MITCHELL – Celebrate Walking Week April 1-7 with a lineup of hikes to kick off spring in our State Parks. Spring Mill State Park, the Friends of Spring Mill State Park, and the Bedford Hiking Club are partnering on a series of walks.
Teena Ligman, President of Friends of Spring Mill State Park, said there will be a different hike each of the seven days of various lengths, over different terrain, and at other times of the day to have something for everyone.
“We want people to get outside, start walking, and then keep walking for the rest of the year. Ideally, we’d like to see people make walking outdoors a part of their lives.”
Walking Week has been celebrated since 2007 and provides social opportunities and benefits to physical health, including heart, joints, movement, mental stimulation, and mitigation of the impacts of aging.
All but one of the hikes will be in Spring Mill State Park (SMSP). That hike is in the nearby town of Mitchell.
The hike includes a Volkswalk. Volkswalks are a German tradition that American soldiers brought back to America. Literally translated as people’s walk, they feature interesting routes through natural or historical/cultural areas. People who regularly do Volkswalks keep books to track their mileage and may travel around the country or even different continents for Volkswalks. Learn about and join this unique walking sport.
The schedule for the week is:
Monday, April 1, 3 p.m.: Meet Naturalist Jill Lutes at the Grissom Memorial parking area to hike Trail 6. (1/4 mile)
Monday, April 1, 5:30 p.m.: Meet the Bedford Hiking Club at Friendship Park on Main Street in Mitchell (Main and 7th Streets) to hike the Blue Jacket Trail with them (2.6 miles). The Bedford Hiking Club does weekly walks. This is an opportunity to meet the group and maybe start a new weekly walking routine with them in exciting places.
Tuesday, April 2, 10:00 a.m.: Meet Volunteer Tony Earl at the Tulip Poplar Shelterhouse to hike Trail 7 and the Stagecoach Trail. (2 1/4 miles)
Wednesday, April 3 at 9:00 a.m.: Meet Naturalist Jill Lutes near the restrooms at the Donaldson Shelter Parking Lot to hike Trail 4. (2 miles)
Thursday, April 4 at 1:00 p.m.: Meet Volunteer Teena Ligman at the Twin Caves Parking Lot for a hike on Trail 3 (2. 5 miles)
Friday, April 5 – 10 a.m.: Meet Volunteers John and Andrea Castrale at the Spring Mill pool parking lot to hike the scenic two miles on the Mountain Bike Trail.
Saturday, April 6, 10:00 a.m.: Members from the Bedford Hiking Club will lead two groups on the Spring Mill Volkswalk. 10K (6.2 miles) and 5K (3.1 miles) hikes will be offered. Meet at the Twin Cave Parking Lot. The Volkswalk includes Trail 6, Trail 3, Trail 5, and parts of Trail 4 and 2.
Saturday, April 6, 3:00 p.m.: Meet Volunteer Anthony Hack at the Nature Center to hike Trail 2, Trail 1, and part of Trail 4 along the lake (approximately 1 1/4 miles).
Sunday, April 7, 1:00 p.m.: Meet Volunteer Tony Earl at the Lakeview Activity Center to hike Trail 5. (1 mile)
Ligman encourages people to come out during the first week of April to enjoy spring, but it’s an opportunity to walk every trail in the park, meet some new people, see spring wildflowers, and enjoy the outdoors. She noted that even if you can’t come every day, you’ll have gotten a good start on completing the Spring Mill Trail Challenge and be more motivated to come back and finish.
Ligman said we are fortunate to have such wonderful places locally to hike and encourages people to come out and hike during Walking Week and to do the Spring Mill Trail Challenge in the coming year. For more information about the hikes, volkswalks, or Trail Challenge, contact Teena Ligman at 812-278-0139.
