John Spahr
Indiana State Parks
These are the state parks (here in the glorious "Corn State") that I have visited.
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McCormick's Creek
I am disappointed that some of the park is still closed off (as of Summer 2026), but Wolf Cave was AMAZING to crawl through and the whole park is magical. I adore it.
Spring Mill
This is one of my favorite state parks in Indiana. The pioneer village recreation is a blast to explore, and even better are the caves here. Specifically, I really love Donaldson Cave, which you're able to crawl through and explore to your heart's content. Just be prepared to get covered in mud. Overall, the scenery is excellent, and if you're a cave enthusiast like me, you'll be absolutely delighted by this park.
Potato Creek
This is a nice, calm, and surprisingly large state park. I enjoyed hiking the rugged trail and the lake views. I really enjoyed my time here, but sadly, I did not find any potatoes. Otherwise, it's great!
Clifty Falls
Probably the most epic state park in Indiana. Climbing over rocks to the falls and crawling through the Bat Tunnel are some of the coolest experiences I've had this summer.
O'Bannon Woods
This park is great, but it's super hard to navigate. My friend and I kept getting lost. Eventually, we found ourselves hiding out in a random cabin in the midst of some unexpected severe weather, which was a really exciting experience. Seriously, as crazy as it was, I had an awesome time! Anyway, other standout features include two cool caves and an amazing fire tower. If you can decipher the park map, I'm sure you'll dig it.
Whitewater Memorial
The two lakes here are a delight, but I found the trails to be lacking. With a little bit of cleaning up, they'd probably be great.
Fort Harrison
Similar to Pokagon, this park is really nice but nothing too crazy. It is well suited for biking, though, and the scenery is beautiful.
Chain 'O Lakes
This place is incredible. Beautiful lakes, fun trails, a great beach... This is one of my favorites for sure.
Pokagon
A lovely state park for sure, but not as essential to visit as some of the other parks on this list. Even so, the trails and lake are very nice.
Versailles
Not the most dazzling park, but it's still full of delightful surprises. Has some fun and challenging trails that make it worth the drive.
Brown County
One of the coolest parks in all of Indiana. It honestly feels like a different state. Paired with a lunch at Nashville, Indiana, this is peak state park. Plus, it has a fire tower you can climb!
Oubache
Highlights include the bison pen and amazing restored fire tower. The trails are nicely maintained, and the whole place is great. Love it.
Shades
This is pretty similar to Turkey Run but very underrated. I highly recommend checking out the rugged trails.
Turkey Run
Breathtaking and iconic. I especially love the rickety bridge. Easily worth a visit.
Summit Lake
The scenery here is beautiful and the beach is awesome. You can easily go through all of the trails in around three hours.
Mounds
Pretty woods and rich history make this park worth an afternoon visit, but don't expect anything breathtaking.