Lindsay Wilderness

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Some 200 acres of woods and hiking trails run along the northeast side of Bonaparte, and more visiting vacationers are utilizing the area for long walks and hunting.

Christy Creek, which runs through the Lindsay Wilderness Area before emptying in the Des Moines River on the east edge of Bonaparte, is an excellent site and groups of school children take annual class outings to enjoy the nature trails.

The Wilderness Area also serves as public hunting grounds during the various hunting seasons.

Operated by the Van Buren County Conservation Board, the Lindsay Wildernes Area features second growth and some virgin timber that includes scattered regions of butternut, walnut, sugar maple and hornbeam. A wide variety of native shrubs such as blackberry, raspberry, hawthorne, hazel bush, redbud, and dogwood are scattered throughout.The area was donated to the county by sisters Marjorie M. Lindsay and Faye Miller Dawson in 1982.

Thanks to the current financial donations from the Strieber and Dawson family we have recently added a new 1 mile loop trail and 2 ponds.  The ponds are stocked with fish and natural benches and other improvements are planned for the public enjoyment of this recreational wildlife area.  This will make it 2 loop trails each approx 1 mile long and 2 ponds.
 
The trails have 2 entrances, one at the town entrance and the other along Hwy J-40 just outside Bonaparte.  These trails are for hiking only.  Vehicles are not allowed.  Some parts of the new trail can be somewhat steep and hikers are encouraged to wear proper shoes and be prepared for hilly areas. 
 This park has been kept by the Van Buren County Conservation Board as natural as possible for those who wish to hike and enjoy the beauty that mother nature intended.

Handicap Entrance

Checking out the new trails

Dorothy Dawson and a group of friends visited Lindsay Wilderness in 2010 to see the new trails.