Another check mark on my list of visiting Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy preserves. On a…read morebeautiful December day, we ventured to Marcellus (Cass County) to explore the diverse woodlands and wetlands of Spirit Springs Sanctuary, a 124-acre preserve owned by the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy (SWMLC). It was named Spirit Springs in part because of the surface stream and groundwater seeps on the site, but also because it is a place that lends itself well to peaceful reflection and the renewal of mind, body and spirit. Classic glacial topography of the preserve features rolling woodlands that surround a 7-acre pond and borders 65 acres of spring-fed wetlands. A small creek connects the pond and wetlands. The mixed trees and evergreen woods are punctuated by openings where prairie plants grow. The wetlands include a swamp. I need to return in the spring or summer to see the wide array of plant communities. A network of maintained trails provides access to the various areas of the preserve. Come prepared for walking woodland trails and perhaps some wet areas. The trails are well marked and are relatively easy to moderate. It was a great day to be outside to enjoy SW Michigan's nature.

The staff are friendly and courteous. We love renting canoes from them and plan to do it every…read moresummer when we're in the area. And The St. Joseph river is a lovely route for a day on the water, communing with nature.

We rented canoes and kayaks for a paddle from Sturgeon Lake down St. Joe river to En Gedi. It was…read morea fantastic experience! The boats were completely clean and in great shape. We had a fun ride to the lake where we were dropped off and headed out. The river was quiet, wide and relaxing. We swam at a more shallow spot. There weren't very many houses on this stretch of river. We went out in the morning and there weren't many others on the river. It was a little over two hours. There are several other drop off/ pick up options that are both shorter or longer. We will definitely be back to try the longer options.

This isn't really as much a business as it is a beautiful nature preserve in LaGrange County…read more In the spring, the caretakers tap the trees and make maple syrup with a weekend full of sugaring and education and lots of pancakes! This is a great experience for the family and the only place I will get my maple syrup in Indiana!

I stopped here for a short visit. The visitor center was closed and I didn't have time to explore…read morethe trails. What I noticed is that it has many native plant species and it is a small forest oasis in the middle of agriculture lands.

I rode the trail from Shipshewana to Middlebury recently. There is plenty of parking near the…read moretrailhead, and the trail is in great condition. The scenery includes shady stretches with a dense tree canopy and purple flowers and many open views of farms. It is heavily used by the Amish and you'll see horses pulling plows and buggies all along the way. The town of Middlebury has a quilt mural. Just before town, you can visit the Krider "World's Fair " Garden. You can ride uphill alongside the main road to get to Essenhaus where there are shops and a beautiful covered bridge, or stay on the Pumpkinville trail and turn onto the Ridge Run Trail. I look forward to riding the other segments of the Pumpkinville trail in the future.

On very short notice this campground helped us find amazing spots! The lake is wonderful and we got…read moreright by the play ground , my kids have never been so happy! The front desk was the friendliest lady I've ever met, and endured our crazy big family with such grace and understanding.

My friends and I stayed in the West Bunkhouse. It was not that clean and the furnishings were from…read morethe 60's and very uncomfortable. We rented a pontoon boat ($120) for the day. It was awful and not safe, so we asked for our money back. We were told only $100 would be refunded because of fees and they had to turn people away. That's not true because we saw people on the same boat we had rented at 8:00am. On Sunday after we had cleaned the bunkhouse and did everything on the list posted on the wall, we took the key back to the office and asked for the key deposit back which was $50. We were told to wait while a lady went to check the bunkhouse we had stayed in. We were kept waiting for 20 minutes and when she returned she told us we would not be getting our key deposit back because there was food on the walls and we didn't wipe things down. Nothing could be further from the truth! So I would like to warn anyone that is thinking about staying in one of the bunkhouses....DONT! You won't get your money back because they are running a scam.

This is a hidden treasure not 10 minutes off Interstate 80. Sites are 20' wide & long enough for…read morethe larger RV. Brand new electrical boxes & a fresh new bath house facility. Quiet & friendly park. Weekly activities, & close to Shipshewana.

If you know me, then you also know that I'm an avid trail user in Indiana and one of my very…read morefavorite trails in our state is Elkhart County's Pumpkinvine Trail, a trail that is adjacent to this lovely park in Goshen, Indiana. Abshire Park is the second largest park in Goshen. The land was donated to the Parks and Recreation Department in 1986 and encompasses about 75.5 acres. Abshire Park was developed to accommodate primarily passive and interpretive programs along with passive recreational opportunities. It is accessible from the Pumpkinvine Trail. The north end of the park is a managed natural area and includes a prairie restoration, wet lands, and a traditional forest. Rock Run Creek borders the park to the southwest. Abshire Cabin is located at the park - a rentable enclosed pavilion. While most restroom facilities in Goshen are April-October, Abshire Cabin has available restrooms year-round. Abshire Cabin is noted as having an official capacity of 30 people. Rental is $200 (plus tax) with a $100 deposit. It is largely accessible and ideal for small socials or professional meetings, kitchen area, tables and chairs, access to tubing hill, cross country skiing and more. Not for profit rates available Monday - Thursday with copy of non-profit certificate. As noted, this is a fairly laid back park without a lot of hardcore amenities. While it's a well used park, the times I've been here I certainly wouldn't call it a busy park. I've nearly always used it as a rest place during my Pumpkinvine trail use. If you've never experienced the Maple City Greenway trails, I highly recommend them. If you go on the Pumpkinvine, there's a good chance you're also going to experience wildlife, amazing plant life, and probably some of the area's Amish community.

Great park with wonderful hilly green spaces. The cabin is quant and has a lofted area with a low…read moreceiling. I attended a wonderful birthday party for my granddaughter. Great time and the functional kitchen would easily serve up any meal to a crowd that could swell to 50! Seating is good for a crowd of 15-20 people. Nice! Good job Goshen Parks department. I will certainly rent this for a gathering.

Rode the Pumpkinvine Trail from Goshen to Shipshewana and back to Goshen. We stopped for lunch in…read moreMiddlebury and hit the bakery in Shipshewana for a snack. Several interesting food options in Middlebury and lots of Amish shops in Shipshewana. The trail is well maintained and smooth with a mix of crushed stone and paved sections. It's largely wooded, shady, and shielded from the wind. It's mostly flat. I was there on a Saturday and there was plenty of traffic on the trail, but no congestion. Lots of Amish and Mennonites on the trail on a nice late summer day.

I traveled the Pumpkinvine Trail as part of my 25th Anniversary Tenderness Tour, a wheelchair tour…read moreof Northern Indiana raising awareness and funds on behalf of organizations working to break the cycle of child abuse/domestic violence. Among the several trails that I traveled over the course of my 13 days, the Pumpkinvine was perhaps my favorite as it weaved together an absolutely beautiful trail, cultural relevance, friendly people, and the great diversity of nature. Depending upon whom you speak with, the Pumpkinvine either starts in Elkhart's Ox Bow Park Goshen's Abshire Park. However, the Pumpkinvine website (http://pumpkinvine.org) documents the trail beginning in Elkhart and a sign at the end of the trail at County Road 850 (just about .6 miles from Shipshewana) documents your distance at 26.3 miles for completing the entire trail. If you've caught on that the trail is in the heart of Elkhart County and moves on into the edges of LaGrange County, then it shouldn't be a surprise that the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail is frequented by members of the area's Amish community who mostly use the trail utilizing bicycles as horses are forbidden on the trail. As I wheeled the entire trail from Elkhart to the end near Shipshewana, I repeatedly encountered members of the Amish community who were likely out enjoying one of the area's last decent days before the Fall chills arrive. The trail is certainly not exclusive to the Amish community and this happened to be one of the few trails where I encountered people from beginning to end even on a day that it drizzled or rained pretty much all day (including a very brief period of snow). The entire trail is paved asphalt with the exception of a 1.75 mile section that includes some country road travel that is comprised of packed limestone. This particular section, as well, is the only section that might prove to be a bit of a challenge for some folks with a mobility impairment. It's lightly traveled by vehicles, but it's a little more uneven and vehicles and buggies do travel on it. That said, my very minor concerns about it aren't enough for me to dock the Pumpkinvine a star (NOTE: IF a 1/2 star were an option, I might go 4.5). For those familiar with the trail's history, it's noteworthy that the beauty of the trail doesn't quite reveal how controversial it was when it was first being developed and how much certain landowners fought the planned usage and, to this day, hang out their "no trespassing signs" along the path to ensure no one stumbles off the trail onto their land. While I encountered no negativity along the route, there was no question that this impacted the ambience just a slight bit. The trail also has brochures that will tell you about various historical places along the trail including information regarding Chief Shipshewana and nearby Amish landmarks including a schoolhouse right off the trail. While the Amish on the whole can be a bit distant, you probably would be too if you were treated as a tourist attraction, I found them to be friendly and personable throughout my 26 mile ride and their presence adds a uniqueness to this trail you simply don't find anywhere else. Motorized vehicles, with the exception of motorized wheelchairs, aren't allowed on the trail. Bicycles, walkers, runners, and wheelers are encouraged. The trail holds events at various times throughout the year and I believe there's even a season for cross-country skiing being allowed. That's probably not in the Summer, eh? There are places to park along the trail especially as you reach the towns of Elkhart, Goshen, Middlebury, and Shipshewana. Being in a wheelchair, it is definitely worth noting that I ran over a TON of cherry pits. While this didn't do any damage to the chair, it may be possible during the Fall season that hitting a pit the wrong way could potentially slice a tire. It's a fairly light risk, but it's worth noting. Among the many beautiful trails I've traveled over the past couple weeks, it's pretty hard to top Elkhart/LaGrange County's beautiful and well kept Pumpkinvine Nature Trail.