Chamberlain Lake is at the southern end of the corridor, north of Crumstown Highway and surrounded to the west by a dedicated state nature preserve. The preserve is managed jointly by Indiana Department of Natural Resources and St. Joseph County Parks. The lake is bordered to the east by residential properties.
Despite being designated as a lake, this shallow, 52-acre basin has held limited open water in recent years. This may reflect natural or climate-change induced cycles of lake drawdown and refill. Much of the 83-acre preserve was impacted by a tornado in 2001. Evidence of this is the many deformed trees along the 1.5-mile loop trail to the observation deck on the lake. Tree species found include sassafras (Sassafras albidum), maples (Acer spp.), oaks, both white (Quercus alba) and red (Quercus rubra), and American beech (Fagus grandifolia). The wetland consists of mostly submergent marsh, surrounded by a floating sedge muck mat, over a sandy bottom. Biologists have documented over a hundred native plant species, many of which are state threatened or endangered (see iNaturalist linked here), and over 125 bird species (eBird linked here). In late March and early April, spring ephemerals can be seen emerging from the forest floor, such as Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) and spring beauty (Claytonia virginica). Woodland box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) may be seen, while cricket frogs (Acris crepitans) and eastern gray tree frogs (Dryophytes versicolor) can be heard, especially after sunset.
The preserve is open to the public year round. The trailhead can be accessed from a small parking area just off the Crumstown Highway, 3.5 miles southwest of the intersection of Mayflower Road and Sample Street. While there is a maintained trail, there are no designated recreational areas or facilities, such as picnic tables or restrooms. For more information, contact St. Joseph County Parks (574-277-4828).
