Foliage friendly paddle in Mishawaka and 20 active ways to love autumn

In my quest for fall colors Sunday — without having to travel far or long — I launched my kayak from the new boat ramp at Mishawaka’s Merrifield Park. The St. Joe River’s flow here is just soft enough that you can paddle upstream with a little effort and return to your car.

I stroked toward the opposite shore, more wild and tree covered, and found an intimate little cove. Isolated spots of yellow and brown were popping, doubled by their reflection.

Going upstream, I passed through the historical stone channel at the city parks’ Monkey Island, which has its own boat ramp. Just beyond that, two pedestrian bridges cross overhead to link parts of the city’s Eberhart-Petro Golf Course. Farther up, the river passes the Capital Avenue bridge, then an island before you have to turn around at the Twin Branch Dam. From this dam to the one at Central Park, it’s just roughly 3 miles one way.

If you go downstream from Merrifield, you’ll pass other park improvements that opened this year like a new playground and pavilions, then two bridges before seeing the buoys ahead of the Central Park dam. Watch carefully. The dam is dangerous. Turn around or use the exit ramp on the right (north) bank before the buoys.

Foliage can turn early by the water. Trees at River Preserve County Park in New Paris, especially by the Benton Dam, were sporting a mostly golden crown over the Elkhart River last week. Sunshine and cold night temperatures in this weekend’s forecast could spur the foliage.

Wild meanders

• Owl Prowl: Look for wildlife and owls as you learn how they adapt to nocturnal habits from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Benton Spillway in River Preserve County Park, 68550 County Road 31, just south of Goshen. No registration needed for this free event.

• Dunes hike: Look for migrating warblers as you join the Harbor Country Hikers for a moderate, 2-mile hike at 10 a.m. Saturday at Warren Dunes State Park, Sawyer. Meet at the group camping lot. From the Red Arrow Highway, turn west onto Floral Lane, just southwest of the Interstate 94 overpass. If you don’t have a season pass, you’ll need a day permit from the park’s main entrance.

• Historic farm: Join a ranger-led hike for fall colors from 1 to 2 p.m. CDT Saturday and Oct. 20 at the Indiana Dunes’ Chellberg Farm, on Mineral Springs Road between U.S. 20 and U.S. 12 in Porter, Ind.

• Nature preserves tour: The Shirley Heinze Land Trust will lead a bus tour from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 20 of seven nature preserves in Porter, LaPorte and St. Joseph counties, departing from Spicer Lake Nature Preserve in New Carlisle. Local experts will talk about conservation and ecology. Brief hikes at some preserves will include Pinhook Bog in the Indiana Dunes. Cost is $40. Reservations are required by Monday at www.heinzetrust.org or 219-242-8558.

• Volkssporting hike or bike: Do a 5K or 10K hike on the Glenwood Dunes Trails in the Indiana Dunes with the Volkssporting club Hoosier Hikers. Start any time between 8 and 11 a.m. CDT Oct. 20. Also, you may bike 10K on the nearby Calumet Trail, starting between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. CDT. Advance registration is required at sonofbuzz@prodigy.net or 574-339-9140. Find details on the hike at this link, and on the bike ride at this link.

For sandhill cranes

The migration of sandhill cranes will be ramping up now through December.

• Crane Cruise: Bike 12 to 50 flat miles Saturday and chomp on homemade baked goodies at rest stops, plus a hearty lunch afterward. Stick around for a talk at 5 p.m. EDT about the sandhill cranes as you watch hundreds of the birds at the Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area in Medaryville. Cost is $20 per person, $45 per family. Register from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT at the fire station in Medaryville, on U.S. 421 about 50 miles south of Michigan City. (www.cranecruise.com)

• On water: Paddle 8.6 miles Sunday down the Kankakee River, picnic by the water, then drive to the Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area to see the sandhill cranes in the Kankakee River Sandhill Crane Paddle hosted by the Northwest Indiana Paddling Association. Register starting at 10 a.m. CDT at the Yellow River Public Access Site in English Lake, Ind. (Go south on U.S. 35 through Knox, west on Toto Road and north on South County Road 650 West.) You’ll drop off your boat, drive to Dunn’s Bridge County Park, then take a shuttle to the start. Bring water and a picnic (no alcohol). Donations welcome. Register for the event via a link in this column online. Need to rent a boat? Contact Chicago River Canoe and Kayak at info@chicagoriverpaddle.com or 224-415-6554.

• Trail run: Kids can do a 1K free fun run and others can walk or run a 5K or 10K or run a half marathon Saturday at T.K. Lawless County Park in Vandalia. This includes chip timing, deejay music, refreshments and awards. The $30 fee benefits the county parks and Dowagiac Rotary Club. Register via a link with this column online or between 7:45 and 8:45 a.m. at the race.

• Sandhill trip: St. Joseph County Parks naturalists will lead a trip to watch sandhill cranes Oct. 27 at the Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area. It will depart at 4 p.m. from Bendix Woods County Park and be back about 8:30 p.m. Cost is $8. Register by Oct. 23 at 574-654-3155.

Culver Fall Fest

A chili cookoff, cornhole tourney, pet parade, beer garden and a lot more fill this weekend (culverfallfest.com).

• Moonlight paddle: Launch from the town beach at 7 p.m. Friday, paddle to Lake Maxinkuckee’s eastern shore and hear about American Indian lore. Return to the beach for bonfire and s’mores, finishing at 9 p.m. Bring your own canoe, kayak or stand-up paddleboard.

• Bolt for Blessings: Walk or run a 1- or 3-mile course through town Saturday to support a local school food program. Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. and the run/walk at 8:30 a.m. Cost is $15 for students, $25 for others.

• Hay wagon tours: 30-minute trips through Culver Academies will be led by town historian Jeff Kenney between 2 and 6 p.m. Saturday from the tents on Main and Madison streets.

• Pedal for history: Bike at a beginner’s pace, led by town historian Jeff Kenney for two hours around the Culver Academies campus. Bring your own bike or rent one at 574-842-4788. Start at 1 p.m. Sunday from the tent on Main Street at the center of town.

Three Rivers Fall Color Tour

This annual driving tour Sunday offers 14 rural stops through Cass and St. Joseph counties in Michigan. Find a full map and brochure attached to this column online. Here are the most active stops:

• Camp: Try pony rides, archery and the climbing tower from noon to 5 p.m. at YMCA Camp Eberhart, 10481 Camp Eberhart Road, Three Rivers. Cost is $15 per person.

• Skis: Hike the slopes at Swiss Valley Ski & Snowboard Area, 13421 Mann St. in Jones, or ride a Kubota tractor to the peak. Also, check out winter jobs, look over classic cars and motorcycles and enjoy a cookout from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Rivers: Paddle on the Portage, Prairie, Rocky or St. Joseph rivers for two hours up to a full day with rentals from Liquid Therapy Canoe & Kayak Rental, 221 S. Main St.,Three Rivers. Start between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Call 269-273-9000 or visit liquid-therapy-paddling.com.

• Preserves: Hike two nature preserves owned by the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy (swmlc.org, 269-324-1600) from noon to 5 p.m.: Coon Hollow Preserve at Coon Hollow and Ferguson roads, and Spirit Springs Sanctuary on Dutch Settlement Road just west of Day Road.

• Hay: Ride a hay wagon, try a hay maze, hike and enjoy music, beer, food and kids activities from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Meyer Broadway Park at Broadway and Roberts roads, Three Rivers, 1 mile west of U.S. 131.

• Pit: Check out an old gravel pit that has become a “fitness ranch,” The Pit at 15417 Hoffman Road in Three Rivers, and try a steep, guided hike to one of Three Rivers’ tallest points from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the hour.