Nothing beats a warm cup of apple cider, a crisp fall breeze, colorful leaves falling down, and a comfy fall sweater. The beauty of fall offers the perfect excuse to take a weekend trip to hike amidst the bright autumn colors, go to a fall festival filled with hayrides and pumpkins, or relax near lake waters with a hot drink. With over 100 lakes, 11 nature sites, and a variety of fall activities, Northern Indiana’s Kosciusko County is the perfect fall destination.
Fall Hiking Locations
Soak in the beautiful fall foliage, crisp fall breeze, and clear blue skies by hiking or biking our scenic trails in Kosciusko County. We have 11 trail options located in our local nature sites which offer stunning views of the autumn colors. There are also bike rentals and bike shares available in our communities if you prefer to ride the trails. View our Trail Spaces brochure and maps for a full list of trails to choose from.
We also have a Trail Blazer Challenge Passport where you can win a Trail Blazer metal water bottle and fidget spinner by checking in at just 5 of these local hiking trails.
Oppenheim Woods
Oppenheim Woods is owned and protected by the Nature Conservancy, whose mission is to protect our natural land and water. Established in 2010, this preserve contains rolling hills, lush forests, and gorgeous wildflowers. Wildflower varieties include trillium, celandine, poppy, and wood phlox. This spectacular location is an ideal place to walk and bird watch.
Pisgah Marsh Area and Boardwalk
The Pisgah Marsh Area and Boardwalk is located approximately 9 miles north of Larwill, Indiana, west of State Road 5. This area was set aside to preserve habitat resources for a variety of plant and animal species. The 445 acres of Pisgah Marsh are comprised of grassland, wetland, upland forest, and lake habitat.
Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation Centre & Conklin Bay Boardwalk
The Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation Centre, also known as the Levinson-LaBrosse Lakes and Wetlands Education Center, is located near 40 acres of wetland, woods, and lakeshore. The Wawasee Area Conservancy provides educational programs, workshops, and a place for the community to gather. The Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation is dedicated to protecting the local wetlands and wildlife in the area.
The Conklin Bay Boardwalk extends the existing eleven miles of trail with a one-third-mile wetland boardwalk along with two-thirds more miles of concrete trail. The new section of trail opened officially in May of 2020 and runs through the Rolland Wetland Conservation Area. Plus, it includes four overlook sections for visitors to admire the view.
Tri-County Fish and Wildlife Area
The Tri-County Fish and Wildlife Area is dedicated to providing quality hunting and fishing opportunities while maintaining 3,546 acres of land, with 650 acres of lakes and impoundments. This area is composed of flat to rolling upland fields and gradual to steep slopes of oak-hickory woodlands, falling off to depressions of wetlands. Tri-County includes 10 natural lakes with water depths of up to 75 feet.
Old Chinworth Bridge Trail
The Old Chinworth Bridge Trail is nearly two miles long and is the perfect spot for hikers, bicyclists, and joggers. The Old Chinworth Bridge is on the National Registry of Historic Places and spans the Tippecanoe River. The bridge is located near the intersection of Old US 30 and CR 350 West, Warsaw.
Winona Lake Trails
The Winona Lake Heritage Trail is a paved trail which features sculptures which are meant to represent various virtues. These attributes include Kindness, Virtue, Generosity, Community, Gathering, Beauty, Respect, Legacy, Peace, and Love. The Heritage Trail in Winona Lake is a portion of the Lake City Greenway. Additionally, the Winona Lake Trail System which branches off of the Heritage Trail offers a 9-mile dirt cycle track perfect for mountain biking or hiking which goes through the woods and over Cherry Creek.
Beyer Farm Boardwalk Trail
The Beyer Farm Trail offers a tranquil escape for those in our community and it also helps educate the public about the surrounding wetlands by explaining its functions as well as both the wildlife and vegetation that is present. When walking or riding on this trail, you will find about 1800 feet of boardwalk, encompassed in the wetlands with a new addition of a stone amphitheater located near the Kosciusko Community Hospital. Upon exiting the wetlands, an asphalt trail will appear near the lake shore to the Pike Lake Campground.
Horse Back Riding
Button up your flannel, throw on some boots, and go for a horseback ride through the tranquil woodland riding trails of Deka-Di Stable in Pierceton within Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Campground. There are options for all skill levels and varied terrain choices, including woods, fields, or hills, along with great guides to help you along the way. This is a fun fall activity for the whole family. Call and book a ride in advance.
Fall Festivals
Take the family out to one of the fall festivals going on in Kosciusko County and enjoy food, drinks, kids’ activities, and more. Upcoming events include:
September Third Friday – Taste of Kosciusko – September 15th – 5:00-8:00 PM- Downtown Warsaw
Kettleheads Homebrew Fest – September 23rd – 5:00-9:00 PM – Downtown Warsaw
Celebrating Us – September 23rd – 4:00-8:00PM – Downtown Warsaw
Balloon Glow – September 23rd – 4:00-9:00 PM – Tippy Creek Winery, Leesburg
Syracuse Fall Festival – October 7th – 10:00-6:00 PM – Lakeside Park, Syracuse
Boos & Brews – October 14th – 1:00-4:00 PM – Downtown Warsaw
Indoor Fall Market – October 21st – 11:00 AM-2:00 PM – Atwood Community Building, Atwood
Downtown Spooktakular – October 27th – 5:00-8:00 PM – Downtown Warsaw
You Ain’t Nothin’ But A Werewolf – All Day – October 27-29th – Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts, Warsaw
Community Apple Orchard
Nothing beats a morning out apple picking with family and friends. The Community Apple Orchard is a non-profit organization grown on land owned by Grace College. All the apples are grown without using pesticides or chemicals, so you can feel good about eating them. The orchard is open for picking September 16th and 23rd from 9:00 AM-12:00 PM and apples are 75 cents a pound with a limit of one bushel.
Additionally, visit any of the farmer’s markets in our local communities to find fresh produce, apples, pumpkins, and other fall treats. Visit the Farm Fresh tab of our website to find a location near you.
Fall Lake Views
Visit one of our local lakes and enjoy relaxing by the water. Many of our lakes are surrounded by beaches, parks, trails, boat rentals, outdoor dining options, and coffeehouses, meaning you can easily spend an entire fall weekend by the water. View our Blue Spaces brochure and maps to find a lake to explore this fall.
Public Art Trail Challenge Passport
Our local communities are rich with arts and cultural experiences and filled with sculptures and murals for you to discover. We have created the Kosciusko County Public Art Trail Challenge to encourage visitors and residents to explore the area and see for themselves the explosion of creativity in our communities. Head outside with your friends, family, and pets, and be inspired by the sculptures and murals scattered throughout the area. Plus, with this challenge, you can learn the unique stories and meaning behind each work.
It’s free to sign up and if you check in at least 5 public art locations, you will win a free pair of sunglasses! Max of 3 sunglasses per pass. If you visit all 31 locations, you will be entered into our grand prize drawing which is a $100 gift card to the Village at Winona. This drawing will be held on March 31, 2024.
Adventure Challenge Passport
Go on an epic adventure around Northern Indiana’s Kosciusko County by following our Adventure Challenge Passport. Discover all of the hidden gems in the area, like the Village at Winona, local gardens, a fairy village, and America’s biggest egg. If you’re new to the area, use this as a tourist guide to all of the coolest places. If you’re a resident, take the opportunity to be a tourist in your hometown with this passport.
One of the joys of living in Northern Indiana is getting a full taste of all four seasons every year, and fall is definitely the best one. The place to enjoy autumn is clearly Kosciusko. Plan your weekend getaway and book a place to stay now.