Indiana State Parks for Outdoor Enthusiasts

Brookville Lake - Whitewater Memorial State Park is home to the Brookville Reservoir, situated in the Whitewater River Valley’s historic east fork. Remnants of mounds formed by prehistoric Native Americans can still be seen in the valley. The area is well known by some throughout the world for having a significant amount of Ordovician fossils. The Brookville Lake area also consists of two State Recreation Areas: Quakertown State Recreation Area and Mounds State Recreation Area. These feature over twenty-five miles of trails for hiking, two beaches, over four hundred campsites, and opportunities for boating, as well as sport and recreational fishing.

3056 Quakertown Ramp Rd, Liberty, IN 47353, Phone: 765-647-2657

Brown County is often referred to as the “Little Smokies” as it resembles the Great Smoky Mountains, encompassing almost sixteen thousand acres of fog-shrouded ravines, ridges, and rugged hills. The largest park in Indiana, Brown County State Park is particularly popular during the fall months when the leaves change color, offering almost twenty miles of roads lined with fall foliage and scenic vistas that overlook the uninterrupted forest. Seventy miles of horse trails, a saddle barn, interpretive services, trails for mountain biking and hiking, large campgrounds, and the Abe Martin Lodge can all be found in the Brown County State Park.

Nashville, IN 47448, Phone: 812-988-6406

Cagles Mill Lake was constructed in 1952 as the first flood control reservoir in the state of Indiana, protecting the White and Eel river watersheds. The 1,400 Cagles Mill Lake is fed by Mill Creek, home to the picturesque Cataract Falls. The Potawatomi, Shawnee, and MIami once inhabited the area during the 1800’s. Visitors can learn about the legends and history of the area at the Nature Center, while the Aquatic Center feature a water slide, water bubblers, and a zero-entrance swimming pool. The Aquatic Center is only open from Memorial Day until Labor Day.

1317 W. Lieber Rd, Cloverdale, IN 46120, Phone: 765-795-4576

Romantic Indiana State Parks

The Cecil M. Harden Lake recreation area includes the Historic Mansfield Roller Mill and the Raccoon State Recreation Area. An array of plants and animals can be seen on the grounds. THe Historic Mansfield Roller Mill has been preserved and is a working example of the turn-of-the-twentieth century industrialization of the state of Indiana. The 1880’s flour mill demonstrates to visitors using machinery from the time period how corn and wheat were processed into cornmeal and flour. Other activities visitors will find at Cecil M. Harden Lake include fishing, picnicking, hiking, basketball courts, an archery range, a playground, and camping.

1588 S. Raccoon Pkwy, Rockville, IN 47872, Phone: 765-344-1412

The Charlestown State Park was once a mostly undeveloped section of the extensive Indiana Army Ammunition plant. The state park is easy to access off of State Road 62 and features scenic vistas of the Ohio River and Fourteen-Mile Creek Valley, as well as deep ravines and rugged hills. Bird watchers will find plenty to see in the Charlestown State Park with seventy-two different bird species, including the occasional bald eagle, black vultures, and bluebirds. Charlestown is one of Indiana’s two state parks that includes campsites with full hookups. Other activities include hiking trails, fishing, and a playground.

12500 Indiana 62, Charlestown, IN 47111, Phone: 812-256-5600

The Clifty Falls State Park has entrances on both State Road 56 and State Road 62 near Madison, Indiana. The waterfalls in the park change with the seasons and weather, ranging from bridal-veil mists to roaring plunging cascades to frozen titans. The waterfalls of the Clifty Falls State Park are usually at their best during the spring and winter. The rugged Clifty Canyon provide exciting scenery and hiking opportunities throughout the year. The stony bed of Clifty Creek is full of fossil remnants, however, collecting fossils is prohibited within the park. There are collecting locations nearby though.

2221 Clifty Dr, Madison, IN 47250, Phone: 812-273-8885

Indiana State Parks for Families

The Falls of the Ohio State Park is located along the Ohio River’s banks in Clarksville. Its fossil beds are more than 385 million years old and are the world’s largest exposed Devonian fossil beds. The state park includes an excellent interpretive center that overlooks these fossil beds and features immersive and interactive exhibits.

Some of the popular activities within the Falls of the Ohio State Park area picnicking, bird watching, fossil viewing, hiking, and fishing. During the months of August, September, and October, the river is typically at its lowest, providing better accessibility to the park’s fossil beds stretching 220 acres.

201 W. Riverside Dr, Clarksville, IN 47129, Phone: 812-280-9970

The 1,700-acres Fort Harrison state park that is open year-round, and is particularly popular during the winter season since the park is home to some of the area’s largest sledding hills. The park features two national historic districts, access for fishing at Fall Creek, picnic sites, and trails for jogging and walking. Fort Harrison is also home to the Museum of 20th Century Warfare, which displays exhibits about the history and lives of soldiers who once occupied the ground of the old Fort Harrison. The state park is a green oasis within the urban landscape of Indianapolis.

6000 N. Post Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46216, Phone: 317-591-0904

The George Rogers Clark National Historical Park is the site where the British surrendered to the American Colonel George Rogers Clark on February 25 of 1779. The capture of the fort assured claims to the frontier for the United States, an area that was almost the size of the nation’s original thirteen states. The visitor center presents a movie lasting around thirty minutes about the western campaign of George Rogers Clark, as well as an audio program. Various exhibits explore Fort Sackville, the different cultures that were involved in the story of Clark, and additional facets of the Northwest Territory conquest.

401 S. 2nd St, Vincennes, IN 47591, Phone: 812-882-1776

Hardy Lake is the state of Indiana’s only state reservoir that was not constructed for flood control. This means the level of the lake remains stable throughout the year, which positively affects the wildlife around the lake, fishing, and the shoreline’s appearance. The multi-use facility offers camping, skiing, boating, swimming, hiking, and other activities. Great fossils, caves, rocky bluffs, and limestone surround Hardy Lake on all sides. The area is also home to a raptor rehabilitation center, and is the only DNR property to have one. This center provides care for injured birds of prey and education for visitors.

5620 N. Hardy Lake Rd, Scottsburg, IN 47170, Phone: 812-794-3800