Even though it isn’t as scenic as some states, Indiana has a
lot to offer in its state parks. There are 26 parks in total, and they are
spread throughout the state. The following list showcases the ten best ones to
visit.
1. Turkey Run (Marshall)
Turkey Run State Park has my vote as
the best state park in Indiana. There are many other people who agree with me
as well based on reviews I’ve seen online and what friends have said. Turkey
Run features some of the most rugged trails in any of the state parks, with
certain trails winding through a creek bed and others that contain a portion
where you are going downhill while walking on rocks. There is also a trail that
has two ladders on it that go up/down a rock wall. Apart from these adventurous
trails, there are also trails that lead to a covered bridge and an old cave
that was used for mining many years ago. Another defining feature is the large
suspension bridge that crosses over Sugar Creek. It truly has everything you
could want for a good day’s hike.
2. Shades (Waveland)
Shades State Park is just 15 minutes from
Turkey Run and contains many of the same types of fun, challenging trails, but
for some reason isn’t anywhere near as popular. If you’re looking for trails
that cause you to hike through creek beds, lead to fun waterfalls, and contain
decent elevation changes (for Indiana), consider going to Shades. It’s much
quieter than Turkey Run because of the lighter amount of foot traffic, which
honestly helps you appreciate nature better. Shades is actually larger than
Turkey Run, but the trails in Shades are much shorter (though just as many are
marked Rugged).
Mounds State Park contains a lot
of history in it. One of the oldest houses in the area are on its grounds and
open for visitation, and there are many replica artifacts to see inside the
house. The park gets its name from the large mounds that were created by the
Native Americans that once lived in the area. These are not burial mounds;
rather, they were made to view different ceremonies that the tribe would
perform. This state park also has a fun trail that goes down to the White River
and follows it for a time. It’s fun to see people canoeing or kayaking by as
you hike feet from the river’s edge. Mounds doesn’t necessarily have any challenging
trails like the first two parks in this entry, but it does have two connector
trails that involve some boardwalks and quite a bit of stairs. This park is
also a lot smaller than Shades and Turkey Run, but it still contains 6 miles of
trails.
4. Ouabache (Bluffton)
One distinguishing characteristic of this
state park is the bison exhibit. There are around 8-10 of these creatures in a
habitat near the old fire tower, and there is even a bison baby that is less
than a year old. This park offers a nice lake for swimming and fishing too.
Even though the park is barely over 1,000 acres, the park still has over 13
miles of trails (plus one 2.5-mile bike trail). However, these trails are
mostly flat and don’t offer as much excitement as some of the others parks on
this list. It does offer one of the longest trails, with a 6-mile trail that
skirts around the lake, bison exhibit, and campground. It’s a nice place to
come for a relaxing hike.
5. Fort Harrison (Lawrence)
This park offers a mix of fun
hiking and history because it is directly next to an area that used to be a
functioning U.S. Army base. Fort Harrison is located just outside of the
bustling city of Indianapolis, but once you’re in the park you don’t even get
the hint of a big city. Apart from traditional hiking trails, this state park
contains a large sledding hill, dog park, warfare museum, horse trails, bike
trails, golf course, and fishing. While not as rugged as Turkey Run or Shades,
Fort Harrison offers elevation changes that are similar to Mounds. The Fall
Creek Trail, while only 1 mile long, offers some great views of the river
nearby and goes by a tranquil duck pond. The most difficult trails to hike are
the bike trails, which are technically labeled “multi-use trails”.
6. Pokagon (Angola)
Pokagon has within its park limits a
toboggan hill that I’ve been wanting to try out for years. People traveling on
one of the two tracks can get up to 35-40 mph in the right conditions! While I
can’t speak much more about that, but I can offer info about the hiking trails
in the park. There are just as many miles of trails as the last 2 parks on the
list, but most of Pokagon’s trails are rated “moderate” or higher, which is not
something Ouabache or Fort Harrison can claim. Several trails mosey through
forests and out into wetland areas, the best of which is trail 9. Apart from
hiking, this park also offers swimming, fishing, horse trails, a biking trail,
and camping. Adjacent to the state park is Beechwood Nature Preserve, which
offers another 1.7 miles of trail.
7. Clifty Falls (Madison)
Visitors tend to come here to take in the
four scenic waterfalls or to hike the challenging trails. Eight of the park’s
ten trails are marked as “Rugged” or higher, as many trails go up and down the
canyons around the river/its waterfalls. Many of the trails are short, however,
with only three of the ten going farther than a mile. With all of the elevation
involved in traversing these trails, that may end up being a good thing. I speak from experience when I say the park is beautiful, but a day here will wear you out! Highly recommended!
8. Brown County (Nashville)
Brown County is the most talked about state
park in Indiana, and after having visited, I can understand why. It is the largest state park in Indiana (15,000+ acres) and boasts
1.3 million visitors per year. Most of this foot traffic is to catch the
amazing views that the park offers. Being in southern Indiana, the park
contains many rolling hills and views of these hills are said to remind people
of the Smoky Mountains. Despite its size, Brown County only has 14-15 miles of
hiking trails, though it also contains 25 miles of bike trails and nearly 70
miles of horse trails. Also offered here are fishing, swimming, and camping,
but much of the focus is on the scenery here. People come here from all over the
United States to view this place in the fall, and the views are said to be
absolutely incredible. If heights don’t bother you, consider going up the 90
foot fire tower for a great view of the surrounding hills.
9. Chain O’Lakes (Albion)
A state park like this one is best
enjoyed if you have a canoe, kayak, or small fishing boat. Chain O’Lakes, as
the name suggests, contains 9 connected lakes that are ideal for a day of
exploring or fishing. There are also 3 more lakes in the park, though they are
smaller and more for scenic hiking than anything else. There are more than 23
miles of hiking trails here, and many of them come across one of the lakes at
some point. Two trails here are rated “rugged”, though the hiking itself is not
tough. The trails are rated that way mainly due to stairs and changes on
elevation. A few of the trails go by a schoolhouse that was built back in 1915
and serves as a cool way to step back in time and see what school was like
then. Chain O’Lakes is also one of the better parks to camp at because of the
size of the campground and the availability of family cabins that are on a
hillside overlooking one of the lakes.
10.Indiana Dunes (Chesterton)
This state park is probably the most unique
one in Indiana because of the sandy dunes that take up many miles of the hiking
trails. The miles of Lake Michigan beaches can be walked in the park, and some
of the dunes get as high as 200 feet! One of the main attractions here is the
beach, where people flock in the summer to enjoy the beauty of Lake Michigan.
Hiking the 16+miles of trails here is something much different than your average
trail due to the frequent changes in elevation and all of the sand you need to
be wary of getting in your shoes. If you’re up for a challenge, go for trail 8,
which is a 1.5-mile trail that takes you up and down the 3 tallest dunes in the
park. The scenery here is extra special because of the great lake views available
on multiple trails.
Honorable Mention: McCormick’s Creek (Spencer)
This park almost made the list due to its waterfall, cave,
quarry, fire tower, and 10+ miles of trails. It's also Indiana's oldest state park!
