Are you looking to explore the great outdoors in Indiana? Check out these top hiking trails in the Hoosier state for stunning views and unforgettable experiences.
28 Of The Most Scenic Hiking Trails In The Hoosier State
Many think of Indiana as full of nothing but flat land full of corn and soybean fields. They might know about the Indy 500 raceway, but don’t know of trails that include limestone canyons, sand dunes, rushing waterfalls, and caves.
They don’t think of finding geodes and fossils or enjoying vast fields of wildflowers, but it is true: Indiana has plenty of beautiful hiking trails full of those things and more!
These trails are in no particular order. Each is uniquely beautiful in its own way.
1. Hemlock Cliffs, English
There is only one trail in this area: a 1.2-mile loop with a small loop off the side that you will want to take. Along the trail, you will be treated to seasonal waterfalls, rock shelters, sandstone rock formations, and a box canyon.
2. Bluffs Of Beaver Bend, Shoals
Walk below and then on top of colorful sandstone cliffs. View both the White River and Beaver Creek. If you head down to the river’s shores, you may find the shells of freshwater mussels. Make sure to visit Sprout Spring near the entrance to the preserve. It is one of the highest-volume freshwater springs in Indiana.
3. Jug Rock, Shoals
This isn’t much of a hike, but it is very close to the Bluffs of Beaver Bend, and to miss it would be missing something very unusual to see in this part of the USA. Jug Rock is the largest free-standing table rock formation in the USA east of Mississippi.
4. Charles C. Deam Wilderness, Bloomington
There are several hikes to enjoy in the Charles C. Deam Wilderness area of the Hoosier National Forest. When we went, we took the Hayes trail out to Patton Cave and the Grubb trail back to the campground. The highlight of this trail is the cave and the geodes found in the creek beds.
The most popular hike in the area is the Lake Monroe Peninsula Trail. Beginning backpackers love this trail. It is just over 10 miles round trip, and there are several lakefront campsites that are perfect for watching an epic sunset.
5. Morgan-Monroe State Forest, Martinsville
If you want to do a longer day hike, Morgan-Monroe State Forest has two great ones. Read our post reviewing the forest here.
6. Mounds State Park, Anderson
If you are a history lover, you will enjoy the trails at Mounds State Park. It features 10 earthworks built by the Adena-Hopewell People.
7. Hanover College, Hanover
If you like fossils and waterfalls, check out the Karns Natural History Trails at Hanover College. Please remember if we all take fossils home with us, there won’t be any left for others to enjoy.
8. Charlestown State Park, Charlestown
Another hike for those who love history is the Rose Island trail at Charlestown State Park. It will take you through what used to be a popular amusement park in the area.
9. Nine Penny Branch Nature Preserve, Charlestown
A 2.3-mile loop trail. The trail leads hikers through an old-growth forest and then down to Nine Penny Branch Creek, where they will enjoy a waterfall.
This preserve, as well as Charlestown State Park and Hanover College, are all close enough to each other to be combined into one to two days of hiking.
10. Turkey Run State Park, Marshall
The best hiking in all of Indiana can be found at Turkey Run State Park. In this park, you get to climb up and down ladders, boulders, and ravines. Wear hiking boots that you don’t mind getting muddy because you will get your feet wet unless you go during a long dry spell.
11. France Park, Logansport
Limestone quarries are a big part of Indiana’s past and make great swimming and hiking spots. France Park has a great trail around the old quarry that is now filled with water. Another trail also takes you around a pond and to a made-made waterfall.
12. McCormick’s Creek State Park, Spencer
This is Indiana’s first state park. Within its borders, you can enjoy a limestone canyon, a waterfall, and a cave (within the property is Wolf Cave Nature Preserve) and see the area where the limestone was taken for the Indianapolis State House.
13. Green’s Bluff Nature Preserve, Spencer
There are two different trails at two different trailheads for Green’s Bluff. Both have a small parking lot able to fit roughly five vehicles.
The picture above was taken along the North Loop trail, which overlooks hemlock bluffs before descending to Raccoon Creek.
14. Portland Arch, Covington
Follow the path along the sandstone gorge until you come to a rare site in Indiana: a stone arch. This hike is less than a mile, but well worth the visit. While there, look for what remains of the resort and Boy Scout camp once in this area.
15. Williamsport Falls, Williamsport
There is a 1.6-mile hike that you can do in this area, but the main reason I am mentioning this is that it is only a 15-minute drive away from Portland Arch. It is worth the stop if it happens to be flowing; even if you don’t complete the trail, at least hike down to the waterfall’s base.
16. Black Rock Nature Preserve, Otterbein
One last short hike to enjoy while heading to Portland Arch is the Black Rock Nature Preserve. Here, you will find a small cave and great views of the river below.
17. Ouabache State Park, Bluffton
Places where you can see bison in Indiana are pretty rare and Oubache State Park is one of those places. They also have a nice wooded trail that borders the park, which is beautiful when the fall colors are at full show.
18. Cataract Falls, Spencer
A trail takes you from the Upper Falls to the Lower Falls or you can cheat and drive to both overlooks. By volume, this is the largest waterfall in Indiana.
19. Salamonie River State Forest, Lagro
The trails in this state forest are hard to follow (or perhaps that is just Jack and I). However, within these woods are three waterfalls and several overlooks of the Salamonie River. The longest trail in the park is the Blue Trail, which is 8 miles long and takes you near each of the five waterfalls marked on the state forest trail map. Not all of the waterfalls run year-round; like many falls in Indiana, they are seasonal.
20. Hathaway Preserve at Ross Run, Wabash
This picture is not a good representation of the beauty you will find along this two-mile trail. The best time to walk here is in the fall when the leaves have changed colors. And if fall has been wet, that is even better as you will be treated to the sound and beauty of mini waterfalls.
21. Hanging Rock, Lagro
It is a short climb to the top with great views of the Wabash River. Combine your trip here with Ross Run, Salamonie River State Forest, and Kokiwanee Nature Preserve for a day full of great views.
22. Kokiwanee Nature Preserve, Lagro
This 3.1-mile trail takes you past both Frog Falls and Kissing Falls. You will walk along the bluffs above the Salamonie River for a portion of the trail before heading into the woods.
23. Brown County State Park, Nashville
Walk along wooded ridges on the trails of Indiana’s largest state park. AllTrails lists 20 trails for this park. Many of these trails are also for mountain bikers so stay alert so you can get out of the way if someone comes down the trail behind you.
When you are done hiking for the day, visit one of the park’s many scenic overlooks at sunset.
24. Shades State Park, Waveland
The paths in this park will take you into Devil’s Punch Bowl, Steamboat Rock, past Maidenhair Falls, and Lover’s Leap, where you can look down at Sugar Creek below. And that doesn’t include the six ravines you can walk up and down. If you decide to hike all six, make sure to do what you need to complete the six ravine challenge and claim your sticker at the end of the day.
25. Pine Hills Nature Preserve, Waveland
To get to this nature preserve, you need to enter Shades State Park. From there, you will walk through the woods, across a road over the fence, and onto the 2.7-mile path. You will walk across Devil’s Backbone before heading down into the ravine where you will see honeycomb rock. Landscapes like this exist nowhere else in Indiana. It truly is a unique hike in our state.
A Few More Must-Do Hikes In Indiana
Some of these trails we have hiked, but it was before the age of smartphones so I don’t have pictures to share. Others are on our radar to hike one day. No matter the reason, these, like those above, are some of the best hiking trails in Indiana.
26. Clifty Falls State Park, Madison
There are six waterfalls in the park, but only four are accessible—the best time to see the falls is in winter or spring. You will trek through rocky and uneven terrain on most of this park’s trails.
This park is not far from the historic town of Madison, which has a walkway along the Ohio River. I highly recommend visiting the town and walking the walkway if you have time.
27. Indiana Dunes National Park, Porter
The Cowles Bog Trail is listed as the number one trail in Indiana by AllTrails. You are led through several habitats, including swamps, ponds, marshes, black oak savannas, and beaches. A boardwalk takes you over the wettest area of the trail. On the beach you can see Chicago way off in the distance.
Another great path in the park is the Dune Succession Trail.
28. Indiana Dunes State Park, Chesterton
If you want a physical challenge, take the Three Dunes challenge. Afterward, take a dip in Lake Michigan to cool off.
Indiana’s Longer Backpacking Trails
1. The Adventure Hiking Trail
This trail runs through O’Bannon Woods State Park and Harrison-Crawford State Forest. It is 25 miles long and includes caves and sinkholes.
2. The Knobstone Trail
At 60 miles, this is Indiana’s longest backpacking trail. It follows the Knobstone Escarpment, which creates many steep climbs and descents. Some people who plan to hike the Appalachian trail do the Knobstone trail as a warm-up.
3. The Tecumseh Trail
A 44-mile footpath that begins in Morgan-Monroe State Forest and ends in Yellowwood State Forest.
What amazing Indiana hiking area did I miss? Let me know so I can add it to my bucket list.
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