Pokagon state park hiking trails provide the best possible way to explore the beauty of pokagon, with over 13 miles of hiking trails rest assured you are going to enjoy exploring nature.
POKAGON STATE PARK TRAILS
Explore Pokagon on foot via over 13 miles of hiking trails, or easily get around the park using the paved bicycle/accessible trail. Please stay on marked trails.
pokagon state park Hiking Trails
Pokagon State Park has 13.7 miles of hiking trails through diverse terrain. Trails are open from dawn to dusk. Hikers must be off the trails before dusk
Trail 1
2 miles, Moderate difficulty
This trail from the Inn goes past the Nature Center to the Apple Orchard picnic area through hardwood forest. It crosses the road at a bridge, continues as the bicycle trail to the Saddle Barn, and back to the Inn. A good trail for woodland birds and spring flowers.
Trail 2
2.2 miles, Moderate difficulty
Trail begins on the main park road near the gatehouse, goes through rolling land, past Spring shelter, through hardwood forest, and terminates at Campground 1
Trail 3
2.2 miles, Moderate difficulty
An interesting trail leading through Potawatomi Nature Preserve, with varied habitats of marsh land, deep hardwood forests, pines, and sand hills. Hikers enjoy a panoramic view of the area from the trail overlook at Hell’s Point. The trail then returns to Potawatomi Inn.
Trail 4
1.4 miles, Easy
The trail begins near the gatehouse (with Trail 2) and extends to Trail 5 through campgrounds near the amphitheatre. A variety of habitats is offered in pine trees, hardwood forest, and rolling land.
Trail 5
0.7 mile, Easy
The trail begins near Campground 1 and goes past the Group Camp to the beach. Passing through deep woods, this is a good trail to observe birds and spring flowers.
Trail 6
0.7 miles, Moderate difficulty
The trail goes through primitive area, including swamp. It begins and ends on Trail 3. A good trail for observing marshland plants and animals.
Trail 7
1.8 miles, Moderate difficulty
The trail starts just below Hell’s Point on Trail 3 and makes a large loop before returning to the starting point. It is mostly open, rolling hills of grasslands that support native prairie plants typical of the land before it was farmed. Restored wetlands among the hills provide homes for many species that prefer this habitat.
Trail 8
1 mile, Moderate difficulty
This trail leaves Trail 3 just west of Hell’s Point and heads north, crosses a county road, and traverses open, rolling hills, which are being managed to return to meadowlands. A spur trail leaves park property and connects with the loop trail in the nearby ACRES Land Trust property, Beechwood Nature Preserve.
Trail 9
1.7 miles, Rugged
This trail leaves Trail 3 and goes east through wooded swamps and young forests. It touches the former site of the “Pokagon Motel” on State Road 127, near I-69, passes by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)-built stone dams, and returns to Trail 3.
Mindfulness Trail
1.5 mile, Moderate difficulty
Start at the Inn parking lot (northeast corner) at Trail 3. Follow signs to Lake Lonidaw. Return and turn left, heading out on the boardwalk. At Trail 6, turn right. After completing Trail 6, you’ll come to Trail 3. Turn left and proceed back to the Inn parking lot. There are 6 spots along the way to stop and practice mindfulness habits.
Check at the nature center for the Hell's Point hiking challenge
At the nature center you can fulfill the hiking challenge and earn a Souvenir. It is called the Hell’s Point Challenge.
Pokagon State Park is a beautiful and serene place, perfect for a nature hike… that is, until you reach Hell’s Point. The moderate to rugged 8-mile hiking challenge will take you up 84 stairs to Pokagon’s highest peak, where you will be rewarded with a stunning view… of more stairs. But the view from Pokagon’s highest point is worth the 758 steps it took to get there, especially when you can now say you’ve completed the Pokagon stair challenge. Just don’t forget to take plenty of water, because the last place to fill up your bottles is at the Spring Shelter! Pokagon State Park: come for the scenery, stay for the cardio.
The sites to photograph for the challenge correspond to numbers on the Park Map & Brochure:
1- County Rd. Bridge
2- Spring Shelter
3- Wetland View
4- Hell’s Point
5- CCC Dams
6- Lake Lonidaw
Bicycle trail
Pokagon State Park boasts a 1.6 mile, paved bicycle/accessible trail that connects the campgrounds, Nature Center, Saddle Barn, Inn and park entrances. It makes getting around the Pokagon State Park very quick and easy.
Bring your own bike, or rent one at Potawatomi Inn. The Pokagon State Park biking trails are a great way to see the sights and sounds of Pokagon State Park.
