Sunday, August 26, 2018

10 Incredible State Parks in Indiana


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.
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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.
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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).
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3. Mounds (Anderson)
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.
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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.
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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”.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!