Lake County Parks has four programs on its November 2026 calendar: a night orienteering course at Lemon Lake in Crown Point on November 7, a full moon walk at Gibson Woods in Hammond on November 24, and a family hike at Oak Ridge Prairie in Griffith and a campfire owl walk at Stoney Run near Hebron on November 27. Three of the four need a call to register first.
Want a home near one of these parks? Call Realest at (219) 808-1520.
It’s a Saturday in early November at Lemon Lake. The parking lot lights have just come on and it isn’t even five o’clock.
A father kneels at the trailhead and tightens a headlamp strap on his daughter’s knit hat. She holds the course map in both hands like it might blow away.
Down the path, a small orange and white flag hangs from a post. She finds it with the beam and lets out a yell you can hear from the car.
Saturday, November 7: a night course at Lemon Lake
The Night Orienteering Adventure runs 3 to 8 p.m. at Lemon Lake, 6322 W. 133rd Ave. in Crown Point. It’s for ages 8 and up and runs with the Chicagoland Area Orienteering Club, which handles sign-up.
There are white and yellow courses for beginners, an orange course for intermediate, and an advanced course. If you’d rather try a beginner course in daylight, start at 3 p.m. and come back for the night run after the sun goes down. A headlamp or flashlight is required. Courses close at 8.
The same weekend, the Harvest and Holly Market fills the Industrial Building at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Crown Point, Friday 4 to 9 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can do both in one afternoon.
Tuesday, November 24: a full moon at Gibson Woods
The Full Moon Stroll at Gibson Woods Nature Preserve, 6201 Parrish Ave. in Hammond, runs 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. It’s $2 a person and registration is required at 219-844-3188.
It’s an hour, on a weeknight, close to home for anyone in Hammond, Munster, or Highland. That’s the kind of thing you’d only do if the park were ten minutes away.
Four November nights and afternoons in Lake County parks
| When | Program | Where | Cost and sign-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat Nov 7, 3 to 8 p.m. | Night Orienteering Adventure | Lemon Lake, 6322 W. 133rd Ave., Crown Point | Register with the orienteering club |
| Tue Nov 24, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. | Full Moon Stroll | Gibson Woods, 6201 Parrish Ave., Hammond | $2, registration required |
| Fri Nov 27, noon to 1:15 p.m. | Opt Outside Family Nature Hike | Oak Ridge Prairie, 301 S. Colfax St., Griffith | Registration required |
| Fri Nov 27, 4 to 5:30 p.m. | Campfire and Owl Prowl | Stoney Run, 9230 E. 142nd Ave., Hebron | $7, ages 5 and up, registration required |
From the Lake County Parks calendar, checked October 30, 2026. Call 219-844-3188 before you go, since programs can change.
Friday, November 27: the day after Thanksgiving
Two programs land on Black Friday. The Opt Outside Family Nature Hike at Oak Ridge Prairie, 301 S. Colfax St. in Griffith, runs noon to 1:15 p.m. The listing calls it a casual walk to work off the Thanksgiving meal. Registration is required.
Later that day, the Campfire and Owl Prowl at Stoney Run, 9230 E. 142nd Ave. near Hebron, runs 4 to 5:30 p.m. It’s $7 a person, for ages 5 and up, and you need to register first. It’s a campfire, dark skies, and a walk to listen for owls.
Plan for early dark
Clocks fall back on Sunday, November 1. After that, sunset in Crown Point comes before 4:45 p.m. for the rest of the month. Three of these four programs start near dark or run past it.
Sunset in Crown Point on program days
| Date | Sunset, Central time | What starts near dark |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, Nov 7 | About 4:40 p.m. | Lemon Lake night course |
| Tuesday, Nov 24 | About 4:25 p.m. | Gibson Woods moon walk |
| Friday, Nov 27 | About 4:25 p.m. | Stoney Run owl walk |
Worked out from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) solar equations for Crown Point. Rounded to the nearest five minutes.
Pack a headlamp for each person, a hat, and boots that can handle a wet trail. Check the Lake County Parks calendar the morning of, since outdoor programs can change with the weather.
Any day: Deep River County Park in Hobart
Not every walk needs a sign-up. Deep River County Park at 9410 Old Lincoln Highway in Hobart sits right on Deep River, which runs through the park. The photo at the top of this page was taken there, looking upstream from the railroad trestle.
For more on what’s happening around Lake County this month, see our November 2026 events page.
What this has to do with buying a house
Buyers ask about commute times and schools first. The second list is quieter: a place to walk the dog after work, a trail for the kids on a Saturday, somewhere to go when the house feels small in February.
If a park matters to you, go at the time you’d really use it. A trail at 4:30 on a Tuesday in November tells you more than a sunny Sunday in June. Then look at what’s for sale within a short drive.
Homes near these parks are in Crown Point, Hammond, Griffith, Hobart, and Hebron. Our guide to moving to Crown Point covers the town around Lemon Lake.
Already own a house and thinking about winter? Our winterizing guide and our guide to selling in winter pick up where this one leaves off.
Back at Lemon Lake
By six it’s full dark. The girl has found four flags and lost one glove. Her father is holding the map now, upside down, and she’s correcting him.
On the drive home she asks if they can come back in daylight to see where they were.
Work with Realest
Want to live close to a trail you love? Send us a note and tell us which park.
Own a home already? Ask for your home value and we’ll pull the recent sales near you.
Call the shop at (219) 808-1520.
Pamela “Pam” Joveski is the founding owner of Realest. Realest Realty is at 112 S. Main St., Suite B, Crown Point.
Photo of Deep River in Deep River County Park, Lake County, Indiana, by Jstuby on Wikimedia Commons, CC0. Cropped, text added.
Program dates, times, and fees come from Lake County Parks and event organizers and can change. Call ahead before you go. The father and daughter at Lemon Lake are an example, not real clients.
Sources
- Night Orienteering Adventure at Lemon Lake, from Lake County Parks
- Full Moon Stroll at Gibson Woods, from Lake County Parks
- Opt Outside Family Nature Hike at Oak Ridge Prairie, from Lake County Parks
- Campfire and Owl Prowl at Stoney Run, from Lake County Parks
- Deep River County Park, from Lake County Parks
- Harvest and Holly Market, from Cedar Lake Farmers Market
- Solar Calculator from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Ask Realest
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When you’re ready to talk it through, contact us or call (219) 808-1520.
FAQ
What is there to do outside in Lake County, Indiana in November?
Lake County Parks has a night orienteering course at Lemon Lake on November 7, a full moon walk at Gibson Woods on November 24, and a family hike at Oak Ridge Prairie and a campfire owl walk at Stoney Run on November 27. Deep River County Park in Hobart is there for a walk any day you like.
Do I need to register for Lake County Parks programs?
For three of the four November programs, yes. The Gibson Woods, Oak Ridge Prairie, and Stoney Run listings say registration is required at 219-844-3188. The Lemon Lake night course is registered through the Chicagoland Area Orienteering Club.
How much do the November park programs cost?
The Full Moon Stroll at Gibson Woods is $2 a person and the Campfire and Owl Prowl at Stoney Run is $7 a person. The Oak Ridge Prairie hike listing shows no fee. Lemon Lake pricing is set by the orienteering club.
What time does it get dark in Crown Point in November?
After clocks fall back on November 1, sunset in Crown Point comes around 4:40 p.m. in early November and closer to 4:25 p.m. by Thanksgiving week. Bring a headlamp or flashlight for anything that runs past 4:30.
Is living near a county park a reason to pick a town in Lake County?
For plenty of buyers, it’s on the list next to the commute and the schools. Walk the park nearest a house you like at the time of day you’d use it, then decide if it matters to you.
How do I talk to Realest about homes near a Lake County park?
Call the shop at (219) 808-1520 or send us a note through our contact page. Tell us which park you like and we’ll pull homes nearby.