Best Hikes in Indiana

Indiana's hiking is modest by national standards, but the southern hill country parks and the Lake Michigan dunes have genuinely rewarding trails.

Turkey Run State Park: Rocky Hollow-Falls Canyon (3 miles)
Indiana's finest trail — the Rocky Hollow section passes through a series of slot-canyon passages in Dakota sandstone, each requiring scrambling over boulders and wading through shallow water (wet shoes required). The canyon narrows to 4 feet in places; the moss-covered walls are 60 feet high. The Falls Canyon section connects to three waterfalls. Allow 3 hours for the full loop.

Indiana Dunes: 3-Dune Challenge (Trail 9, 1.5 miles)
The most physically demanding state park hike in Indiana — the trail crosses the three tallest active dunes (Mount Tom, 192 ft; Mount Holden, 184 ft; Mount Jackson, 176 ft) in succession. The steep sand faces, the lake views from the dune crests, and the descent to Lake Michigan beach make this a memorable short hike.

Clifty Falls State Park: Gorge Trail (7 miles)
The main loop at Clifty Falls — four waterfalls (Clifty Falls, Big Clifty, Little Clifty, Twin Falls) in a limestone gorge above the Ohio River. The cliff overlooks above the Ohio give Indiana's finest river views. Best in spring (maximum waterfall flow) and October (foliage).

Brown County State Park: Hesitation Point Loop (6 miles)
From the Abe Martin Lodge — the Hesitation Point Trail reaches the finest view in Indiana (the forested brown county hills, best in October). The loop connects several smaller trails through the hardwood forest. The fall color is Indiana's best.

Hoosier National Forest: Charles C. Deam Wilderness (20+ miles)
The only designated wilderness area in Indiana — 13,000 acres of rolling forested hills in Monroe and Brown Counties. Multi-day backpacking with primitive campsites along Grubb Ridge and the Pate Hollow Trail. Solitude is genuine; wildlife (white-tailed deer, wild turkey, coyote) is abundant.