A Hiker's Path: Floodplains, fields, prairie and wetlands at Southeastway Park

I like to visit parks and preserves all over the state. It doesn't matter to me how big or small they are.

I visit them for what they have to offer. And with so many unique places to explore, well, I often find myself driving a hour or two just to hike a mile or two.

Southeastway Park is located on the southeast side of Indianapolis. It was opened back in the 1970s and consists of 188 acres.

One of the things that drew me to this place to begin with was the land itself.

The flood plains, successional fields, prairie, and wetlands provide a habitat for a great variety of  birds including warblers, belted kingfishers, eastern towhees, eastern bluebirds, swallows, tanagers, wrens, orioles, and thrushes.

There's a small wildlife pond where Canada geese can be found nesting every year.

And there are an abundance of squirrels, turtles and frogs that one can see throughout the different seasons of the year.

A hiking and biking trail was paved there in 2010 and all together the loops that comprise this trail are 3.5 miles in length.

There are also woodland trails and these are the ones that I enjoy hiking the most.

The Creekside trail, 1.5 miles in length, takes you along a wooded path and down to the creek banks of Buck Creek. In the spring and summer, wildflowers are found along this trail and throughout the park. I hiked this section the day I was there. There were wooden walkways in places that took me back to the trail and side trails along the way so I could hike as little or as much as I wanted.

There’s a variety of trees growing throughout the park.

It made for a shady walk down the dirt path.

I hiked along the wooded path, listening to the many songbirds situated on the branches under the canopy of the early summer trees. In the distance I heard the jungle-like call of a pileated woodpecker. I never tire of that sound, but it does startle me at times. If you have ever heard one, you understand what I mean.

I soon came to the trail by the creek. The landscape looked as if it had been painted with the colors of nature. The greens, blues and browns all blending together to form a masterpiece of perfection.

I enjoyed my walk along the creek bank snd soon I was back out in the open spaces.

It's a beautiful park that includes playgrounds, picnic areas, shelter houses, and an activity center.

The park offers programs throughout the year, including a bug festival in August,  maple syrup demonstrations in late February through March, and hayrides in the fall, just to name a few.

It's worth the visit and it takes just a little over a hour to drive there. It's located just 10 minutes from I-465 off of I-74 East at 5624 South Carroll Road.  It's managed by Indianapolis Parks and Recreation. It's open daily from dawn to dusk and there is no entry fee.

There's also a nice apple orchard not far from the park, Anderson's Orchard (no relation to me) if you like fresh apples and cider.

Here is a quote for your week: “I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.” — John Burroughs, American naturalist, nature essayist, 1837-1921

Until the next trail, Susan

This article originally appeared on Evening World: Southeastway Park in Indianapolis offers variety of terrain