10 Indiana State Parks That Can’t Be Missed
Looking to explore the great outdoors? These ten state parks in Indiana can't be missed.
Indiana is home to more than two dozen beautiful and diverse state parks that provide a captivating blend of natural beauty and recreational opportunities. More than 15 million people visit the Hoosier State’s collection of state parks each year, and visitors can indulge in diverse landscapes, from serene lakes and dense forests to rolling hills and picturesque waterfalls. From the rolling hills of Brown County to the towering dunes of the Indiana Dunes, there is something for everyone to enjoy when exploring Indiana’s state parks.
Narrowing down the top ten is difficult, but these parks provide plenty of offerings, including trails, historic features, scenic views and amenities for everyone.
In This Article
1. Turkey Run State Park
Near Marshall, IN
Turkey Run State Park is most famous for its sandstone canyons, deep ravines, and stunning views. There are many hiking opportunities, with eleven trails and a 5 Mile Challenge that guides visitors through three canyons. In addition to hiking, visitors can bike, ride and swim. Turkey Run Inn and Narrows Restaurant is ln the park and offers accommodation and dining options.
Turkey Run has an intriguing piece of history buried in its backyard. Colonel Richard Lieber, the founder of Indiana’s state park system, loved Turkey Run State Park so much that his ashes are buried there. Additionally, on Trail 11, you’ll find the Lieber Memorial and other pieces of history.
2. Indiana Dunes State Park
Chesterton, IN
Located along the shores of Lake Michigan and surrounded by the Indiana Dunes National Park is Indiana Dunes State Park. With its towering dunes, pristine beach and lush marsh and wetlands, this park is a great way to escape the hustle and bustle. Swimming, hiking, birding and camping are the most popular activities at Indiana Dunes. Those up for a dare can take the 3 Dune Hiking Challenge, which includes a 552 vertical climb and views from all three dunes.
3. Shades State Park
Waveland, IN
Shades State Park, just 20 miles outside Crawfordsville, is a popular destination for hiking and backpacking enthusiasts. There are roughly 10 miles of scenic trails for every experience level, from easy to moderate and rugged. The park is known for its rolling hills, sandstone cliffs, heavily wooded areas and ravines. You’ll discover the darkest skies in Indiana at Shades, which regularly hosts Astrology and stargazing events. Plus, there are several camping and picnicking sites available to visitors.
4. Brown County State Park
Near Nashville, IN
Brown County State Park is known as the “Little Smokies” of the Midwest, and for good reason! This hidden gem shares many similarities to the Great Smoky Mountains and is a nature lover’s paradise. The park’s rolling hills, forests, creeks, scenic overlooks and autumn foliage make it one of the most popular places to visit in the fall.
Brown County is also known for its Nature Center and the endangered Yellowwood tree. Visitors enjoy hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing and camping. The park’s 7 Vista Challenge encourages guests to explore all seven of the park’s scenic vista overlooks.
Looking to stay overnight? The Abe Martin Lodge is tucked within the park’s 16,000 acres and has more than 80 rooms, a restaurant on site and cabins. There is plenty to keep you busy indoors and out, and the lodge has a water park with twisting slides and lazy rivers. While in the park, visitors can also enjoy tennis and basketball courts and an outdoor pool.
5. Clifty Falls State Park
Madison, IN
Clifty Falls State Park is home to some of Indiana’s tallest waterfalls and offers stunning views of the Ohio River. The park is located in Madison, located directly on the Ohio River, and is known for its sandstone cliffs, ravines and hiking trails. The canyon is home to four massive waterfalls — two of which are ADA-accessible — and draws visitors from all over the country.
The campground has modern bathroom facilities, an Olympian-sized outdoor pool and waterslides, and playfields. The park’s inn, Clifty Falls Inn, overlooks the Ohio River and has hosted guests since 1924. Falls Restaurant is on-site and serves fresh home-style meals, highlighting Indiana favorites like pork tenderloin, perfect for refueling after a hike.
6. Spring Mill State Park
Near Mitchell, IN
A key resource for an industrial village of the early 1800s, Spring Mill State Park is a unique blend of history for the natural and cultural worlds of Southern Indiana. Pioneers once took advantage of the water source that never froze, even in the coldest winters, and used it to power a wool mill, sawmill, distillery and several gristmill. Today, the park features 20 restored buildings, including a working water-powered gristmill and a schoolhouse. The Spring Mill Pioneer Village is open daily from May to mid-October, and visitors can take in the sites and history. The park is also home to two cave systems where visitors can explore the underground passages of the Twin Caves.
On site is the historic 73-room Spring Mill Inn, a warm and inviting space where guests can dine at the Millstone Dine Room and enjoy a heated indoor/outdoor pool and a game room. The inn is undergoing renovations and is expected to reopen in spring 2024.
7. Charlestown State Park
Charlestown, IN
Located along the banks of the Ohio River and in an area once part of a largely underdeveloped Indiana Army Ammunition plant, the Charlestown State Park is now Indiana’s third largest state park. This state park is unlike any other. What sets Charlestown apart? The 100-year-old abandoned amusement park is located in the middle of the state park. The Rose Island Amusement Park is a 1920s-era theme park that was long ago abandoned, and the remaining ruins within the state park are rumored to be haunted. Only a few remnants of the park remain, but historical markers tell a story of where a lively amusement park and hotel once occupied the peninsula.
Outside of the theme park treasures, Charlestown State Park features stunning river views, rugged hiking trails, deep ravines and the Fourteenmile Creek. Popular park activities include hiking, biking, camping, fishing, boating, picnicking, and bird watching.
8. Prophetstown State Park
Near West Lafayette, IN
Prophestown is Indiana’s newest state park, but coincidentally, it is one of the ones with the most profound history. The Prophetstown State Park commemorates a Native American village founded in the early 1800s by Shawnee leaders Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa. The brothers took charge of forging an alliance with other tribes and was the site of a significant battle.
Today, Prophetstown State Park is where the Tippecanoe and Wabash Rivers converge, and outdoor recreation is a must. The area highlights the rich heritage of the Native American community and the 19th-century settlement and features interpretive exhibits, scenic trails and wildlife viewing. There is also an open-air museum with living history exhibits, a Shawnee village, and a working 1920s-era farmstead with animals, farming, gardening and blacksmithing.
9. Pokagon State Park
Near Angola, IN
Located in northeastern Indiana, Pokagon State Park is a laking park thanks to its proximity to Lake James and Snow Lake, which surround the park. This park is a water lover’s dream, and it is famous for its boating, fishing, swimming and various other water recreation activities. Adjacent to Pokagon is the Trine State Recreation area, which adds to the excitement.
Located within the 1,200-acre park is the Potawatomi Inn. This wilderness and fishing-themed lodge has 126 guest rooms, 12 cabins along the shores of Lake James and plenty of on-site amenities, including two restaurants, an indoor pool, fireplaces and a game room.
The winter season is just as exciting at Pokagon, with a toboggan run, sledding, cross-country skiing and ice fishing. The park’s refrigerated toboggan run is Pokagon’s most popular attraction. The run is 900 feet long and has a vertical drop of 90 feet!
10. Ouabache State Park
Bluffton, IN
Just 30 miles south of Fort Wayne is Ouabache State Park. Located along the Wabash River, the park operated as Wells County State Forest and Game Preserve in the early 1930s and was once considered the “Greatest Wildlife Laboratory in the United States.” Today, the park is known for fishing, hiking, camping and wildlife observation, unlike anywhere else. The park’s American Bison exhibit puts visitors up close and personal with American bison, where they are free to roam around the exhibit’s 20 acres. While visiting the park, it isn’t uncommon to see a variety of other wildlife, including deer, turkey, rabbits and waterfowl.
Camping, sports and recreation are the main attractions at the park. There is a three-mile bike trail, a bocce court, a baseball diamond, a volleyball pit, tennis and basketball courts, a playfield, a beach,and fishing. Twenty-five acres of Kunkel Lake provide access to boats, kayaks, canoes and paddleboats.
