest losses were the many species of plants and animals documented in Porter’s books.

The Loblolly Marsh is a wetland complex containing emergent bur reed and cattail marshes where waterfowl reproduce. During drier times of the year, the marsh may have large mudflats exposed and shorebirds visit the area. Fall months are primed for the many migrating birds that feed on the abundant growth of annual plants. Winter months are a flurry of activity with all of the northern migrants and an occasional snowy owl.

In the spring, small potholes serve as mating areas for several species of amphibians. Sedge meadows and wet meadows are deafening with the calls of several frog species including northern leopard frogs. The woodland has a wide array of plants and the colors begin early. Waterfowl find nesting sites in the prior year’s growth of tall grass prairie. In late summer and early fall, the prairies explode with native plants that expose their flowers throughout the area.

Trails

Veronica’s Trail
Nature Preserve Trails
Bird Sanctuary

Loblolly Marsh Nature Preserve is Indiana’s 250th dedicated nature preserve. Its 475 acres include marsh, forest, and prairie.

The Bird Sanctuary was created in 1947 which was the same year the Limberlost Cabin became a state historic site (then known as a state memorial). It was 12 acres in size. In the early 2000s, an additional 28 adjacent acres was purchased with the help of the Portland Foundation and Ann Goodrich of Portland. The new property was called the Goodrich Addition. The total size of the Bird Sanctuary now is 38 acres. The Music of the Wild Nature Preserve was created a few years later (mid- to late 2000s). It is approximately 70 acres in size and includes property on both sides of Limberlost Creek. It was named Music of the Wild because Gene Stratton-Porter wrote about that area in her nature book Music of the Wild. There is a short trail starting at the parking lot off US27 on the south side of the creek, but no bridge to get to the other side at this time. By parking at the Bird Sanctuary off of Jay Co. 900N, hikers can access the trails on the north side of the creek in both the Bird Sanctuary and Music of the Wild. There is forest, prairie, and wetlands along these trails.

See our Loblolly Marsh Nature Preserve page for more trails and information.

Take a break and let the kids run free at Dunkirk City Park. Softball field, shelters for family reunions, birthday parties and walking trails. Close by you can enjoy the local pool, T-ball field and baseball field.

Freedom Park is dedicated to those who served in the Armed Forces of the United States of American in war and peace.

Beautiful, historic park with a playground, basketball court, picnic shelter, tables, and much more.

Hudson Family Park is home to a lake, walking trails, a very large playground, and an amphitheater. In the summer, Arts Place features Arts in the Park events at the amphitheater that the whole family can enjoy!

The Hudson Park Trail of Trees is a 1 mile walking trail in Hudson Park, in Portland. Trail is outlined in orange on map.

Attend the number of events at our large Jay County Fairgrounds. See our well-kept and beautiful fairgrounds and our 4-H building, Floral Hall, and much much more. From the Jay County Fair to the Fourth of July celebration to the world’s largest Antique Gas Engine and Tractor show, there is something for everyone!

Fairgrounds Map (PDF – click to enlarge):

The Jay County Hospital Wellness Walkway has a paved walkway for pedestrians and non-motorized vehicles. The front walkway is a .25 mile track while the walkway around the back of the hospital is a .50 mile track. There are also two EnergiPrime Total Body Fitness System stations for additional exercise options.

Loblolly Marsh Nature Preserve is Indiana’s 250th dedicated nature preserve. Its 475 acres include marsh, forest, and prairie. Trails pass through prairie, upland forest, bottomland hardwood forest, beside potholes, meadows, a large marsh, and along the Loblolly Ditch that drained the area in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

The preserve is located 3 miles west of Bryant on Hwy 18, turn north on County Road 250W, and travel ½ mile to the parking lot: 8323N 250W, Bryant, IN 47326.

See our Loblolly Marsh Nature Preserve page for more trails and information.

Relish in the sun and enjoy a nice day in Pennville’s own park. Hold your special event in the park or simply relax with the kids.

Bring the family and enjoy the day at the Redkey Park.

Handicapped-accessible trail in Loblolly Marsh.

Loblolly Marsh Nature Preserve is Indiana’s 250th dedicated nature preserve. Its 475 acres include marsh, forest, and prairie. Veronica’s Trail is a 0.25 mile Americans with Disabilities Act Trail located adjacent to the parking lot. This winding trail takes visitors over a pothole and a small stream and ends on a small hill overlooking a small upland meadow and large river bulrush wetland.

The preserve is located 3 miles west of Bryant on Hwy 18, turn north on County Road 250W, and travel ½ mile to the parking lot: 8323N 250W, Bryant, IN 47326.

See our Loblolly Marsh Nature Preserve page for more trails and information.

Beautiful historic park, featuring a Summer Concert series June thru mid-August.