John Merle Coulter Nature Preserve is a complex of oak savanna, sand prairie and inter-dunal wetlands that support over 400 species of plants and the federally endangered Karner Blue Butterfly. This unique property was sand mined in the 1930s, producing surprising results: habitat was created for several rare species and the disturbed areas were re-colonized almost exclusively by native plants. This dedicated state nature preserve (protected by law, and part of the system of nature preserves administered by Indiana DNR) is owned and managed by SHLT and is located on the east side of County Line Road between US 12 and US 20 in Portage. It is bounded on the north by the MonoSol, LLC plant and on the north and east by the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

This 90-acre site is mostly a former sand mine, with black oak savanna and sedge meadows on the north and south sides. The federally endangered Karner Blue Butterfly occurs at this site. The former sandpits have reverted to good quality sand prairie and oak savanna, sustaining a remarkable 19 state-listed plant species! The property is bordered by the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (Inland Marsh) on the north and east, residences on the south and County Line Road on the west. An old RR bed serves as a hiking trail on the preserve from west to east.

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From US 20, travel north on County Line Road (Lake/Porter County) about 1/2 mile to small gravel parking area on the east side of County Line Road, just north of 5th Ave, just south of the MonoSol plant. (From US 12, travel about 1/2 mile south on County line Road to parking area.)