Led by Derek Pelc, Berrien County Parks Chief Naturalist, the Harbor Country Hikers (HCH) will be repeating our annual Berrien County Parks Fall Tour, watching the fall colors change while learning some interesting facts about our parks and the wildlife they support. We will continue our “Splash of Color Hikes” tour at the Galien River County Park and hike through some of the most memorable fall trails of Berrien.

Besides the upland Ridge Trail, there are spectacular views from the tree level observation platform, marsh level boardwalk and fishing platform, especially in the fall. The park includes a mix of upland and wetland habitats along the Galien River. The wetland area is particularly significant in that it is a part of the larger “Great Lakes Marsh” that formed along the Galien River just upstream from the river's mouth at Lake Michigan. The area is a home and a popular rest stop for many protected birds including bald eagles and Sandhill cranes.

HCH has an All-Terrain Rollator which may be reserved for use on our hikes. Reservations are made on a first-come first-served basis by filling out the brief form at Request Rollator.

Wear long pants (preferably tucked-in), hat, sturdy shoes or boots, preferred pest controls, and bring plenty of water. Light precipitation and hot or cold weather don’t ordinarily lead us to call off hikes, but health-threatening temperature extremes and lightning can be causes for cancellation. In case of inclement weather, the day of the hike, check our website, harborcountryhikers.org, or our Facebook page for notice of cancellation or rescheduling.

• Theme: A Splash of Color Hikes

• Venue: Galien River County Park

• When: Saturday, November 1, 2025 @ 1:00 PM Eastern

• Estimated Presentation Time: 10 minutes

• Hike Leader: Derek Pelc, Berrien County Parks Chief Naturalist

• Estimated Time: ~ 2.0 hours

• Hiking Distance: ~1.0 miles

• Physical Difficulty: Moderate, flat on bluff and overlook, steps or pitched switchback trail to the marsh boardwalk

• Location: 17424 Red Arrow Hwy, New Buffalo, MI 49117

• Directions: From the light on US-12, head north on Red Arrow Highway for 0.3 miles. Watch for the park entrance on the left. We will gather at the parking lot before hitting the trail.

• Parking GPS: 41.805577, -86.718843 (DD)— Google Map provided below.