A 1-mile loop trail leads one through the south part of 116 acres gifted in 1966 by Lloyd W. Bender.
61 of the 116 acres have been dedicated through IDNR's Division of Nature Preserves.
On the south branch of the Little Elkhart River, the preserve presents a variety of plant communities - upland oak-hickory forest, old herbaceous fields, and lowland forest and sedge meadow. The outstanding natural feature is the old-growth lowland forest adjacent to the river, where royal and cinnamon fern grow. The meandering broad floodplain is know as "the spreads" of the Little Elkhart River. Sizeable tree species include swamp white and burr oaks, red elm, black willow, green and black ash, cottonwood and red maple.
Hover over each image in the slideshow below to read its caption.
