Visitors and residents of Allen County are encouraged to explore rivers, trails, parks and more by using the brand-new Fort Wayne Outdoor Pass.
The Pass offers 20 self-guided smartphone tours for hiking, biking and paddling at every skill level and in every corner of the county, says Kristen Guthrie, vice president of marketing for Visit Fort Wayne.
“People’s use of the outdoors increased dramatically during the pandemic because they needed safe and fun options to be together,” she says. “We want to do all we can to help people keep exploring the outdoors. It’s just the right time.”
So far, 1,000 people have signed up and the pass will be updated seasonally, she says.
The county is home to 120 miles of trails, more than 90 parks, three rivers, wetlands, prairies and other properties protected through the Allen County nature and forest preserves.
The pass works in conjunction with the 2020 opening of Promenade Park, the first phase of the Riverfront Fort Wayne project, which joins the county’s three rivers to downtown and destinations for recreation, arts and culture. The rivers are St. Mary’s, St. Joseph and the Maumee.
Access your digital pass at visitfortwayne.com/outdoorpass. It will instantly be delivered to your phone by text or email. There’s no app to download and it can be saved to your phone’s home screen for easy one-tap access. When you want to check in, you must have your location services turned on and be within one mile of the location. Check in at each route’s designated location to redeem prizes.
The tours were chosen to offer people a variety of experiences, says Guthrie.
One example of the walking tour is the popular Trail of Reflection Loop at Lindenwood Nature Preserve, an easy hike to a reflection pond surrounded by tall trees and lush foliage.
Learn more at visitfortwayne.com/outdoorpass. ❚