This is a wonderful gem of nature. The preserve has about six miles worth of trails that snake…read morethrough the trees and plains, over creeks and ponds. There are benches to sit on surrounding the small lake, a little pier for fishing. I've only visited in mid-May so far but there were plenty of beautiful wildflowers on the grounds. They've got a big old gravel parking lot with plenty of parking. When I visited last May I sat on one of the benches along side the huge pond for at least two hours, listening to all the different birds, watching for turtles, snakes (yeah, they've got water snakes), and frogs/toads. The little bench was partially shaded and the fresh air and gentle breeze lulled me into such peace. I can't wait to stop by again when I'm in town!!

I love Rock Sorings! The good:…read moreIt's always well kept. Every time I go there you rarely if ever see trash The staff are always helpful and friendly The observatory is just one of the greatest hangout places ever! (Wish they would turn it into a little coffee area) Path and grounds are always well maintained Rock Springs also has all kinds of extracurricular activities going on that the public can sign up for that's either free or extremely cheap The bad: Unless you get lucky, normally the extracurricular activities are hard to come by. I understand the budget is limited and they can't really afford to go fliering the town. But I wish there was a way for them to communicate the activities better other than Facebook. I wasn't a fan of the cross country skiing, but that didn't reflect my review. I'm just glad they offer stuff like that! Thank you Rock Springs and s

Never been hiking first time but it was fantastic considering I lived on an island all my life!read more

Great Park! So many beautiful trees. It's a great workout with many wonderful trails. My…read moretwo-year-old daughter loved it and the little cute play area. Go to this park if you have not been there. It's so pretty and well kept.

So this place is literally hidden. Actually, that might be one of the best things about it! Plenty…read moreof parking and a perfect place to take your four legged friends. They've got the poop bags at the beginning of the trail (always a good sign). You can go either of two directions to start. It's not crazy big but it's a nice place go come back to once in a while. There's a bit of water, and a few benches around. You could even have lunch if you so desired. Enjoy your visit! I know your doggie will appreciate it!! :)

Unless you are a skilled hiker, I recommend going to this beautiful nature preserve when the…read moreweather has been dry. There is about 90 feet of elevation change on the 0.8 mile loop that can be a bit slippery if you pick a time when mud/rain can be a problem. I only explored the north end trail during my visit. After parking in a shaded lot, I went into the park where I had a choice of left or right. The right side has a steeper descent than the left. Fortunately, there is a hand rail for stability. I figured it easier to go down the steep side than up, so I stayed on the right hand path. There is a fairly level area before you reach the "stairs". The stairs are mostly natural, so they aren't evenly spaced. Just keep focused and you should be alright. Once the trail reaches the bottom of the gorge, there are places where elevated paths keep your feet from trekking through the mud. Depending upon how much rain has fallen, you may get some mud, but my feet stayed dry the entire loop. At the base, there are deep ravines where the trees catch the sunlight and light up in brilliant yellow greens. The rocks are layered and take on a rusty color that can make for some great photos. The highlight of the loop is finding the "arch" through the ridge of rock. It was just a bit taller than my head (I would say most folks won't need to duck going through.) After that, you will start working your way back. Although I traveled the same distance up, it was gradual and not nearly as challenging as climbing steps. I didn't see much wildlife there, but there were squirrels and butterflies that showed themselves. I like a short hike that features a destination and great scenes along the way. If you like that too, then seek out this park. Review #2840

Great trail among beautiful landforms. It's a nice hike that makes for a good day trip along with…read moreWilliamsport Falls, Attica, and the courthouse murals on Covington.

Great nature preserve, you can hike, ride bikes, walk trails or climb the observation tower. Nice…read morepavilions to rent or buildings with heat or air conditioning. For parties or gatherings.

This is a great 11 mile trail. I'd highly recommend it for someone looking to step-up from shorter…read moretrails to something closer to a full-day hike. It's located conveniently close to Champaign-Urbana, and closer still to Danville. At a good pace the trail can be finished in just over five hours. Slower hikers, or those who stop at the observation tower for lunch can take up to six and half hours. With plenty of up and down, and a few very steep hills this is good trail for anyone training or practicing. Bring waterproof boots as there are many stream crossings; also, portions of the trail itself become a bit of a quagmire during "mud season". Cool breezes come off the Vermilion river, and will cool you off when crossing the trail's river-side ridge lines. While most of the trail falls under a canopy of deciduous trees, there are portions of open prairie, and even a stretch alongside a corn field (very appropriate for the Corn Desert Hikers, huh?). There was only one spot where you might get lost, after coming out of the forest onto an old dirt (or mud) road, you follow the road up the hill. We crossed the road and were lost in just a few feet. The rest of the trail is very well blazed though. Large bread dogs will do well on this trail, but will get wet and muddy. I'd say it's a bit too long and too challenging for first-time hikers or children. There is a campground, enclosed and open shelters, and a lodge in the park, fees vary. The 11 mile backpacking trail required pre-registration one week before hiking, but that's not enforced too strickly. Unless you bring them with you, post-hike libations maybe a bit hard to come-by. The tiny near-by Westville doesn't feature any establishments that offer both (good) food and beer. The taverns feature modest viddles like microwaved hot dogs, frozen pizza, or popcorn, (seriously popcorn?). Up U.S. Route 150 in Beligum are a few Family Restaurants, basically road-side dinners, they have impressive menus, but no brews. Once you get to Westville, keep an eye out for the brown signs pointing towards Forest Glen. The turn off is at the intersection of State and Main.

Beautiful, fun place to take the kids for summer!!! We had an absolute blast & can't wait to go…read moreback again. Perfect day!

I've been here so many times so I can't believe I have neglected to review it. We have done many…read moreday trips for hiking and picnics, and also some camping trips. October is the best time to camp or hike here, the leaves are beautiful and the trails are mostly dry. There are easy trails, moderate trails, and rugged trails. The suspension bridge is fun to cross, although there are 70 steps to climb, and they are fairly steep. It would be nice if a ramp was added for those who can't do steps. Park maps are provided when you enter the park, and most of the trails are fairly well marked. There is one trail that is marked but does not appear on the map, trail 12. Admission fee is only $7 per vehicle.

A companion learned of this bridge and took us. I'm so glad she did. It's a beautiful red bridge…read moreand we needed to stretch our legs before a long car ride. You can see where people have carved their names, initials, and dates for over 100 years. If you go with someone, hold a little competition to see who can find the oldest, newest, or most interesting. Highly recommend!

Although I am giving the Wabashiki Trail only a 2 at this point, I am hopeful that this trail is…read morestill a work in progress and therefore could get a few more Yelp stars in time. The 2600 aces that comprise this fish and wildlife area was born around 2010. The trail came a bit later. Regardless of my opinion on the trail in 2019, I think this area of Terre Haute along the Wabash River should be preserved and I am glad this trail is there. As a bird viewing area and also one of the unique aspects to Terre Haute and the history of the Wabash River, there is room for this place to be great, but the trail experience needs improvements. I would say the best part of the trail is the trail head and parking lot. When I pulled in to start my hike along the Wabashiki Trail, the nice covered picnic table area, the bird viewing telescopes, a bathroom and a sign talking about the Wabashiki Trail were welcome amenities to see. Unfortunately, that is where the support to the trail starts and also ends. The trail itself for the first 30 minutes hugs West Terre Haute on one side and the marshy land on the other. You are basically walking on top of the levy. The path is clearly marked, small graveled and a nice trail, although there is not much to see. The first thirty minutes is full exposure to the sun with no shade at all. I felt like I was basically walking through a residential area on a designated gravel footpath. There is then a turn into the wooded area and at first I was not sure if I was heading the right way. The entrance to this part of the trail has a lot of low lying limbs hanging over it and not clearly marked. After realizing I was headed down the correct path, the trail is now completely covered and there is little to no exposure to the sun because you are in the thick of trees. It is quiet (despite the trucks of I-70 being heard in the distance), it is peaceful and you can tell this place is special. As I continued along this route with the expectation of attempting to make the full loop, other than the small general Wabashiki Trail sign you see on the trail with a general little map, there is no additional signage along the trail highlighting the Wabash River history, pointing out birds that are unique to this area, explaining the reason why this protected area is important to Terre Haute. Nothing. At the very least, I would have thought to see one informational sign giving me some information. Some sign that you could teach an interested outdoors woman like me or a kid why this trail is special, why it was important to this area, why it is important to protect, but there is nothing. The trail itself is clean without a single piece of trash nor graffiti. This wooded section of the trail goes under I-70 and then actually loops back under another section of I-70 about 10 minutes later. It was at this point though where I had to stop and turn back. The trail was washed out completely and simply an entire soupy mess. I attempted to navigate through another portion in the woods that it appears might be designed to get around this section when this happens to only be stuck with nowhere to go just under I-70. I found myself climbing over questionable heavy highway wires and unsafe conditions simply to find a way to get back on the trail with no success. I was thinking this section of the trail that is closest to the Wabash River would be the most interesting, but I do not know because the trail was washed out. So from the trailhead back in the parking lot, to the section that is the second cross under 1-70 and I could go no further, it took about 50 minutes or so (one way). My athletic hiking self went out in hearty tennis shoes that I do not care if they get muddy, had a hat, a bottle of water and my cell phone. Hiking boots are not necessary and you can navigate in good tennis shoes, assuming the mud is minimal. A mountain bike would address the same issues as a person on foot. The terrain is basically flat with only maybe two short steeper grades along the trail. I hiked alone and felt safe, but if you are not a confident solo hiker, better to go with a friend, for the wooded area is isolated. When I was leaving, I drove over to section of West Terre Haute called Taylorsville specifically where S. Sampson Place & W. Lorey Drive come together to see if you can hike the Wabashiki Trail starting from that area. There is a small area specifically for Wabashiki Trail visitors to park and I could see where the trail starts right there. Maybe on a dryer day, I will head out on the trail from this parking lot and see how far I can go and what the trail looks like in that section. Ideally, they connect, but because of the washout, I could not. I'm hopeful with a little future planning and some money that there are improvements to be made to the Wabashiki Trail that can make this trail great.

One of the newest parks (2011) for the area is a 25 acre nature park with a lake in the middle…read more For enthusiasts, there is a boat launch for boats using a trolling motor. Fishing is allowed for those having the proper licences. For everyone else, the park has a shelter and covered picnic tables, a great paved hiking path that loops around the lake, and a small playground on the west side of the park. Everything seems to be well maintained and there is plenty of parking on the south side of the park (Maple Street). Review #908

Very nice area with the exception of a large amount of broken glass along the perimeter of the lake…read moreclosest to parking area. Definitely needs remediation!