Start your spring by walking in Spring Mill State Park and Mitchell April 1-7

Celebrate Walking Week April 1-7 by participating in one of the hikes in Indiana's state parks, including Spring Mill State Park near Mitchell. Spring Mill State Park, the Friends of Spring Mill State Park and the Bedford Hiking Club are partnering to offer a series of walks.

Teena Ligman, president of Friends of Spring Mill State Park, said there will be a different hike each of the seven days of various lengths, over different types of terrain and at different times of the day as a way to offer something for everyone.

“We want people to get outside and start walking and then keep walking right through the rest of the year. Ideally, we’d like to see people make walking outdoors a part of their lives,” Ligman said.

Walking Week has been celebrated since 2007 and provides social opportunities and benefits to physical health for the heart, joints and movement, mental stimulation, and mitigates the impacts of aging.

All but one of the hikes will be in Spring Mill State Park. That hike is in the nearby town of Mitchell.

Included in the hike is a volkswalk. Volkswalks are a German tradition that American soldiers brought back to America. Literally translated as people’s walk, the walks feature interesting routes through natural or historical/cultural areas. People who regularly do volkswalks keep books to track their mileage and may travel around the country or even different continents for volkswalks. Come learn about and join this unique walking sport.

The schedule for the week is:

• April 1, 3 p.m.: Meet Naturalist Jill Lutes at the Grissom Memorial parking area to hike Trail 6. (1/4 mile)
• April 1, 5:30 p.m.: Meet the Bedford Hiking Club at Friendship Park on Main Street in Mitchell (at Main and Seventh streets) to hike the Blue Jacket Trail with the Bedford Hiking Club. (2.6 mile) The Bedford Hiking Club does weekly walks. This is an opportunity to meet the group, and maybe start a new weekly routine of walking with them in interesting places.
• April 2, 10 a.m.: Meet Tony Earl at the Tulip Poplar Shelterhouse to hike Trail 7 and the Stagecoach Trail. (2 1/4 mile)
• April 3 at 9 a.m.: Meet Naturalist Jill Lutes near the restrooms at the Donaldson Shelter Parking Lot to hike Trail 4.(2 mile)
• April 4 at 1 p.m.: Meet Teena Ligman at the Twin Caves Parking Lot for a hike on Trail 3. (2. 5 miles)
• April 5, 10 a.m.: Meet John and Andrea Castrale at the Spring Mill pool parking lot to hike the scenic 2-mile Mountain Bike Trail.
• April 6, 10 a.m.: Members from the Bedford Hiking Club will lead two groups on the Spring Mill Volkswalk. There will be 10K (6.2 mile) and 5K (3.1 mile) hikes offered. Meet at the Twin Cave Parking Lot. The volkswalk includes Trail 6, Trail 3, Trail 5, and parts of Trail 4 and 2.
• April 6, 3 p.m.: Meet Anthony Hack at the Nature Center to hike Trail 2, Trail 1 and part of Trail 4 along the lake. (Approximately 1 1/4 mile).
• April 7, 1 p.m.: Meet Tony Earl at the Lakeview Activity Center to hike Trail 5. (1 mile)

Ligman encourages people to come out the first week of April not only to enjoy spring, but it’s an opportunity to walk every trail in the park, meet some new people, see spring wildflowers and enjoy the outdoors. She noted even if you aren’t able to come every day, you’ll have gotten a good start on completing the Spring Mill Trail Challenge and be more motivated to come back and finish.

For more information about the hikes, volkswalks or Trail Challenge, contact Teena Ligman at 812-278-0139.