InterpretiveServices.IN.gov.
coolers inside cars or campers. campers. or cars inside coolers For a complete list of rules and regulations, inquire at park office. park at inquire regulations, and rules of list complete a For
Friends of Potato Creek. For more information, see information, more For Creek. Potato of Friends
a danger to themselves. Please lock up all food and and food all up lock Please themselves. to danger a
Potato Creek’s facilities and programs, join the the join programs, and facilities Creek’s Potato
on handouts become a nuisance to park visitors and and visitors park to nuisance a become handouts on
If you would like to help support and enhance enhance and support help to like would you If
harm to both animals and people. Animals who depend depend who Animals people. and animals both to harm
their sites between these hours. these between sites their
BECOME A PARK VOLUNTEER. PARK A BECOME
is prohibited. Feeding of all wild animals can result in in result can animals wild all of Feeding prohibited. is
in the park, except campers and cabin guests using using guests cabin and campers except park, the in
Please let wild animals remain wild. remain animals wild let Please Feeding wildlife wildlife Feeding
Park is closed from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. No one is allowed allowed is one No a.m. 7 to p.m. 11 from closed is Park •
from the property manager. property the from
today’s park visitors and for future generations to enjoy. to generations future for and visitors park today’s
Labor Day and Memorial Day with written permission permission written with Day Memorial and Day Labor
homes for a wide array of other wildlife and plants for for plants and wildlife other of array wide a for homes
Metal detectors are allowed on main beach between between beach main on allowed are detectors Metal •
Potato Creek’s varied natural communities also provide provide also communities natural varied Creek’s Potato
Snowmobiles are prohibited. are Snowmobiles some part of their life cycle. cycle. life their of part some
All motorized vehicles shall remain on paved roadway. roadway. paved on remain shall vehicles motorized All • designation is bestowed on areas critical to birds during during birds to critical areas on bestowed is designation
PLEASE STAY ON MARKED TRAILS. MARKED ON STAY PLEASE
Report lost or found articles to the park office. park the to articles found or lost Report • an Important Bird Area (IBA) in 2006. This international international This 2006. in (IBA) Area Bird Important an
recommended. variety of natural habitats, Potato Creek was named as as named was Creek Potato habitats, natural of variety water is tested regularly for purity. for regularly tested is water
ers should walk in the opposite direction. Helmets Helmets direction. opposite the in walk should ers pean settlers arrived in the 1830s. Because of the rich rich the of Because 1830s. the in arrived settlers pean hydrants or fountains provided for that purpose. This This purpose. that for provided fountains or hydrants
ers should ride in the direction indicated and hik- and indicated direction the in ride should ers what was recorded as being here before the rst Euro- rst the before here being as recorded was what Drinking water should be taken only from pumps, pumps, from only taken be should water Drinking •
Potato Creek State Park. For increased safety, bik- safety, increased For Park. State Creek Potato This blend of wetlands, prairies and forests re ects ects re forests and prairies wetlands, of blend This
by the Department of Natural Resources. Natural of Department the by
Northern Indiana Mountain Bike Association and and Association Bike Mountain Indiana Northern favored location for beavers. for location favored
Swimming is limited to places and times designated designated times and places to limited is Swimming •
Developed through a partnership between the the between partnership a through Developed preserve also has several unusual plants and is a a is and plants unusual several has also preserve
only in designated areas. designated in only
MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL BIKE MOUNTAIN BEGINNERS (7.4 miles)— (7.4 BEGINNERS this wetland and ows into Worster Lake. The nature nature The Lake. Worster into ows and wetland this
Motorists shall observe posted speed limits, and park park and limits, speed posted observe shall Motorists •
become a wetland. A scenic small stream originates in in originates stream small scenic A wetland. a become
through forests. through
in receptacles provided for that purpose. that for provided receptacles in
means that a lake has slowly, over hundreds of years, years, of hundreds over slowly, has lake a that means
bed, and then onto at land passing wetlands and and wetlands passing land at onto then and bed,
in all day-use areas. Overnight guests shall put waste waste put shall guests Overnight areas. day-use all in
section, offers a look at the eutrophic process. This This process. eutrophic the at look a offers section,
winds up and down wooded hills, above the creek creek the above hills, wooded down and up winds
Please comply with the Carry In/Carry Out trash policy policy trash Out In/Carry Carry the with comply Please •
Swamp Rose Nature Preserve, located in the northeast northeast the in located Preserve, Nature Rose Swamp at boat rental and ends near Tulip Poplar shelter. It It shelter. Poplar Tulip near ends and rental boat at
Fires shall be built only in designated places. places. designated in only built be shall Fires •
life, including songbirds, raccoon, fox, coyote and turkey. and coyote fox, raccoon, songbirds, including life, BICYCLE TRAIL TRAIL BICYCLE MODERATE (3.3 miles)—Trail starts starts miles)—Trail (3.3 MODERATE
are the spring wild ower displays and a variety of wild- of variety a and displays ower wild spring the are youth groups permitted in the family campground. family the in permitted groups youth
and rejoins the end of Trail 1. Trail of end the rejoins and
hardwood forests. Among the highlights of the forests forests the of highlights the Among forests. hardwood Camping is permitted only in the campground. No No campground. the in only permitted is Camping •
Road along the lake. Cuts through a young woods woods young a through Cuts lake. the along Road
Other areas of the park are being allowed to grow into into grow to allowed being are park the of areas Other
partment of Natural Resources is prohibited. is Resources Natural of partment at Nature Center following Trail 1 on old Peppermint Peppermint old on 1 Trail following Center Nature at
display. display.
Vending or advertising without permission of the De- the of permission without advertising or Vending • PEPPERMINT LOOP TRAIL TRAIL LOOP PEPPERMINT EASY (.9 mile)—Starts mile)—Starts (.9 EASY
meadows put on a colorful late summer ower and grass grass and ower summer late colorful a on put meadows
on a leash no longer than 6 feet. 6 than longer no leash a on
three wetland observation decks. observation wetland three
will be maintained by periodic controlled burning. These These burning. controlled periodic by maintained be will
Dogs and cats must be attended at all times and kept kept and times all at attended be must cats and Dogs •
FRIENDS WETLAND TRAIL TRAIL WETLAND FRIENDS EASY (.75 mile)—Passes mile)—Passes (.75 EASY
Creek landscape through plantings. The prairie areas areas prairie The plantings. through landscape Creek
an activity authorized by written permit. written by authorized activity an
woods. Native prairie also is being returned to the Potato Potato the to returned being is also prairie Native
within a vehicle, except when owner is participating in in participating is owner when except vehicle, a within
6. 6. EASY (.5 mile)—Short loop passes wetland and and wetland passes loop mile)—Short (.5 EASY during spring and fall bird migrations. bird fall and spring during
unloaded or un-nocked and stored in a case or locked locked or case a in stored and un-nocked or unloaded
Has small wetland observation deck. observation wetland small Has Worster Lake. These areas abound in wildlife, especially especially wildlife, in abound areas These Lake. Worster
or spear gun in possession in a state park must be be must park state a in possession in gun spear or
5.
EASY (1 mile)—Rolling trail cuts through old elds. elds. old through cuts trail mile)—Rolling (1 EASY a square mile of the park is covered by wetlands and and wetlands by covered is park the of mile square a
2
BB gun, air gun, CO gun, air gun, BB gun, bow and arrow, paint gun gun paint arrow, and bow gun,
marshes, swamps and beaver ponds. Today, more than than more Today, ponds. beaver and swamps marshes,
farm sites. farm
Any rearm (except lawfully possessed handguns), handguns), possessed lawfully (except rearm Any •
types include saturated soil sedge meadows, shallow shallow meadows, sedge soil saturated include types through beech-maple woods, past the lake and old old and lake the past woods, beech-maple through
they rebuild the natural humus. natural the rebuild they
habitat for a variety of plants and wildlife. The wetland wetland The wildlife. and plants of variety a for habitat 4. 4. MODERATE (2.5 miles)—Scenic path along stream stream along path miles)—Scenic (2.5 MODERATE
or trees (either deatd or alive) for rewood because because rewood for alive) or deatd (either trees or Several areas are being restored to provide valuable valuable provide to restored being are areas Several
forest and down to lake observation deck. deck. observation lake to down and forest
ower, bird or wild animal. Do NOT gather limbs, brush brush limbs, gather NOT Do animal. wild or bird ower, presettlement days of the early 1800s. early the of days presettlement
ing Worster Lake, passing through beech-maple beech-maple through passing Lake, Worster ing
Do not injure or damage any structure, rock, tree, tree, rock, structure, any damage or injure not Do •
goal is to re-create conditions resembling those of the the of those resembling conditions re-create to is goal
3. 3. MODERATE (1 mile)—Travels along ridge overlook- ridge along mile)—Travels (1 MODERATE
RULES AND REGULATIONS AND RULES park’s natural areas, such as its natural wetlands. The The wetlands. natural its as such areas, natural park’s
to highest point in park. in point highest to
ing efforts seek to restore and maintain some of the the of some maintain and restore to seek efforts ing
or Trail 4. Winds through woods, up and down hills, hills, down and up woods, through Winds 4. Trail or
program started at Potato Creek. The program’s ongo- program’s The Creek. Potato at started program
2. 2. RUGGED (2.0 miles)—Accessed either from Trail 1 1 Trail from either miles)—Accessed (2.0 RUGGED its natural condition for the public’s use and enjoyment. and use public’s the for condition natural its
In the early 1990s an active resource management management resource active an 1990s early the In
established, namely, to preserve a primitive landscape in in landscape primitive a preserve to namely, established, hickory forest. Returns to Nature Center area. Center Nature to Returns forest. hickory
area became a park. park. a became area
designed to ful ll the purpose for which state parks were were parks state which for purpose the ll ful to designed passing through old elds and maple and oak- and maple and elds old through passing
by decades of farming and other land uses before the the before uses land other and farming of decades by
1. 1. MODERATE (2.2 miles)—Skirts Worster Lake, Lake, Worster miles)—Skirts (2.2 MODERATE are which rules, following the observe shall Visitors variety of natural areas. Most were drastically altered altered drastically were Most areas. natural of variety
DESCRIPTION OF TRAILS OF DESCRIPTION PARK YOUR IS THIS facilities that Potato Creek offers, visitors will nd a a nd will visitors offers, Creek Potato that facilities
ACTIVITIES AND FACILITIES electricity. Reservations for all shelters are available Indiana Department of Natural Resources BICYCLING—There is both a 3.3-mile paved trail with through the Central Reservation System. some hilly and curvy stretches and a 7.4-mile beginner- SWIMMING—Free beach, which has a handicapped ac- level mountain bike trail. Standard bicycle rentals are cessible area. Bathhouse and beach open Saturday before available, or visitors may bring their own bicycle. Hel- Memorial Day and no later than Labor Day. Lockers available POTATO mets recommended on mountain bike trail. for a 25-cent fee. Conditions may require beach closing be- BOATS, CANOES, PADDLEBOATS, KAYAKS & fore Labor Day. East end of beach is available as a dog beach. CREEK TROLLING MOTORS—For rental by day or hour. The TELEPHONE—Public booth in the family campground, boat rental is handicapped accessible. Private boats or general store and office. In emergencies, call 911. STATE PARK sailboats may be launched only at the boat launches.
Only electric trolling motors, powered by no more than CENTRAL RESERVATION SYSTEM INDIANA two 12-volt batteries, or hand propulsion, is allowed. A Reservations for all types of camping, family mooring area is available for a nominal fee. cabins, and shelters at state parks, reservoirs CAMP. CAMPING—Campground is equipped with ush toilets, CENTRAL RESERVATION SYSTEM and forests can be made online or by calling hot water, showers and electricity. Occupancy is limited toll-free. to 14 consecutive nights. Sites accommodate six people. Online: camp.IN.gov No water or sewage hookups. Tent and trailer sites, and a Call: 1-866-6campIN dumping station and water lling station are available. A (1-866-622-6746) separate horsemen’s campground is available. Reserva- Reservations for the Indiana State Park Inns and tions are available through the Central Reservation System. Inn-operated cabins can be made online or by CAMP STORE—Open May through October. calling toll-free. CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING—Cross-country ski equip- Reservations: 1-877-lodges1 ment is not provided. There are more than 8 miles of (1-877-563-4371) groomed trails when snow-covered. Tubing, sledding Online: IndianaInns.com and ice shing are also available. FOR MORE INFORMATION FAMILY CABINS—Open year-round. No pets allowed. Write: Potato Creek State Park Cabins accommodate eight people. There are two 25601 State Road 4 Native Americans once collected plants bedrooms, a bath, kitchen, dining area and screened P.O. Box 908 with potato-like roots on this area’s creek porch. Cabins are rented Saturday to Saturday, mid-June North Liberty, IN 46554 banks. The early settlers’ English translation through mid-August, although two consecutive-night for the name those people gave that plant Call: (574) 656-8186 rentals can be made 30 days in advance if available. was “wild potato,” hence the name “Potato” Online: dnr.IN.gov Friday and Saturday or Saturday and Sunday nights Creek. must be rented together the rest of the year. Pots and Darcy Worster and fellow conservation pans provided. Occupancy limited to 14 consecutive SPECIAL NOTE club members rst proposed a man-made nights. Reservations are available through the Central Receipts from admission and service charges are used to help reservoir on Potato Creek in the late 1930s. Reservation System. defray the operation and maintenance costs of the lake. List of fees Their project was halted by World War II. available in the lake office. FISHING—Bass, bluegill, etc. State license required; Worster kept that dream alive by sending The programs, services, facilities, and activities of the Indiana his hand-crafted insects to state officials to 14-inch minimum bass limit. Department of Natural Resources are available to everyone. DNR HORSE TRAILS—For owners of horses (no rentals prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, “bug” them about creating a park. His efforts available). Trails begin at horsemen’s campground. age, sex, or disability. If you believe that you have been discriminated succeeded when the area was designated Horses permitted only on bridle trails. against in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or if to become a park in 1969. you desire further information please write to: Department of Natural Potato Creek State Park, which is 3 miles INTERPRETIVE NATURALIST SERVICE—Explore Resources, Executive Office, 402 W. Washington Street, W256, east of North Liberty on State Road 4, the world of natural resources while enjoying interpre- Indianapolis, IN 46204, (317) 232-4020. became a reality on June 6, 1977, when tive and recreational programs. Full-time naturalist on the 6-square-mile (3,840-acre) area was duty at the Nature Center. Program schedules available Please carry out all trash you produce formally dedicated. The park’s 327-acre at InterpretiveServices.IN.gov or (574) 656-8186. in order to keep your park clean and beautiful for others to enjoy! Worster Lake is named for Potato Creek’s
PICNIC AREAS—Tables, grills, toilet facilities, playground 1/6/2015 clever early supporter. equipment, play elds, and picnic shelters equipped with Subscribe to Outdoor Indiana magazine, OutdoorIndiana.org or (317) 233-3046. In addition to the many recreational CT PL 256 0 Mt . Friends T Bi c R P O CT PL B 5 6 4 Bi k 1 2 3 3 2 1 (5 7 AIL y Peppermint Loop Connectors Boundary Mt. Bike Trail Bicycle Trail Horse Trail Hiking Trail Road c le e 1 State Road 4 • P 4) 656-8 1 beautiful for others to enjoy. in order to keep your clean and park out all trash you Please carry produce T MILE A T A L R 3.35 2.8 3.3 2.5 .75 2.5 2.2 1 .4 7. E .9 .5 .5 AIL Indianapolis L 1 1 2 .5 GEND O GE T • C T • Park State Creek Potato A MR VT ABLE O CREEK S ä 0.0 86 3,840 TION MAP Mileage Marker Modern Restroom Accessible Telephone Preserve Nature Vault Toilet T Easy Easy Beginners Moderate Bridle Trail Bridle Trail Bridle Trail Easy Easy Easy Easy Moderate Moderate Rugged Moderate R
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