Oak Ridge Prairie & Oak Savannah Trail park — Attraction in North Township

This trail is just okay. The good is that it's a good 3.5-4 miles of wooded trails plus miles of paved trails. I'm a hiker, so I'm rating this place on that basis. The trails are mown regularly and kept free of debris. It's rarely crowded on the wooded trails, so I can let the dogs run around and train them for when we go camping. They usually only charge admission on weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day, so you can park there for free most of the time ($5 otherwise or $40 annual Lake County park pass). It's open year-round and great for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

The trails are moderately scenic. There are areas with ferns that I like and tons of oak trees. Other than one leg through a field, the trail is mostly shaded. There are also a couple of ponds and wildlife such as deer, geese, and turtles that I see fairly often.

Some things to know are that there are mosquitoes, ticks, and thorns in the wooded areas. I always wear long shirts and pants when hiking there and check the dogs afterward. I also use bug spray and a head net during the summer (the mosquitoes are thick then). The trails also flood in parts during rainy periods. They can be quite a slog then, and I don't recommend hiking them at those times. There are three bridges. Two are in excellent condition, but one is on its last leg and lists to one side, which makes it tricky to cross when wet.

Other amenities (not reflected in my rating) include a fishing pond and two picnic pavilions with playgrounds. There's a sledding hill and the paved trail is part of the Erie Lackawanna bike trail stretching from Crown Point to Hobart. There is no drinking water, so...

Lake County Parks maintained this place. The bathroom was in desperate need of cleaning. Otherwise, it would get 5 stars. It does require some maintenance on the pavement before you park, but I am willing to overlook it because it’s just March. No fee is required right now to enter but it will be required soon. Last time it was $5/per car if Indiana Resident. I believe it’s after April 1. I really like the fact the Erie Lackawanna bike path branches off to it to connect to Oak Savanna Trail. This is a gateway to connecting to the Indiana Dunes. This park is great for kids and doggies to run. Fishing is possible here. And if you want to picnic, that’s a possibility too. I find the trail that takes you out of the woods is a fun and weird trail by...

This park was beautiful on our first visit. Almost no one was at the playground during the week, and it was free to enter (it was a Tuesday in October, so not sure about the rest of the year entrance fee). There were lots of picnic areas, many with fire pits available. There are two adjacent playgrounds, both similar in age range (not really many for tots, but my one-year-old found plenty to play with). There is a lot of green space that's shaded and great for running around. It also looks like there are poles where you could attach a volleyball net. We didn't explore the trails yet, but I do know there's only one trail that's actually paved. The other ones we went past seemed to be...