Beacon Health & Fitness Hiking Club
Get Outside & Explore!
Session 1 | March 31 – June 30
Session 2 | August 3 – October 29
Beacon Health & Fitness Hiking Club offers participants (members & non-members) an opportunity to get active, create camaraderie and see some of the area’s most beautiful parks and trails.
Meet up to hike as a group on Wednesday evenings for a 3 mile hike and Saturday mornings for a 6 mile hike.
*hike distances are approximate and vary based on location.
Pricing options (per session):
$60 – Both Days
$30 – (Wednesdays only)
Pricing for both sessions:
$85 – Both Days
Not a member? Sign up for a guest account or call 574.647.2653 for assistance.
You can also schedule a massage by stopping by or calling either our Granger or South Bend Information Desk. Granger 574.647.8460 or South Bend 574.647.2655
Your Hiking Club group leader
Milt Cooper
Cell: 574-387-1844
Home: 574-289-9730
Email: mlcooper2@beaconhealthsystem.org
*Please note: Milt is available by email. The best way to contact him, especially the day of a hike is by home or cell phone, not email.
Hiking Times
Please be sure to check the hiking calendar to know the start time of each hike as well as directions to the location.
Arrive at meeting place at least 15 minutes early. Milt starts promptly and doesn’t want to leave anyone behind.
Be sure to check the weather and if the temperature and heat index is over 90 degrees – we do not hike for safety reasons. We also do not hike when lightning is present. An email is sent out the day of the hike if it’s canceled – but always feel free to call Milt if you have questions.
Advanced Hikes
Most of these hikes are great for almost any fitness level, however a few of them feature steep inclines on sandy trails. Be aware of these difficult hikes as they may not be safe for all hikers.
Bring a Friend
You can purchase a guest pass to bring a friend along for a hike! Purchase a guest pass at the info desk for $10/use. If your friend decides to join the group we will take the $10 off of their registration.
Hiking Tips
- We recommend hiking poles, wicking socks, running shoes, trail running shoes or hiking boots.
- Water is a must for hiking! Drink 2-3 0z every 15 minutes to replace fluids. (Suggeted: Gatorade, bars, gels).
- Due to weather and distances with these hikes, no dogs or children under 16 are allowed.
- Do not over/under dress and be sure to dress in layers. Weather may start cold but will warm up quickly and we don’t want anyone to overheat or be too cold.
State Park Pass
Some of these hikes are in State parks which have an entrance fee per vehicle. You may choose to purchase an annual State Park pass (Indiana – $50 or $25 for anyone 65+ & Michigan – $34 for out of state). These can be purchased on the Indiana/Michigan DNR websites.
Photos from past hikes, photo credit: Sue Brothers
