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.