What natural wonders will you see if you hike the entire 5-mile West Side trunk trail that connects the Eagle's Crest and Bear Overlook? Marty Risch sits down to discuss the amazing trees, water features, and more. This podcast can serve as a guide to a hike from North to South on the West Side Hiking Trail, and we've included resources to help you get the most out of such a hike! Marty was a park ranger in the 1970s and worked as an environmental scientist for the State and Federal Governments. These days he's a trail volunteer and he's the brains behind the Big Tree Registry at Eagle Creek Park through which he's crowned dozens of Champion Trees which we discuss in this episode.

From the Episode with Marty

West Side Trail Features Text & Photos (follow along)

West Side Trail Features Maps (w numbers) (follow along)

Adam and Marty at Champion Tree

Champion Oak at Bear Overlook

**Official West Side Hiking Trails Map**

**Big Tree Registry Website (lists all Champion Trees!)**

A few images from an Eagle Creek Park Foundation Member Event in April 2024

Champion Trees Hike Beech Tree

Champion Trees Hike at Tulip Tree

Champion Trees Hike Marty by Champion Oak

Tree Identification Resources

How Old is My Tree? (Purdue)

American Beech Tree Identification

American Beech Tree Leaves

American Sycamore Bark

American Sycamore Leaf

Oak Tree Identification by leaf

Bur Oak Leaf

Temple Oak (Indianapolis)

Chinquapin Oak Park Sign (Indianapolis)

Chinkapin Oak Leaves

Tulip Tree Leaves (State Tree of Indiana)

Tulip Tree Flowers

Eagle Creek Nature Notes is brought to you by the Eagle Creek Park Foundation and was made possible by a grant from the Eli Lilly Foundation.

To find full episode transcriptions and more about Eagle Creek Park Foundation, visit eaglecreekpark.org

Host: Adam Hibshman, Marketing and Program Coordinator for Eagle Creek Park Foundation

Guest: Marty Risch, Eagle Creek Park Advisory Committee and the brains behind Eagle Creek Park Big Tree Registry

Producer: Jen Edds, Brassy Broadcasting Company

Recorded on November 3rd, 2023