Home › Indiana › Michigan City › Ambler Flatwoods Nature Preserve
Ambler Flatwoods Nature Preserve
4.5 ★★★★★ 77 Google reviews · Running trail in Michigan City, Indiana · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Ambler Flatwoods Nature Preserve's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Nature preserve featuring old-growth forest and trails that are good for children.
What runners say about Ambler Flatwoods Nature Preserve
“There are many old growth trees along the trail as well, and a beautiful and clean creek that runs through the Louise Landau Nature Trail on the north end near Freyer road.”
“Summer was nice and beautiful with trees fully leaved, while winter was scenic during and after the leaves had fallen.”
“Easy trails, but map is confusing and trails aren't well marked.”
This is one of the nicer Nature Preserve hikes I have done in Indiana. Did the north trail 1.4 mi Lovely mature trees, creek,vernal pool, and some wildflowers were blooming. Thanks to the volunteers who maintain the trails and invasives, excellent job!!
I saw on eBird that this is a birding hotspot. It definitely is! Within five minutes I found a Canada Warbler, which is pretty cool and definitely not an everyday sighting in this part of the country. Some of the trails are muddy, but that's understandable case there's been a lot of rain in the whole area recently.
Key components: Nice gravel trail for approx 2 blocks for elderly or stroller bound hikers. Really beautiful prairie and some solid young forest. Catch native flowers throughout summer. Trail continues and is well tended.
Beautiful little park...Anyone who appreciates nature will enjoy time spent here. Tons of interesting and unusual flora. Would be a suitable park for seniors as the loop isn’t incredibly long and there are no hills.
Trail conditions & character
“Summer was nice and beautiful with trees fully leaved, while winter was scenic during and after the leaves had fallen.”
“Parking is pretty limited off Meer road, but both times I've gone I was the only one in the lot.”
“Some of the trails are muddy, but that's understandable case there's been a lot of rain in the whole area recently.”
“It's extraordinary how the trees form a natural hallway/canopy and gives the feel of being insulated by these gorgeous white pines!”
“Would be a suitable park for seniors as the loop isn’t incredibly long and there are no hills.”
“Would be a suitable park for seniors as the loop isn’t incredibly long and there are no hills.”
Plan your run at Ambler Flatwoods Nature Preserve
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- Trail mapOfficial trail map
- Websiteheinzetrust.org
- Phone(219) 242-8558
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Saturday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Sunday | 6 AM–9 PM |
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Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
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Hansen Park
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