Indian Creek Nature Center reopening majority of trails Saturday

Since the devastating derecho last August, Indian Creek Nature Center’s land team — with the support of many volunteers — has been hard at work clearing debris, rebuilding and rerouting damaged trails. The Nature Center invites the press, along with ICNC members, donors and volunteers, to a Thursday “ribbon” cutting and celebration of the reopening of the majority of trails — just in time for National Trails Day on Saturday, June 5. The Thursday event is a private celebration for supporters who played a key role in the Nature Center’s recovery. The public is encouraged to come out and enjoy the reopened trails on Saturday, National Trails Day.

“The support of our members, donors and volunteers has been incredible,” said Executive Director John Myers. “Thanks to their dedication to our mission, we are able to not only reopen a portion of our trails, but also improve them for future generations. Land restoration and protection is a critical piece of our mission to create champions of nature. We are grateful to all who support that work.”

The Thursday celebration will begin with a short ceremony on the Nature Center’s patio at 5 p.m. Speakers include Myers, ICNC Board President Jen Welton and City Councilmember and ICNC Trustee Scott Overland. Nature Center staff will perform a “ribbon” cutting — cutting through a native vine — at the Cedar Overlook trailhead to officially open the trails. The trails being reopened are the 0.6-mile Cedar Overlook Trail (a temporary connecting trail to the Woodland Trail that overlooks the Cedar River) and the 0.8-mile Sycamore Loop (a connecting trail between the Bluebird Trail and city-managed Sac and Fox Trail). See the trail map (below) for reference. Also open is Wood Duck Way, the Christiansen Prairie Trail, Bena Trail, Bluebird Trail and Penningroth Paths. The Woodland Trail remains closed and under construction.

“The storm was no doubt devastating to our trail system, but even before the derecho, parts of the old trails were not sustainable or ideal,” said ICNC Trail Manager Jason Bies. “The derecho gave our team the opportunity to re-imagine the trails’ importance and their impact on the landscape. In our work to restore or recreate our trails, we have been able to improve them both for better user-experience and for the long-term health of the environment.”

Hikers are advised to stay on the marked trails and avoid any closures for their safety and for the health of the trail and surrounding environment. Stay tuned for updates as the Center continues to restore and reroute this trail throughout the summer.