6 Best Hiking Trails and Parks to Explore in Southern Indiana
Whether you’re hoofing it along a smooth, paved pathway or ascending a steep, rugged footpath, Southern Indiana offers an incredible diversity of trails and paths for hikers of every ability. Local experts Andrea Wasson Stemle, president of Friends of the Ohio River Greenway, and Philip Hendershot, chairman of the Ohio River Greenway Development Commission, highlight some of the region’s best places to hike.
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Ohio River Greenway
Clark and Floyd counties
This 7.5-mile, multiuse pathway follows the Ohio and offers great views of Louisville, Kentucky, across the river.
“For a lot of people, being on the Greenway is just part of their daily connection with nature because it’s so convenient,” says Hendershot, an avid hiker and biker. “Most people access the Greenway from their favorite spot and do a 2-to-3-mile loop within it. With different views from each of these spots, the Greenway offers a lot of variety within a small space.”
Falls of the Ohio State Park
Clarksville
Situated on the banks of the Ohio River, this conveniently located park features fossil beds that are 390 million years old and are among the largest exposed Devonian fossil beds in the world.
“It’s unique to be able to walk so close to the water anywhere along the Ohio River, with the best time to hike the fossil beds in late summer and fall,” Hendershot says.
Clifty Falls State Park
Madison
With waterfalls ranging from roaring plunges to delicate mists, depending on the weather and the season, the park’s trails offer picturesque, unique experiences, Hendershot says.
“Many of the trails are perched on the ridge, and the views of the canyon and the waterfalls make this a spectacular place,” Hendershot says.
Charlestown State Park
Charlestown
“This area has emerged as the park for hikers,” Hendershot says. Multiple trails ranging from easy to rugged are well-marked and maintained. “A lot of the trails follow Fourteenmile Creek or the Ohio River on very hilly terrain, and in the winter, you get a better appreciation for the scale and diversity of the landscape, which is immense,” he says.
Visitors can also explore the historic remains of Rose Island, a popular 20th-century resort destination nestled within the park’s boundaries.
Origin Park
Clarksville
Origin Park is an evolving new riverfront park designed to work with the Ohio River’s flooding rather than against it, with such features as elevated trails and flood-resilient landscapes. A short trail off the Ohio River Greenway takes visitors into Buttonbush Woods, with access to Mill Creek Trail.
“It is so encouraging to see this formerly underutilized area, which is so rich in history, now get elevated to a public park,” Stemle says. “That is a profound transformation that should add to quality of life in our metro area.”
Mount Saint Francis Center for Spirituality
Floyd County
The center’s hiking trails are open to the public and very popular.
“The trail around the lake has great views,” Hendershot says. “As the regional headquarters for the Franciscan Friars, there is a serenity to the experience of hiking here. And there are small shrines to the saints and other surprises along the trails.”
Check out more top picks at livability.com/one-southernindiana-hikes.
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That’s the Plan: Collaborative develops Regional Trails Master Plan to guide future growth
Align Southern Indiana, a nonprofit regional collaborative, unites the leaders of four counties to achieve their potential as places to live, play and work. As part of that work, Align collaborated with the Our Southern Indiana Regional Development Authority, and Jefferson and Scott counties in developing a Regional Trails Master Plan for a regional trail system.
The plan seeks to connect 22 communities to popular destinations such as cultural and historic sites, local, regional and state parks, and neighboring regions with the ultimate goal of promoting more active, healthy living.
“By connecting our communities, we’re fostering opportunities for outdoor recreation, economic development and healthier lifestyles,” says Dr. Rita Shourds, president and CEO of Align Southern Indiana.
The plan resulted from a seven-month planning process, which included meetings with numerous stakeholders, online surveys and open houses in six counties (Clark, Floyd, Harrison, Jefferson, Scott and Washington).
“This community involvement is a reflection of the excitement this project created,” Shourds says.
The plan proposes new routes adding more than 180 additional miles of trail to the region, prioritizing connections to major destinations and extending or connecting to existing trail routes.
“Align’s mission includes the desire for our region to be a great place to live and work, and the development of the Regional Trails Plan is one way the organization is working to create a well-rounded citizenship,” Shourds says. “The importance of having created the integral piece for trail development will ensure future trails will maximize the amenities of our area in the long-term, thus benefitting those for generations to come.”