Nature and history offer very different perspectives for exploring Elkhart. At Boot Lake Nature Preserve, wetlands, woods, and prairie come together. The state-designated nature preserve covers 300 acres and is recognized by National Audubon as an Important Bird Area. More than 200 bird species have been documented there. Four miles of trails and overlooks of wetlands and prairie make the landscape accessible on foot, too.
Trails through wetlands, woods, and prairie
Cobus Creek County Park offers a different landscape: Its 84 acres include prairie, woods, and wetlands alongside a cold-water trout stream. Paved and natural-surface hiking trails loop around a five-acre pond. Trout fishing is available along the stream. While Boot Lake offers four miles of trails and views of wetlands and prairie, Cobus Creek highlights the loop around the pond and the trout stream.
River Preserve County Park follows the Elkhart River for four miles south of Goshen, between Benton and New Paris. Mill foundations, canals, and spillways recall past commercial activity and make history visible in the landscape. Those interested in waterways will find several portage points there, providing access for kayaks and canoes.
The Pumpkinvine Nature Trail also combines a nature experience with a clearly defined route: It runs from Goshen to Shipshewana, and more than 16 miles have been completed. Its asphalt and crushed-limestone surfaces are suitable for bicycles with narrow tires. The trail is also intended for walkers, runners, inline skaters, and cyclists. This makes it quite different from trails at individual nature sites that pass through particular habitats or loop around a pond.
Mills, gardens, and regional history
Rolling terrain, woods, wetlands, and open meadows shape the 222-acre Bonneyville Mill County Park. The park is also home to Bonneyville Mill, Indiana’s oldest continuously operating gristmill. The landscape and mill offer two different ways to experience the site: taking in nature and exploring a long tradition of milling.
DeFries Gardens brings together landscaped gardens and historic architecture. The grounds cover 13 acres and include a Victorian home in the style of the 1880s, surrounded by gardens and tree plantings. The one-acre Calendar Garden has its own scale: It is designed for year-round interest and accessed by a 365-foot circular path.
Those looking to explore the county’s cultural heritage will find more than 30,000 objects at the Elkhart County Historical Museum. The Ruthmere Museum, in turn, showcases a restored 1908 home with Gilded Age interiors, historic furnishings, decorative arts, and fine art. The two houses offer different perspectives: a collection devoted to the county’s cultural heritage and the furnishings of a historic home.
Architecture, performances, and everyday culture
The Lerner Theatre connects architectural history with today’s stage. The 1920s movie palace was converted into a performing arts center with a 1,700-seat theater, and performances take place year-round. Behind-the-scenes tours explore the venue’s architecture, history, and stories. If you plan to take a tour, confirm its availability before your trip.
The RV/MH Hall of Fame showcases models and more than a century of recreational vehicle and manufactured home industry history; the museum is open year-round. The Dutchman Essenhaus offers a taste of regional food culture, with à la carte dining, a buffet, and family-style meals. Amish-style dishes have been served there since 1971.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Elkhart, Goshen, New Paris, Nappanee, Middlebury, Fountain County, Ripley, Delaware.
For the broader travel overview: Indiana.
