Take a Nature Break
OUR MISSION
Indian Creek Nature Center’s mission is to promote a sustainable future by nurturing individuals through environmental education, providing leadership in land protection and restoration and encouraging responsible interaction with nature.
Visit us to explore our 7 miles of trails, attend a nature-inspired event, or discover the mysteries of nature at one of our many educational programs.
Business Hours
MARCH – OCTOBER
Open Daily 10am – 4pm
NOVEMBER – FEBRUARY
Closed Mondays, Open Tuesday – Sunday 10am – 4pm
Our grounds and trails are open 365 days a year from 5 am – 10 pm.
Admission is free.
Upcoming Events
Announcements
Maple Syrup Festival returns March 28 & 29
Celebrate nature’s sweetest gift at the 43rd Annual Maple Syrup Festival on March 28 & 29 with hands-on maple syruping demonstrations, live music, and a pancake breakfast featuring REAL maple syrup.
Advance tickets are on sale now.
Farm To Table Dinner with Big Grove Brewery
We’re excited to welcome Big Grove Brewery back for a brand-new culinary experience featuring dishes too delicious to be called ‘bar food.’
Grab your tickets today!
Backcountry Film Festival
Spend an evening at the Nature Center, or Big Grove Brewery’s Iowa City Taproom, as we host the Backcountry Film Festival, a compilation of films that celebrate the human-powered experience through winter adventures.
Beginner Beekeeping Series
Registration is open for the 2026 Beginner Beekeeping Series. This series takes participants who are serious about hobby beekeeping through the annual cycle of beekeeping, from establishing a hive to harvesting honey.
Latest News
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Get Involved
Pull on a pair of hiking boots and hit the trails, attend an upcoming program or event, join the hundreds of volunteers that help out in myriad ways, become a member, or get involved in any number of ways to belong to a group of dedicated Champions of Nature that are working to preserve, conserve and educate…all while having a wonderful time.
Escape into Nature
Escape
Seek out the healing powers of nature on our 7 miles of trails through nearly 500 acres of protected woodlands, prairies and wetlands.
Learn
Discover the wonders of nature through a wide variety of nature-inspired events and programs that bring learning to life in all seasons.
Flourish
Since 1973 Indian Creek Nature Center has led Eastern Iowa in environmental education, sustainable living practices and land restoration.
Support
Invest in a more sustainable future by helping Indian Creek Nature Center create and protect places where nature can thrive.
Championing Diversity in the Outdoors
Our work to create Champions of Nature through education and inspiration cannot be achieved without racial and social justice as well. We stand in solidarity with those seeking justice and change, and are committed to doing our part to ensure diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility are at the forefront of our work. Everyone should feel welcome and safe to enjoy the outdoors.
We recognize we have work to do. It is not news that environmental organizations often lack in diversity, ourselves included. We are not a leader in this movement, but our goal is to be an ally. We are showing up by listening and educating ourselves, as well as taking action to be more inclusive and equitable in our work. In July 2019, we began a multi-year staff training and educational program in diversity, equity and inclusion. We are continuing those necessary and important conversations and applying what we learn in the work we do. We continue to ask ourselves what we can do to combat racism and inequality and are taking steps to diversify our opportunities and programming.
Latest from the Blog
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Volunteer Group Sustained by Community
Building a Volunteer Community The Friends of the Nature Center (formerly named The Guild) has been going strong for 50 years, because of the good they do and the community...