A Trail Takes Shape: Bushnell's North Star Woods Trail Close to Completion

Every trail begins with an idea.

Several months ago, Ouabache Land Conservancy partnered with the Hoosier Hikers Council to imagine how visitors might one day experience Bushnell's North Star Woods. Together, volunteers walked the property, studied the landscape, identified the best route, and flagged a path through the woods.

Since then, the trail has gradually come to life through many workdays. This past Saturday marked a major milestone in that journey.

Thanks to an incredible turnout of dedicated volunteers, the trail is now completed aside from a few final tasks, bringing Bushnell's North Star Woods one step closer to welcoming visitors and creating new opportunities for the community to experience this beautiful preserve.

A Partnership Built to Last

This project has been much more than a series of volunteer workdays.

From the very beginning, members of the Hoosier Hikers Council generously shared their expertise in trail planning, design, and construction. Together with OLC volunteers, they transformed existing logging roads into a scenic loop trail that showcases the beauty of Bushnell's North Star Woods.

Volunteers returned again and again, working through changing seasons—from the first spring flowers emerging in March, to rainy April workdays, to warm summer mornings. With every visit, the trail became a little more defined and a little closer to becoming a reality.

Saturday's outstanding volunteer turnout marked the culmination of months of planning, partnership, and hands-on stewardship.

More Than a Trail

The new trail represents more than a place to hike.

It creates new opportunities for people to explore OLC's newest protected property, enjoy scenic views overlooking Sulphur Creek, discover the beauty of this forest, and develop a deeper connection to the landscapes that make west-central Indiana special.

Just as importantly, the project demonstrates what can happen when organizations, volunteers, and community members work together toward a shared vision.

The Finishing Touches

Volunteers are installing trail markers, preparing a trail map, completing trailhead amenities, and putting the finishing touches in place to help visitors safely enjoy the new trail.

Even these final details reflect OLC's hands-on approach to stewardship. Trail markers are being crafted from black locust harvested at Atherton Island Natural Area, creating durable, natural wayfinding features while making thoughtful use of resources already available to the Conservancy.

Thank You!

We are deeply grateful to the Hoosier Hikers Council for the countless hours they have invested in this project. Their expertise, leadership, and willingness to return workday after workday have helped transform a vision into a trail that will serve our community for years to come.

Thank you as well to every volunteer who gave their time, energy, and enthusiasm throughout this project. Your efforts have created a lasting resource that future visitors will enjoy for years to come.

And a special thank you to Robin for providing a delicious lunch that kept everyone fueled throughout the day.

We're excited to share more information about the trail in the coming weeks.