Moraine Prairie Loop

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors

The trail runs the through the Valparaiso Moraine providing varied terrain, sections of woodlands, and a great tall grass prairie. Excellent for birding, wildflowers, and fall colors.

Getting to the preserve can be confusing. Once you turn onto Meska Road (750N) from Calumet Avenue, the parking lot is approximately one mile down the road. At the half-mile mark, there is a junction with 250E. Stay straight (it looks like you should veer right. There are no signs. At the one-mile mark, take the gravel road to the left to the parking lot. This is at the edge of the prairie.

This one-mile loop is flat and fast with very good footing. The trail is very well maintained. Many local cross-country teams use this loop for interval training.

From the parking lot, take the trailhead that goes out the east side of the parking lot under the power lines. You are almost immediately faced with a trail junction. Stay left. Shortly after the trail junction, the trail will turn to the right into the forest. This is a very nice section of trail that winds through mature forests. The trail is extremely easy to follow. The trail will emerge onto the prairie. Just before the road, take a right and follow the trail though the prairie back to the parking lot.

The preserve is very well maintained in terms of biodiversity and the lack of invasive species. The mature forests have a great canopy and very little understory. The prairie is gorgeous with wildflowers.

The Moraine Nature Preserve is State Nature Preserve and protects over 800 acres of forested moraine. It protects a diverse landscape of ravines, rolling hills, lakes, and potholes left over from the last ice age.