Indiana State Parks Challenge Complete!

You know the feeling you get when you set a goal, and complete it?  Well, that is where I am today.  A great feeling!  Earlier in the year I set a goal to hike in every Indiana state park that I had not already hiked in.  If it had a challenge, I completed it.  Yesterday I completed that challenge.

I have spent a LOT of time in the woods this year! 

I know I already blogged about some of them, but yesterday (as I was bragging on Facebook about completing this challenge) someone asked me to rank them.  There are some definite winners in my book.  Almost all the most amazing state parks are located in the southwest quadrant of our state.  Part of this may be due to the fact that it is very hilly and geological.  But here is my list (if I didn’t hike this park this year I indicated that):

1. Shades State Park – Hands down the most beautiful state park in Indiana.  It’s amazing.  Many trails go along creek beds, so be aware you may get wet!  You should know there are many ladders to climb here.  They have a challenge here called the 6 Ravine Challenge.  You have to take pictures of certain things along the trail, and then they will give you a sticker! 2020
2. Turkey Run State Park – This park has the most ethereal atmosphere, almost like scenes from Game of Thrones.  Absolutely beautiful, and near Shades.  It was pouring down rain when I hiked this, so there was water everywhere.  Many trails cross or go in creeks; there are ladders to climb as well.  Totally worth it.  But I was soaked!  Towards the end, crossing creeks, the water was halfway to my knees, so my “waterproof” boots were no match for the depth of water.  This park has a 5-mile challenge, but I didn’t know about it when I was there, so I want to go back and complete this.  At any rate, I’d like to hike it when it’s not raining cats and dogs! 2020
3. Potato Creek State Park – There were so many water birds at this park!  I hiked this park on my way home from my daughter’s house in Michigan, and I was trying to get it in between thunder storms (I didn’t make it – got soaked again).  I plan to go back here in the spring to photograph wildlife.
4. McCormick’s Creek State Park – This was a really pretty park as well.  The trail I took followed much of the creek bed.  Jovie (my dog) loved it because she could lay down in the cool water!  There is an old wolf cave there, too.  The history was pretty interesting.
5. Lincoln State Park – This was a very beautiful park. I hiked a trail that went back to a secluded pond that had been restored.  It was a beautiful setting.  I was hoping I would see some wildlife there, but it was misty raining when I was there, and I guess all the wildlife was taking cover!
6. Tippecanoe River State Park – Lovely park with trails along the Tippecanoe River. 
7. Prophetstown State Park – This park was very unique in that it was a restored prairie.  They let the prairie grasses grow (way above my head!), and there was an Indian settlement on the property to see.  Most of the trails here are in the open, so sunscreen is a must!
8. Chain O’Lakes State Park – Okay, so I didn’t think the hiking was stellar here, and I thought the mosquitos were going to carry me off, but I did go back and complete the 9-lake Kayak Challenge with a couple of friends.  This is where the magic is in this park.  There are 11 lakes here, and 9 of them are connected.  The total length is 5 miles, but you start in the middle, and because of this you do all of it twice.  If you only want to do half of it then go to the right from the kayak rentals (as you are facing the lake).  This was the prettiest and most interesting part of it to me.
9. Clifty Falls State Park – I have hiked every trail in this part (it’s close to where I live).  They have a Four Falls Hike Challenge, which is actually pretty easy to do.  Going in the spring or fall is the best time to visit here because the falls have more water. Hiked prior to 2021.
10. Brown County State Park – This park is very nice with rolling hills and great views.  They have a 7 Vista Challenge (which is really a driving thing), but I did it anyway.  Just be aware that they have released rattlesnakes in this park and they are thriving. Prior to 2021.
11. Fort Harrison State Park – This park is located on the northeast side of Indianapolis, but you wouldn’t know it when you’re in the park.  It’s really pretty, and you feel like you’re far from civilization when on the trails.
12. Indiana Dunes State Park – Talk about some great views, this park had it!  I completed the 3-Dune Challenge, which climbs the 3 highest dunes in the park.  This was VERY challenging for me.  Jovie kept looking at me when we would stop on the upward climb (because I couldn’t breathe!), and she would look at me like, “Now why are we doing this??”  haha.  It was a challenge, but I finished it in just 1 ½ hours.  I thought the first dune was the hardest.
13. Pokagon State Park – This park was a really nice one, too.  They had an 8-mile Hell’s Point Challenge. At one point on this trail there was a secluded pond, and I saw a couple of sandhill cranes. This park is pretty hilly.  I started at 8:30 AM and finished at 12:30 PM and by then it was quite hot. 
14. Spring Mill State Park – I’ve hiked many times in this park.  There is a trail you can take where you see several of the caves here.  In the summertime you can feel a cool breeze coming out of them, which is quite refreshing.  There is a pioneer village here that is really awesome in the summertime, and an old grist mill that still works.  The creek flowing through the village has really cold water which is nice on a hot day. Prior to 2021.
15. Whitewater Memorial State Park – The White River flows through this park.  Hiking is easy but interesting.
16. Versailles State Park – I’ve also hiked every trail in this park.  It’s small, but interesting.  They have nesting bald eagles here, so you can spot them now and then.  Some water birds, too. Prior to 2021 and current,
17. White River State Park – This is an urban park in Indianapolis.  It is located next to the White River, but they have also built a canal (which is the trail I took).  Even though it was late fall and no leaves were on the trees this was a very nice, serene walk.  3.5 miles, too, which you wouldn’t think in an urban setting.
18. Mounds State Park – This park has a lot of history with the mounds there.  You can Google about that.  Hiking was very easy.
19. Shakamak State Park – This park has three manmade lakes on it, so for me it wasn’t all that great.  I hiked a trail around one of the lakes and saw a very big rat snake curled up on a tree limb so that was cool!
20. O’Bannon Woods State Park – This park is located next to the Ohio River, so there were some pretty spectacular views from the trail I took.  I saw a couple of barges going up river as well.
21. Charlestown State Park – This park has some interesting history in that it used to have an amusement park there, until the flood of 1937 flooded it out and did so much damage they decided not to restore it.  There are signs around that show where the buildings had been located, and how high the water level was.
22. Falls of the Ohio State Park – Located next to the Ohio River on the Indiana side this is a great place to see fossils.
23. Harmonie State Park – Nothing truly spectacular about his park, but nearby Harmonie, Indiana was an awesome town.  I want to go back there for a long weekend.  Very serene.
24. Ouabache State Park – Easy hiking here.  They have a herd of bison there that was pretty cool.
25. Summit Lake State Park – Another manmade lake area.  Not my fave type of setting, so I wasn’t that impressed.
26. Richard Lieber State Park – I included this because the DNR site says it’s a state park, but really it’s just a recreational area.  They have a huge lake there, so water activities would be nice.  They had ONE trail that was .75 miles long.  Haha  Yes, I hiked it!  If you go here visit Cataract Falls, which is nearby.  This is definitely worth a visit!

Which park do you want to visit first??

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