Potato Creek State Park: Trails #1 and #2 (Blog Hike #1028)

Trails: #1 and #2
Hike Location: Potato Creek State Park
Geographic Location: southwest of South Bend, IN (41.55547, -86.35683)
Length: 3.8 miles
Difficulty: 5/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: September 2024
Overview: A loop hike along Lake Worster and over 2 low hills.
Park Information: https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/parks-lakes/potato-creek-state-park/
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=972710
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming June 27)

Directions to the trailhead: From South Bend, take US 31 south to SR 4 (exit 239).  Exit and go west on SR 4.  Drive SR 4 west 5.7 miles to the state park entrance on the right.  Turn right to enter the park, pay the park entrance fee, and drive the main park road all the way to its end at the Nature Center on the north side of the lake.  Park in the parking lot in front of the Nature Center.

The hike: Consisting of 3830 acres of reverting farmland, Potato Creek State Park owes its existence to one Mr. Darcy Worster.  Worster's efforts to dam Potato Creek and establish a recreation area began in the late 1930's, and he often sent hand-crafted folk art "insects" to state legislators to "bug" them about the project.  In time, the park swarmed to life.  The lake was built in 1977 and named after Worster, and the site became a state park in 1983.  The creek and park are named for the "Wild Potatoes," which was the English settlers' name for the native people who lived here when they arrived.

            While this park does not have a long and rich history as parkland, it does have some first-rate amenities.  The park offers a 287-site developed campground, a horsemen's camp with 3 bridle trails, 7 picnic shelters, some cabins, and the usual aquatic recreation on 327-acre Worster Lake.  For hikers, the park offers 8 trails totaling over 10 miles.  This hike combines 2 of the park's longest trails to form a loop through the northeast quadrant of the park.  This loop passes both lakeside and hilltop areas, and thus it offers a nice sample of all of the scenery this park has to offer.

Trailhead at Nature Center

            From the front of the Nature Center, look for the wooden sign that says "To Trails," and follow the arrow to enter the woods.  The narrow trail descends and quickly reaches the shore of Worster Lake.  Turn left to begin heading counterclockwise around Trail #1.

            Several old roads run in a north-south orientation through this part of the park, and the trail joins the first of those old roads at 0.2 miles.  After heading north and slightly uphill for 0.2 miles, the trail curves right to leave the old road.  Numbered yellow trail markers mark this park's trail, and they help you at points like this one.  Near 0.5 miles, you reach this hike's best view of Worster Lake.  The lake was calm and serene with no wildlife visible when I came here on a dreary morning in late September.

Lake Worster

            Past the lake overlook, I saw 3 deer before I reached a trail intersection at 0.7 miles.  Trail #1 continues straight, and you could go that way if you wanted to shorten this hike.  Despite the fact that rain was approaching from the west, I turned right to begin Trail #2.

Yellow trail marker at start of Trail #2

            The first part of Trail #2 passes through a lowland forest that features a large number of black walnut trees.  Wooden bridges take you over the wettest areas, and I saw many common woodland birds on this part of the hike.  1.4 miles into the hike, you intersect another old road.  Going right on this old road leads to Trail #4 and the southern part of the park, but Trail #2 turns left to begin heading north on the old road.

Hiking Trail #2

            After 0.2 miles of gradual climbing, Trail #2 turns right to leave the old road; look for the yellow trail markers to be sure you do not miss this turn.  The next mile contains the vast majority of this hike's elevation change as the trail passes over 2 low but steep hills.  Some wetlands are also passed, and this section is the most interesting part of this hike.

Stairs climbing Steam Boat Hill

            2 miles into the hike, you reach the top of the wooden stairs that climb Steam Boat Hill.  Some large beech trees live here, but dense woods preclude any views.  A steep descent into a saddle is followed by a steep climb to the top of Vargo Hill, which at 885 feet of elevation is the highest point in this park.  A wooden observation platform is located here, but again the only view is through dense woods.  Some benches encourage you to sit and rest having completed the hardest part of this hike.

Vargo Hill observation platform

            A moderate winding downhill section brings you to the end of Trail #2 at 2.6 miles.  Angle right to continue counterclockwise around Trail #1, which embarks on a meandering and gently rolling course.  Several mountain bike trails cross the hiking trail, but you want to follow the yellow markers for Trail #1.

Hiking Trail #1

            3 miles into the hike, you cross the road that leads to the park manager's house.  At 3.2 miles, angle left where the trail to the park's campground goes right.  The balance of the hike heads south through dense brushy woods, and a moderate rain began to pelt me when I hiked here.  The trail exits the woods near a playground, and angling left across the mowed grassy area returns you to the Nature Center to complete the hike.

Indiana Dunes State Park: Campground/Mt. Tom/Beach Loop (Blog Hike #1027)

Trails: Beach Trail and Trail #4
Hike Location: Indiana Dunes State Park
Geographic Location: north of Chesterton, IN (41.66038, -87.06283)
Length: 1.5 miles
Difficulty: 7/10 (Moderate/Difficult)
Date Hiked: September 2024
Overview: A short but steep loop over Mount Tom and along Lake Michigan.
Park Information: https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/parks-lakes/indiana-dunes-state-park/
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=972595
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming September 19, 2025)

Directions to the trailhead: In northwest Indiana, take I-94 to SR 49 (exit 26B).  Exit and go north on SR 49, which deadends at the park entrance.  Pay the entrance fee and drive to the main beach parking lot, where this hike begins.

The hike: Towering over the southern tip of Lake Michigan, the Indiana Dunes comprise over 17,000 acres of sand dunes.  The dunes were created when wind off of Lake Michigan deposited sand on previously existing dunes, trees, or whatever it contacted.  The wind created an amazing patchwork of bare sand and forested areas, tall dunes and low swales.

            The dunes have shifted over the years, and the scenery you see today is a complex result of all of those shifts.  When Lake Michigan retreated after the last Ice Age, sand become deposited further north on the new dry land.  The older more southern dunes became vegetated, and later the dunes shifted and covered up the vegetation.  In some places the dunes have shifted again to uncover the trees, thus revealing "tree skeletons" in deep swales called blowouts.

            Indiana Dunes State Park was established in 1925 as Indiana's 4th state park, but it comprises only 2182 acres of the Indiana Dunes: the rest is protected by the National Park Service as adjacent Indiana Dunes National Park.  The state park offers a pavilion and beach on Lake Michigan, a 140-site developed campground, a nature center, some picnic shelters, and 16 miles of hiking trails that explore the dunes.  The park's most famous hike is its Three Dunes Challenge, which involves climbing the park's three tallest dunes.  Fearing I might be too old and fat for the Three Dunes Challenge, I chose to take the "One Dune Challenge" by hiking a loop to the top of Mount Tom, this park's tallest dune, and then returning with a Lake Michigan beach walk.  I enjoyed this hike, and it provides a taste of dunes hiking without pegging the distance or difficulty meters.

Start of Beach Trail at beach parking lot

            Start at the inland (southeast) corner of the parking lot and pick up the Beach Trail as it heads east on a plastic boardwalk.  Take a minute to read an historical marker about the Battle of Le Petit Fort, a minor Revolutionary War battle that occurred here on December 5, 1780.  A band of about 30 Patriots led by Lieutenant Tom Brady was being chased westward by a British detachment until they chose to make a stand in these dunes.  The stand did not go well for the Patriots: 4 were killed, 2 were wounded, and 7 were taken prisoner.  Thus, these dunes have interesting human history as well as stunning natural scenery.

Beach Trail boardwalk

            The boardwalk heads east along the inland side of the dunes through a wetland formed by Dunes Creek.  The wetland is sufficiently lush and green that I could hear more birds and wildlife than I could see.  At the east end of the boardwalk, the Beach Trail continues east/southeast on a fairly level dirt/gravel track.

Start of Trail #4

            The Beach Trail's main function is to connect the beach to the campground, and at 0.4 miles you reach the campground at the trail's east end.  To continue this hike, angle left and walk east first on the campground road and then through a small picnic area.  Just past 0.5 miles, you reach the start of Trail #4, which is marked by a black wooden post.  Turn left to begin Trail #4.

Climbing on Trail #4

            Trail #4 is our route over Mount Tom to the beach, and it starts as a gradual climb on a sandy dirt path.  As you climb the dune, the grade gets steeper, and the sand gets softer.  Thus, the going gets harder.  When you reach the start of the wooden stairs, you have begun the final push to the summit.

Stairs near top of Mount Tom

            At 0.8 miles, you reach the summit of Mount Tom.  Mount Tom is the tallest dune at Indiana Dunes, and it is named for Revolutionary War American Lieutenant Tom Brady, who I mentioned earlier.  You can see the Chicago skyline from here on a clear day, and you can also see the steel mills of East Chicago and the power plants of Michigan City.  Despite the development, the view from this dune is stupendous with plenty of green trees and the blue lake, so take some time to sit on the bench, rest from your climb, and see what you can see.

View from Mount Tom

            Continue east on Trail #4 as it descends some steep wooden stairs.  At the base of the stairs, you reach a trail intersection at a saddle in the dunes.  Trail #8 goes straight to head for Mount Holden, another large sand dune.  This hike turns left to remain on Trail #4 and head for the Lake Michigan beach.

Approaching Lake Michigan

            The somewhat narrow trail descends on a soft sandy track through dense, brushy forest.  After a brief climb to top the lakeside dune, Trail #7 enters from the right as Lake Michigan comes into view.  At this point the lake is well below you, and a steep sandy slide brings you down to the beach.  Turn left to begin the beach walk.

Hiking along Lake Michigan

            This beach walk is as spectacular as any along Lake Michigan.  The wild and scenic dunes rise to the left, and a constant breeze blows off of the lake.  Chicago is a major freight center, and I saw several barges on the lake heading to or from port.  I also saw numerous gulls, ducks, and Canada geese along the water.  At 1.4 miles, you approach the park's pavilion.  Angle left to return to the parking lot and complete the loop.

Warren Woods State Park (Blog Hike #1026)

Trails: (unnamed)
Hike Location: Warren Woods State Park
Geographic Location: northeast of New Buffalo, MI (41.83450, -86.62438)
Length: 1 mile
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: September 2024
Overview: A short lollipop loop past large trees of many kinds.
Park Information: https://www2.dnr.state.mi.us/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=505&type=SPRK
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=972525
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming August 19)

Directions to the trailhead: In extreme southwest Michigan, take I-94 to Union Pier Road (exit 6).  Exit and go east on Union Pier Rd.  Union Pier Rd. becomes Elm Valley Road after the first intersection.  Drive east a total of 2.7 miles from I-94 to the signed park entrance on the left.  Turn left to enter the park and drive the narrow dirt road to the parking cul de sac at its end.  Park here.

The hike: Like the nearby much larger Warren Dunes State Park, Warren Woods State Park sits on land once owned by Edward Kirk Warren, a local industrialist and inventor.  The park consists of 311 acres that contain one of the last virgin beech/maple forests in Michigan.  The land is leased to the State of Michigan by private owners for use as a park; the park was established in 1949.

            While the woods lack the scenery of Lake Michigan's sand dunes at Warren Dunes State Park, they are nice woods that offer lots of serenity and solitude: I passed only 1 other person when I came here on a nice afternoon in mid September.  The park has no amenities other than a short trail system and a picnic table.  The hike described here forms a lollipop loop through the center of the park's best woods.

Trailhead area

            From the parking lot, walk through the wooden posts that are designed to block vehicle access and head north on the single track dirt trail.  Trails at Warren Woods State Park are unmarked, but the path was wide and obvious on my visit.  Immediately this park's appeal becomes obvious: you are surrounded by mature forest with large oak, silver maple, and beech trees.  Forests this old are rare in the eastern United States, so take your time as you hike to enjoy the surroundings.

Bridge over Galien River

            At 0.2 miles, you reach a wide area with benches and interpretive signs.  Continue straight to descend some wooden steps and cross the Galien River on a wooden bridge.  The Galien River looks like a large creek at this point.  The river follows a winding course with slow flow as it heads southwest toward Lake Michigan, which it empties into at nearby New Buffalo, MI.

Galien River

            After crossing the river, you reach the trail intersection that forms the trail system's main loop.  I chose to angle left and use the trail going right as my return route, thus hiking the loop clockwise.  The trail undulates gently through an area with slightly higher elevation as you pass some of the largest beech trees in this forest.  Thus, the spectacular woodland scenery continues.

Hiking through mature beech woods

Hiking along the Galien River

            0.4 miles into the hike, you reach another trail intersection just as the Galien River comes back into view on the right.  The trail going straight leads to another parking lot in the north end of the park, so you want to turn right to continue the loop and begin hiking south with the river to your left.  The riverside area contains more large trees, and some landslide areas can be seen across the river.  At 0.8 miles, you close the loop.  Turn left to re-cross the river and hike back out the entrance trail, thus returning to the trailhead and completing the hike.

Aztalan State Park (Blog Hike #1025)

Trails: (unnamed)
Hike Location: Aztalan State Park (43.06341, -88.86238)
Geographic Location: west of Johnson Creek, WI
Length: 1.4 miles
Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: September 2024
Overview: A loop hike around a village dating to 1000-1300 AD.
Park Information: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/aztalan
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=972445
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming April 24, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: Between Madison and Milwaukee, take I-94 to SR 26 (exit 267).  Exit and go south on SR 26.  Drive SR 26 south 0.8 miles to Milwaukee Street and turn right on Milwaukee St.  Milwaukee St. becomes Aztalan Street and then CR B as you drive west out of Johnson Creek.  Drive a total of 4.9 miles from SR 26 to CR Q and turn left on CR Q.  Drive CR Q south 0.3 miles to the signed park entrance on the left.  Turn left to enter the park and drive the main park road to the large parking lot at its end.  Park here.

The hike: When most people think of the ancient Middle Mississippian Mound Builders, they think of their amazing center they built at Cahokia Mounds across the Mississippi River from present-day St. Louis.  Yet the Mound Builders' civilization extended north through most of present-day Wisconsin, and around 900 A.D they settled along the Crawfish River in the southern part of the state.  Over the next 300 years the Middle Mississippian people built some of the largest pyramid/platform mounds in present-day Wisconsin, and they also built a stockade near the mounds by placing logs vertically into the ground.

            The site was abandoned between 1200 and 1300 A.D., possibly due to a mini ice age making food sourcing in Wisconsin difficult.  The ruins were discovered by Timothy Johnson in 1835, yet the land was still sold and farmed afterward.  The mounds and stockades that had stood the test of time for hundreds of years did not fare as well against the plow: the mounds were flattened and the stockades destroyed.

            In 1921, the Wisconsin Archaeological Society purchased a 3 acre plot of land that adjoined what remained of the stockade and contained 8 conical mounds.  In 1948, the Wisconsin State Legislature authorized the purchase of 120 acres that would constitute the main part of the site, and Aztalan State Park opened in 1952.  Today the mounds and stockade have been restored, and a system of hiking trails takes you through the site.  This hike forms a grand loop past all of the mounds and stockades, thus offering a thorough exploration of the ancient site.

Leaving the parking area

            Three mowed-grass trails leave from the main parking lot; you want to take the one in the middle that heads northeast to the "southeast mound," which is also known as the Gravel Knoll.  In fact, this "mound" is not a constructed mound but a naturally occurring kame deposited by retreating glaciers.  The kame still makes an interesting stop on your mound tour even though it represents natural history rather than human history.

Stairs to top of Southwest Mound

            To get from the kame to a real mound, turn left and head due west to the Southwest Mound, a 2-tier platform/pyramid mound.  Constructed wooden stairs lead to the top of the mound.  You can survey the entire site from the top of the Southwest Mound, which is this site's biggest mound.  Archaeologists think this mound had a large structure on its summit, and it was probably used for communal and ritual activities.  No evidence of burials have been found in this mound.  Also, notice the reconstructed stockade to the west; it is one of 2 such stockades in the park today.

View of Gravel Knoll from Southwest Mound

View of plaza to the north from Southwest Mound

            After taking in the view, descend to the base of the mound and head north following another mowed-grass trail that goes through the sunny prairie.  At 0.4 miles, you reach the Northwest Mound.  This mound is another platform mound.  Although it is smaller than the Southwest Mound, archaeological evidence indicates numerous burials in this mound compared to none at the previous mound.  There are no stairs or trails leading to the top of the Northwest Mound, and I do not recommend that you climb it.

Northwest Mound

            To continue your tour of the site, turn left and climb slightly to approach a secondary parking area that is very close to CR Q.  Before reaching the parking lot, turn right to begin hiking north along a row of conical mounds.  Archaeologists think these mounds were built to commemorate important events, and the row used to extend much further north than it does today.

Conical mound

            At 0.65 miles, you reach the park's north boundary and the highest elevation on this hike, which is about 70 vertical feet above the trailhead.  To begin your return route, turn right and descend steeply for a short distance along the north perimeter of the prairie.  Goldenrod was in full bloom in this prairie when I came here on a warm evening in mid-September, and the return route focuses more on this site's natural scenery than on its human history.

Crawfish River

            When you reach the exterior of the stockade, turn left to head for the Crawfish River, which you reach 1 mile into the hike.  The river was this site's original main entrance road, and down here you view the site the way ancient peoples would have approached it.  Turn right to begin hiking downstream with the river on your left.  Angle left when you reach the Gravel Knoll for a second time, and a short descent and climb returns you to the parking area to complete the hike.

Lizard Mound State Park (Blog Hike #1024)

Trails: (unnamed)
Hike Location: Lizard Mound State Park
Geographic Location: northeast of West Bend, WI (43.46402, -88.14055)
Length: 1.1 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: September 2024
Overview: A short, flat loop past many effigy mounds including the famous Lizard Mound.
Park Information: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/lizardmound
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=972355
Photo Highlight:

Short Video: (coming July 15)

Directions to the trailhead: From West Bend, take SR 144 north 3.7 miles to CR A.  Turn right on CR A.  The park entrance is 0.4 miles ahead on the right.  Turn right to enter the park, and park in the only parking lot.

The hike: Hundreds of years before the first European explorers arrived in America, the Mound Builder peoples lived a nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle across what is now the eastern United States.  The Mound Builders lived in societies that were highly organized for their era, and they built their characteristic mounds at numerous sites, many of which are protected today as state or national parks.  Wisconsin lies on the northern end of the Mound Builders' geographical range, and the Lizard Mound site is one of the best places in Wisconsin to view the Mound Builders' legacy.

            The historical value of the Lizard Mound site lies not so much in the size of the mounds as in their variety and quantity: at least 60 mounds of various shapes have been identified at this site.  The exact date and builders of the mounds remain unknown, but most experts think they were constructed between 650 and 1300 AD.  Some of the mounds were destroyed by farming before Washington County established the site as a county park in 1950: only 47 of the original 60+ mounds remain today.  The State of Wisconsin acquired the site in 1986, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

            True to a park established to preserve history, tiny 22-acre Lizard Mound State Park has limited amenities.  The park offers only a parking lot, some picnic tables, and a small interpretive center that gives you information about the mounds.  A limited system of unnamed and unmarked trails provides access to the mounds, and the hike described here takes you on a winding route designed to maximize your distance and your mound viewing.

Interpretive center

            Start by heading to the interpretive center.  To get there from the main parking lot, walk back out the park entrance road and angle left to reach the small picnic shelter-looking building.  Although many questions about these mounds remain unanswered, numerous signs give general information about effigy and burial mounds as well as specific information about this site.

Heading toward the mounds

            Armed with some knowledge about the mounds, next head for the mounds themselves by exiting the interpretive center to the south and walking between 2 ornamental metal fixtures that bear lizard-like shapes.  The first part of this hike goes through a sunny grassy area that is dotted with trees.  In general you want to turn right at each trail intersection to take the longest possible route through the mounds.

Passing a mound

            Quickly it becomes apparent that these mounds come in many shapes and sizes.  The first mound you pass on the left is a T-shaped mound that resembles a bird when viewed from above, while the next one is an elongated mound many experts think was meant to resemble a panther.  More ordinary conical and linear mounds are also passed.

Large panther mound

            At 0.3 miles, you pass a large panther mound that I originally thought was this site's signature lizard mound, but in fact the lizard mound sits just beyond and is signed.  This site has several panther, bird, conical, and linear mounds, but it only has 1 lizard mound.  You approach the lizard at its head, and the best vantage point looks over the lizard's front and back legs down its elongated tail.  A bench encourages you to sit, rest, and admire the unusually-shaped mound.

Lizard mound, looking toward the head

Lizard mound, looking toward the tail

            Past the lizard mound, the trail passes between a pair of panther mounds and enters a more heavily wooded area, where it will remain for the rest of the hike.  This area could be very buggy in the spring and summer, but bugs were not a problem when I hiked here in mid-September.  Many more conical and linear mounds are passed, and while no mound on this site is more than a couple feet high, all of them are interesting.

Conical mound in the woods

            The trail takes a serpentine course through the wooded eastern part of the park, and the persistently flat terrain might make you feel like you are hiking in circles.  Keep turning right at each trail intersection and keep following the trail.  Just shy of 1 mile, you reach an old hand water pump that probably dates to this land's agricultural days.  The main parking lot sits just to the right, thus signaling the end of the hike.

Kohler-Andrae State Park: The Cordwalk (Blog Hike #1023)

Trail: The Cordwalk
Hike Location: Kohler-Andrae State Park
Geographic Location: south of Sheboygan, WI (43.66733, -87.71630)
Length: 3 miles
Difficulty: 5/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: September 2024
Overview: A double out-and-back atop sand dunes along Lake Michigan.
Park Information: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/kohlerandrae
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=972356
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming July 18)

Directions to the trailhead: Just south of Sheboygan, take I-43 to CR V (exit 120).  Exit, go east, then quickly turn right to stay on CR V.  Where CR V ends in 1.9 miles, continue straight to enter the park.  Pay the entrance fee, then follow signs for the Sanderling Nature Center, where this hike begins.

The hike: Consisting of 988 acres on the shore of Lake Michigan, Kohler-Andrae State Park's hyphenated name stems from its 2 separate histories.  The park's southern 122 acres were originally known as Terry Andrae State Park, which was established in 1928.  Terry Andrae was the President of the Julius Andrae and Sons' Electric Supply Company in Milwaukee, and he built a second house on this property to take advantage of the scenic dunes overlooking Lake Michigan.  After Andrae died in 1927, his family donated the land to the State of Wisconsin to form the park that bore his name.

            In an unrelated event, in 1966 the Kohler Company donated 280 acres of land located immediately north of the existing park.  Rather than adding the land to Terry Andrae State Park as would be customary, the Kohler donation was formed into a new park called John Michael Kohler State Park to honor the company's founder.  Additional adjacent land acquisitions bring the area's size to the current total.  While the "park" is still officially 2 separate state parks, they are managed, maintained, and marketed as a single entity: Kohler-Andrae State Park.

            In 2023, the park was the 7th most visited state park in Wisconsin, and it offers some fantastic amenities including a 135-site developed campground, some picnic areas, and a nature center.  Yet the park's main attraction remains the same as it was in Andrae's day: the dunes overlooking Lake Michigan.  Several hiking trails explore the dunes, and this hike describes possibly the most famous trail in Wisconsin: the Kohler Cordwalk.  The Cordwalk features fantastic dune-top Lake Michigan scenery, but the Cordwalk's unusual construction makes the hiking much easier than walking in soft sand.  I came here on a warm sunny morning in mid-September, and I had a splendid, scenic, and memorable hike.

Trailhead for southern Cordwalk

            The Cordwalk can be accessed at 3 distinct points; I chose to start at the Sanderling Nature Center near the Cordwalk's midpoint because it is easy to find and has a large parking lot.  Pick up the Cordwalk as it heads southeast from the parking lot.  A large sign that says "Kohler Dunes State Natural Area" marks this trailhead.

Hiking the Cordwalk

            Immediately the wonder of the dunes becomes apparent.  The soft sand dunes are mostly covered by green grass and shrubs with an occasional cluster of trees, while azure blue Lake Michigan can be seen and heard to your left.  The wind is your near constant companion.  Plenty of benches encourage you to rest and take in the scenery, but there is minimal shade on this hike.  Be prepared for the sun and warmth of the sand dunes.

Sunny Cordwalk bench

            The Cordwalk heads the general direction of south, but it meanders and undulates in seemingly random and endless twists and turns and ups and downs.  In some places you can see the construction of this unique trail surface.  Boards laid perpendicular to your route are strung together by 2 cables or cords that pass through holes drilled in the boards.  Some of the boards are loose and uneven, so you have to step a little carefully.  Nonetheless, hiking this trail surface is many times easier than hiking in soft sand as required at other Lake Michigan dunes hikes such as Warren Dunes or Indiana Dunes.

The Cordwalk's trail surface

            Several "spur Cordwalks" exit right or left from the main Cordwalk.  The spurs going left lead down to the beach beside Lake Michigan, while the spurs going right lead to inland wetland overlooks or the group camp.  You may not want to take each of these spur trails, but you should take a couple of them to see the dunes, lake, and surrounding areas from a different perspective.  Large numbers of gulls were sitting on the beach when I hiked down to the lake.

Gulls along Lake Michigan

            At 0.85 miles, you reach the south end of the Cordwalk and Parking Lot #5.  The main campground lies south of here, but there are no other trails that lead to this parking lot.  Thus, you want to turn around and hike the Cordwalk back north to the Sanderling Nature Center.  If you want to add a little variety to your return route, you can take a short spur of the Cordwalk called the Creeping Juniper Nature Trail.  This spur goes further inland than the trail you hiked southbound, and it takes you through one of the largest clusters of white pines among the sand dunes.

Hiking the Cordwalk northbound

            2.1 miles into the hike, you arrive back at the Sanderling Nature Center parking lot to complete the southern part of the Cordwalk.  If you are getting tired you can head home now, but why not see the northern part of the Cordwalk too?  Make it so by heading north out of the parking lot at another large sign for the Kohler Dunes State Natural Area.

North trailhead at Sanderling Nature Center

White pine cluster

            The northern part of the Cordwalk offers more of the same hiking and more of the same scenery, and thus the experience remains sublime.  A large cluster of white pines offers welcome shade and coolness just before you reach the Cordwalk's northern terminus at Parking Lot #2.  A spur trail leads right to the pet beach area along Lake Michigan, but no other trails depart this parking lot.  Thus, retracing your steps south returns you to the Sanderling Nature Center for a second time at 3 miles to complete the hike.