Beautiful state park with plenty of trails, parking and sights to see! Parks, picnic tables, and affordable to get in, especially if you're a resident. read more

First off, I was charged 15 entry fee. That's never happened before. The park itself isn't as beautiful or scenic so that seemed excessive. The trails weren't all that great and the "falls" were more like a drizzle. read more

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An incredible treasure tucked away in beautiful Madison, Indiana! The scenery alone makes it worth the trip--the rolling hills, peaceful woods, and well-kept paths make you feel like you've discovered a little slice of nature's magic. The hikes are very approachable, even for families with young kids. The trails are well-marked, not overly strenuous, and give you just the right mix of exercise and relaxation. My kids loved exploring the paths, spotting wildlife, and getting the chance to just run and play in a safe outdoor space. It's a wonderful way to introduce children to hiking without overwhelming them. For families, this place is ideal. The trails are wide enough in many areas for strollers, and there are plenty of spots to pause, take in the view, or enjoy a quick snack break together. It's the kind of place where you can spend an hour or the whole afternoon and leave feeling refreshed and reconnected. What I really love is how accessible and welcoming it feels--perfect for both locals and visitors to Madison. Whether you're looking for a short nature walk, a family outing, or a peaceful hike to clear your head, these trails are a gem. Highly recommend to anyone visiting Madison, Indiana--this spot is a true treasure for families, nature lovers, and anyone who just needs a little dose of outdoor beauty. read more

Clifty Falls State Park - Climbing Near Me - Madison, Indiana

Nice park that's easy to navigate. Plenty of parking with well marked trails. I parked by the shelter and took trail number 7 to check out the waterfalls. Big Clifty Falls was not disappointing! Park is dog friendly and has public restrooms. Definitely worth a stop! read more

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The park has some really good hiking trails. I liked walking through the creek bed finding all the cool fossils. I've never seen so many. We were there during the week in the winter so not too many people around. Lots of cool history. The trail maps are better than most state parks. Very good visuals with the color and "you are here" markers. Colors on maps match the colors painted on trees. read more

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I've been fortunate that throughout my cancer journey I've had friends who've made sure I get places even if it's just for a drive. I'm a fan of Madison, Indiana having experienced it during the filming of the independent film "Madison" (if you look super closely you might see me) and because I have a friend who lives in the area. A visit to the Madison area should mean a visit to Clifty Falls State Park, though I'll start up front by saying this isn't a particularly wheelchair friendly state park. Clifty Falls is a great option for experienced hikers. Clifty Canyon offers year-round hiking and amazing scenery. The park has waterfalls and they can even be amazing during the winter. Clifty Creek's stony bed is filled with amazing fossil remnants. I can easily picture schools and homeschooling families visiting here for amazing science lessons. As a pretty important note, fossil collecting within Clifty Falls is prohibited. There are nearby collecting locations. Entrance to the park is available on both SR 56 and SR 62. Clifty Falls State Park is located near Madison with entrances on state roads 56 and 62. The park's waterfalls change moods with the weather and the seasons and can range from roaring plunges to delicate bridal-veil mists to gleaming frozen titans. Winter and spring visits reveal them at their best. The rugged splendor of Clifty Canyon offers exciting year-round hiking and scenery. The 1852 Railroad Tunnel is popular, however, you should note it's only open to the public from May 1 - October 31. From Nov. 1 - April 30th, it is closed to protect hibernating bats. While the trails at Clifty Falls aren't particularly wheelchair friendly, there's other things that can be done. The Nature Center is largely wheelchair friendly and there are wheelchair friendly shelters here. There's also a pool and waterslide. Of course, you can stay at Clifty Inn or visit the restaurant. I actually haven't stayed at the inn yet. The inn also falls under Indiana's Dept. of Natural Resources and the State does run specials. Check the State of Indiana website for details. If you visit the area during July, you can check out Madison Regatta (this is what the movie "Madison" is based on). In late September, the Madison Chautauqua Festival of Art is definitely worth a visit as Madison is a very artsy community. Madison is also host to the Lanier State Historic Site. In terms of camping, there are 106 electric sites, 63 non-electric, youth tent areas, and a dumping station. There are 10 official trails along with the railroad path. Only one trail is considered "easy" - it's a .75 mile trail that starts around the pool. Wheelchair users can definitely do it (I have). Six of the trails are considered "rugged" or "very rugged" and are definitely not accessible. All of the trails are relatively short - they range from .5 to 4.5 miles. The nature center is pretty cool, though be aware it has relatively short hours. January hours for the Nature Center are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. It will be closed on Sunday- Tuesday. In recent years, the park has seen some upgrades. Clifty Inn has seen significant upgrades. The Madison area is simply beautiful and that really comes to life at Clifty Falls. This really is a "must visit" park, however, if you have mobility limits be aware that your hiking options will be limited. read more

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Beautiful area with so many different trails to look at. The paths are well taken care of and the rangers were very nice and knowledgeable. read more

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We drove through Clifty Falls State Park today, and from what we could see, this is a gorgeous park. We entered through the South Gate, which is a short five-minute drive from downtown Madison. And using the map on the park's website, we were able to drive around and find a playground for the kids easily. This park has a bit of everything, with a hotel, campground, shelters, nature center, overlook area, well-marked hikes, picnic pavilions and the previously mentioned playgrounds. Something to note, though, the playgrounds are a bit on the older side. Make sure your kids won't careen down a slide into mud before letting them run. Also keep an eye out for splinters from the wooden equipment. One more thing: You have to pay an entrance fee. We paid $9/car. I would love to come back and explore this park more in the future, possibly staying at the inn. read more

Another great dinner at Clifty Inn. I ordered the soup and salad bar only. She did the whole shebang. Folks this salad bar is the most top notch salad bar you'll ever see for $15. Everything is super fresh and cold. That cold part is more relevant than many realize. You can have an actual real meal ordering salad bar only. Whole hard boiled eggs, grilled chicken, 3 types of lettuce, 2 soups of the day,pasta salads, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and much more. And of course the full buffet that includes the soup and salad bar has even more. It's $21 and worth it. read more

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This is a beautiful state park near Madison right on the Ohio River. The morning sunrises over the river are amazing. There are dozens of miles of hiking trails and a very nice inn to stay at. read more

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So many trails, waterfalls, long views and cliffs. There is a nice inn with a restaurant and gift shop. Camping facilities with electric, no water. Camping facilities with tents and limited trees on some spots. Very dog friendly park. The nice perk is your close to the adorable dog friendly town of Madison and the Ohio River, where you can grab a good meal and icecream. Fun state park, bring the kids, dogs and smores. read more

Clifty Falls State Park - Nice side 31-35 spaces - Climbing Near Me - Madison, Indiana

Now, before everyone looks at me and says, "C'mon, it's a State Park, why only 4 stars?" Hear me out. We were there the week after tornadoes tore through both Madison and Milton, Kentucky. Folks were still trying to get roofs replaced, so clearing trail number four wasn't the highest priority... And I get that. The trails, views, amenities, and history are all top notch, and you can see they clearly do make the most of every penny they receive. The lodge was busy, the pool was open, and the restaurant was just finishing up a lunch service. We did check out a few of the trails, but couldn't do the whole loop because the 4 miles we did hike took us over some pretty "rugged" terrain and we were thirsty :) Definitely looking forward to the return trip, and thinking about making it a family reunion site. Please go check it out! read more

Plenty of trail options here, you won't be disappointed regardless of how new or experienced you are. Most of the trails are out and backs, but you can combine them to make a big loop. Some of the trails get pretty muddy in parts after rain, and the trails are pretty well built around a valley -- one trail on either side of a steep dropoff, with trail 2 actually being the creek itself. Some stretches -- especially right next to the creek -- gave me some heartburn with a 2-year-old trying to navigate. (There were some parts even I was afraid I'd find a faster way to trail 2 than I wanted.) I'm glad we persevered, although on our trip we hit a downed tree on Trail 8 but at that point it was way too late to turn around and go back the way we came - so we just made it work and climbed through the tree, through the mud, uphill. Rough, but we made it. Obviously that was a temporary thing, I don't think a massive tree on the trail is a feature. But the enormity of the park and the way the trails are set up, it is a very real concern to think about that if you have your path blocked unexpectedly, you'll have to backtrack a few miles (and most likely up and down the valley again) to get back to where you started. Definitely a challenging hike I'd like to visit again - maybe when the kids have surer footing and conditions are a little nicer. read more

Clifty Falls State Park is where difficult paths lead to beautiful destinations... Expect rough terrain. There are a lot of man made stairs, rough rock stairways and trails covered with roots, loose rock and fallen trees. The trails are also not well marked. I am by no means an expert hiker and I was able to navigate my way through the park and so can you... Make sure you ask for a map when you enter the park and you will be fine. I always YouTube new-to-me parks to prepare myself. The falls are more like trickles of water(at least on my visit), not roaring waterfalls and some were completely dry. However, I was not disappointed, this was expected from the videos I had viewed. The scenery is amazing and there is an old Rail Road tunnel that is a MUST see at this park. When inside the tunnel, be sure to look up!! What you will see is pretty amazing! Tips: Be sure to pack water shoes. Pack a flashlight, your phone will NOT be bright enough, the tunnel is pitch black! Be sure to check the website before you visit, not all trails are open year round. Have FUN!! read more

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Beautiful park! Lots of waterfalls to check out, even an old rail road tunnel / cave (bring a legit flashlight if you really want to check it out). Park is well maintained, and staff is very friendly and helpful. Pro tip--it may be a little muddier hike (and include some water crossings), but go after rain. Waterfalls will be much more developed (dry season you may see a trickle) and beautiful. Trail 2 to the base of Clifty WILL be wet and challenging, but worth it!! read more

Clifty Falls State Park - Climbing Near Me - Madison, Indiana

We were in the area and this state park seemed to be on the short list of things to do in the area. My husband had to go to Seymour For work and we made a day trip out of it. When I think of Indiana.. I think mainly of flat land and farms. This definitely isnt flat. It's very hilly and cool layered rocks .. lovely woods. Several waterfalls when there's been rain. We didnt have much time and it was pretty cold out. So wasnt wanting to be outside much. Saw a couple of waterfalls. Clifty waterfall was easy to get to ... paved path right near the parking lot. Normally there is a fee to get into the park ... there wasnt anyone collecting the fee .. maybe because of covid. If they had been charging we would have just turned around and left. Was fun but not worth 9 bucks to see. We have seen alot of falls in our travels. Not trying to be rude .. did enjoy. Might be worth the fee in the fall after a rain or when everything's snowy and iced up. read more

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So far the Indiana State Parks have not disappointed. You can tell that you're in Leslie Knope's home state immediately upon entering one. Everything was clean and orderly, the person who took our money at the gate was friendly, the trails and roads were well-marked, and the park was free of litter. I really appreciated that the trails were numbered and well-marked. There were a couple places where the weather had knocked down a tree so you had to clamber over it but the casual observer would note that it was a freshly fallen tree. The trails are well-maintained and safe. You would have to try and get lost here. I came with experienced hikers, which is really prime. I have been hiking with people who aren't prepared for the experience and it is hellish. Clifty Falls has trails for an array of ability groups and different terrains if you're looking for a special experience. We saw families, dogs, and old people on the trails which is great. It is wonderful that people of all ages can enjoy the park. Also, dogs are the best. Please bring your dog so we can pet them. Near the parking area, there was a playground and picnic pavilions. The bathrooms were also clean and in good repair. I didn't look at the hotel and restaurant but they do have one. I wouldn't mind coming up here to be in nature and work. The only minus? It's nine dollars to get in. You can tell this was set by someone who doesn't deal with money. Why not just make it ten dollars? Dan Quayle probably did this after being disqualified from the presidency because of how he spelled potato. I appreciate the utility of an entrance fee but I don't like dumb ones. This is my 666th review. I wanted to save it for a special place that I went with Kathy Van Halen because she is the devil. She's always getting me out-of-doors and into shenanigans. read more

We went tent camping, and the good spots with shade are taken quickly. It's clean, and quiet, and there's lots to do. The Clifty Falls are easily accessible (yes, you have to hike) and there are lots of photo-opportunities everywhere. The restrooms in the campground are the best we've seen in Indiana. They get super-high marks for cleanliness. We'll be back again. It's a good value for campgrounds, and there are lots of places to get things you forgot just a few minutes away from the park. Madison tourism is great, too-- especially in the Spring, when the town is a riot in flowers. We were happy with the trails, and the staff is very friendly and helpful. The management and workers are to be commended for having such a nice facility, well-maintained, and well-organized. read more

I could probably count on my hand the amount of times that I have visited state parks. I really wasn't even expecting Clifty Falls to be as grand as it was, I had just seen a lot of people speak its praise to the point that made me want to go. So yes, this park is beautiful. It cost $9 to get in (which now they take cash and card.) You could easily spend a whole day here. Even spend the night, as they have a lovely hotel with an indoor pool. We came here to hike, and there are 8 or 9 trails you can take. While I love to hike, I am by no means a pro at it, and the trails we took were not the easiest! Just really steep, and in some areas rocky. But there are so many awesome sites to see, even a cool observation tower you can climb up. Hate spiders? Don't go down to the creek. It may involve panic attack-induced freak outs that I may or may not have had. But if you don't care, it's a really beautiful place to walk around! They also have a cute little nature center, where you can learn about the wildlife and park history. Clifty Falls is one park not to be missed! It is also right outside of the charming little town of Madison. read more

A great state park right on the edge of Kentucky & Indiana. I stayed in Madison for a weekend and was pleased that this state park was literally next door. The south entrance is about a 7 minute drive and the north entrance is closer to 15 from the main strip in Madison. I visited the park in the middle of winter and was still able to hike a solid 2.5 miles (decided to keep it short because of the cold). I was able to pass the "rugged" trails without issue. I was able to see the Cake Rock, Big Clifty Falls and Little Clifty Falls. Awesome sights to see in the middle of winter! Huge icicles were formed from the falling water. There was also snow on the ground which made everything so quiet and a great experience for being in nature. Since there were no leaves ok the trees it also allowed for seeing much farther than you would in the warmer months. The park was dead too- meaning we didn't see another person the whole time on a Friday afternoon. I LOVED it. There is electric and non electric camping sites listed too- I think I will be back when it's warmer! read more

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The rooms are clean and spacious. We stayed in a queen double with a balcony top floor river view. Wonderfull room firm beds large bathrooms. We watched barge traffic everyday and I also got to watch the going's on below us at the power plant. I'm a guy so I love this kind of stuff. Stayed here on a BOGO Sunday to Thurs. We loved how quiet the Inn was this time of year. The restaurant food was fair to good portions are great. Waitress are very attentive. read more

We enjoyed our winter hike here. While there was still some water flowing, there were ice formations. Further, without the leaves, there were certain things that were easier to see. While it is pretty easy to drive through the park, visitors should be aware that many of the trails are on the rugged side. They should plan accordingly. read more

Clifty Falls State Park - Above the Little Clifty Falls - Climbing Near Me - Madison, Indiana

If this park is great to visit during the winter, I imagine that it is even more beautiful to visit in the warmer months! We arrived on a Friday morning in February to do some hiking and couldn't find anyone at the gate to collect an entrance fee (I guess there is no entrance fees in the winter?). If you are an IN resident, I highly suggest you get the $50 yearly pass than is good 1/1-12/31. All 4 of the waterfalls were running, it had just rained the night before. I will say that after a rain/snow shower the night before, that trails were slick so we stayed away from the longer and more rugged trails. If you want to skip the trails, but still see a waterfall, on the north end of the park is a parking lot with a recreation park/bathrooms/shelters and a sidewalk that leads to the Big Clifty waterfall. You can see it from the observation area there! If you are afraid of heights, there is a lot of stair climbing up and down some steep & high trails that may bother you. They did scare me some (especially since the stairs are not solid and are open) so I'll put that warning out there! It's a beautiful park, so if you can push back any heights anxiety, there are plenty of trails to explore and falls to see. Most of the trails are rugged, I wouldn't suggest these for younger children. But they do have 1 or 2 family-friendly trails, lots of areas to picnic and playground areas. The park's Inn is on the south entrance of the park, I didn't get a chance to stop there but plan to when we go back! read more

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As a resident of Cincinnati, I decided to take the hour and a half drive to this state park and was not disappointed! When you first enter the park, you will see three large smoke stacks - not aesthetically pleasing, especially since some rooms in the lodge have a view of them. They are not, in fact, visible throughout all the park, such as by the falls. The lodge had a nice cozy gift shop as well as free maps and helpful workers. Inside, there was a surplus of comfortable seating areas and was very homey. There is a restaurant in there that I did not try but it looks very quaint. The hikes were mainly short, however if you crave a larger hike, you can combine a few of the trails. I saw the Big and Small Clifty Falls. The hikes nearby these will give you a small sense of acrophobia but it is definitely worth overcoming to see the views. I definitely would recommend stopping by the nature center while visiting and checking out the birding area as well as the educational blurbs and live animals. Overall, I will be back, Clifty Falls! Thanks to Indiana State Parks! read more

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OMG, I AM SO PISSED OFF!!! We paid the $9 entrance fee to go into the park. She asked me if we were from out of state, charged us the $9. We told her we are going hiking to the four waterfalls. Asked for a map, she said "We don't have any, but you can check at the Inn" Even at the Inn, the ladies gave us the map and we told her going hiking to see the falls....we made it plain...we want to see the falls!!!! Well, after hiking down about 100 steep stairs we found out the water was dried up...so we had to hike back out of there!!!! Why didn't that park lady tell us when she took my money!!!! We would have turned around!!! Such a waste of MONEY $$$$ read more

Clifty Falls State Park - Climbing Near Me - Madison, Indiana

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Another gem in Indiana I somehow never visited even though I've lived in this state almost my whole life. Absolutely gorgeous falls and some pretty challenging trails not to mention you get to parkour from one rock to the next if you want to venture up to the waterfalls from the creek bed. read more

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Rented a picnic area for a wake. Good experience overall. Tips if this is your first time: bring trash bags (no trash cans there), no electricity so pay attention to dusk time, and the bathrooms are fancy outhouses with no running water. The grounds seemed well kept but the playground we chose could definitely use some updating a it bobbles at times. It is $9 to visit the park for non residents per car. Definitely worth check out! read more

What a beautiful day. On what would've been a picturesque Derby Day, many Louisville natives were feeling gloom on what could've been. We took the initiative to make an adventure out of it! Just about 50 minutes from most areas in Louisville, Clifty Falls State Park is the perfect getaway. It has everything to please the avid hiker and families just looking to get out and explore. We went nonstop for about 4 hours! So many different things to see. I would highly recommend starting with trail 7 and then walking along 6 to take In the best views of the big waterfall. If you are feeling adventurous and ready for a workout, you need to take trail 8 down into trail 2. From there, you can navigate your way through the creek and see lots of different wildlife and terrain. With whatever you choose to do, I am sure you will have a great time! read more

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The park is great. The trails are awesome. There is a trail with a tower, some trails that go to waterfalls, trails that go to the creek, and a trail that goes to a tunnel. The trails are taken care of very well. The pool is awesome and the lifeguards are great. The pool is very clean and there is 2 slides and a diving board. Great place for kids. The inn is very nice and clean but don't bother eating at the inn. The food isn't good. read more

Clifty Falls State Park - Climbing Near Me - Madison, Indiana

There is a $7.00 per car fee to visit the park (instate - $9.00 out of state), I spend countless hours in our state parks so I purchase a yearly pass $50.00 and save a bundle of cash. I visited the Park on Saturday 04/13/19 Great day for an adventure, the water level was low so the waterfalls were pretty uneventful but there were quite a few wild flowers blooming. I hiked trail 7 approximately 1.9 mile moderate loop that has about 249ft total elevation change (not all at once) There are several sets of stairs but mostly a well beaten dirt trail. This seems to be the most popular trail and it gives the hiker views of Clifty Falls water fall and Little Clifty waterfall. Enter the North Gate off Clifty Drive Madison,IN. and proceed to the parking lot. The first part of trail 7 is ADA wheel chair accessible to an overlook of the Big falls. These falls are dependent on the weather so if it hasn't rained for a while the flow may be slow and if it has been raining the flow can be quite swift, check the weather before you venture into the gorge. There were about 25 cars in the parking lot several families on blankets in the field having picnics. Several hikers with their dogs (dogs must be leashed at all times) and about a 1/2 dozen photographers. Still there was plenty of room to park and the trail did not feel crowded and the restrooms were clean. I highly recommend taking a break and visiting the park. read more

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Since the weather was so beautiful this weekend, I decided it was finally time for me to explore the park during our annual choir retreat. There are more trails than I expected there to be, though they often overlap. The trails, the falls, the whole area is gorgeous! The trails are (mostly) clearly and well marked and pretty easy to follow. Some of the trails are much more rugged than the others, so grab a map and keep to the trails you feel prepared for! But even on the most rugged trail, I felt not impossibly challenged. A great way to spend a day, and only about an hour outside of Louisville. An easy day trip! read more

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The only reason I gave a 4 was because I was said that the Nature center was closed. It was a beautiful day. Today was our 23rd Anniversary. We are not hikers I am way to out of shape. But we love nature. So we decided to go find the falls in the park. On the way to the park when seen a flock of turkeys the male had his females and he was strutting with his feathers up!! Didn't get a good picture. I was able to walk to all the falls to see them. I was tired but did it. So glad I did. I can't wait to come back to the park again this year. The trails had sturdy steps. Enjoy the park. read more

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The views were beautiful but...trails were really poorly marked. We found ourselves backtracking a lot, and we are good hikers (or at least I am and my boyfriend is a good map reader usually). When they say rugged here, they mean it. The creek trail, number 2, likely has beautiful views up it but it was so rocky and uneven we had to get off. We each took a big big tumble on some rock scrambles so be very wary if you are bringing children. The tunnel was a very cool experience! I recommend it if you're there during the right time of year (when the bats leave). We walked a long, long way. There really aren't great loop trails here, more a series of out and backs. A cool place to visit, but give yourself lots of time, water, and patience. read more

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It only takes a little more than an hour's drive to take you a world away. Hubby and I have been missing out on this great state park! The only regret we have is that we did not come here sooner and visited more often! Clifty Falls State Park has something for everyone. For true hikers who need to traverse real terrain and cross creeks, you will be glad to hike Trail 2 for hours. The drive-by-photo-op-tourists can enter through the north entrance, be parked and looking over the gorge within 10minutes of entering the gate. And for those amature hikers like hubby and I, Trail 7 (1.25mile one way) has the perfect combo of moderately rugged terrain, wide and narrow paths as well as stairs. There is this awesome Cake Rock that is not to be missed. Part of Trail 7 is also ADA accessible to the Clifty Falls Overlook area. See? There is something for everyone! Although I have heard that late fall is not the best time to view waterfalls due to the low water levels, we still were able to see plenty of water going over the falls. Hubby and I lingered over the overlooks for the longest time. We can't wait to come back in the spring months when water level is higher. read more

Clifty Falls State Park - Cake Rock on Trail 7 between Clifty Falls and Little Clifty Falls. - Climbing Near Me - Madison, Indiana

We visited in January 2021 using the two-nights-for-one winter deal at the Inn. We splurged and got the Riverview Suite with the king bed and whirlpool tub. Due to COVID-19, the dinning room was closed and the take-out options seemed too pricey, so we skipped those. The suite was huge with excellent views of the river and historic Madison. Rustic cabin themed furniture was nice and everything seemed in good repair. The staff were all very friendly. Our first night we encountered two issues: not enough pillows and the heater in the bedroom wasn't working. We called the Front Desk (fairly late that night) and they brought us extra pillows and blankets. The next morning we arranged for maintenance to check the heater and the next night it worked fine. The whirlpool tub and multi-faucet shower were great! Even in the cold, there's some great scenery in the park. We didn't brave any trials except the small one leading to Clifty Falls from the north entrance / exit area. But we got to see two more falls from just stopping off the main road at the overlooks. Very impressive natural ravines. We saw two deer our first day there around 3pm - a buck and doe. Then we saw two more our last night around 9pm - a doe and an adolescent fawn. Other than birds, that was it for wildlife viewing. Parking at the Inn was interesting - even in winter it stayed fairly full. There was a lot of summer-related attractions (campgrounds, outdoor pool, nature center, etc.) which were naturally closed in January. Would definitely recommend. read more

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what a lovely way to revel in the glories of the Ohio River valley! Rooster and I were sufficiently challenged by the more rugged areas, and I was sufficiently awed by the springs & falls we saw. sections of trail 7 are equipped with boardwalks, bridges and stairs, but some parts can still get steep and slippery. would not recommend for those with poor balance! :) next time we are going to complete the creek bed trail (#2) but i was not prepared to cross the creek today! read more

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We took advantage of a bright and sunny, Friday in February to explore Clifty Falls State Park. Coming from downtown Madison, we entered through the South Gate near the Clifty Inn. The roads are steep and winding in spots, but offer an increasingly good view of the landscape. We wanted to explore the Hoffman Falls which aren't far from the entrance - according to the downloadable map found on the park's website. With few markers, we passed the parking lot and ended up half way through the property. It was a gorgeous drive, so we didn't mind being a bit lost. After locating the right spot, we parked and hiked a short way down a steep trail. The website had said this was the largest falls on site (& I thought they were supposed to be 80+ feet). What we encountered was a beautiful, but small waterfall. Not sure if this is due to low water levels or the time of year. We didn't have a lot of time to do a full trail, so we headed back to the car and drove back into town. I'm excited to go back when it warms up and I can spend a half day hiking and exporting the park. read more

Clifty Falls State Park - Hoffman Falls - Climbing Near Me - Madison, Indiana

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I feel a little weird not giving Clifty Falls 5 stars, because clearly it's a beautiful park with lots of incredible natural features. This weekend, I drove over to Clifty Falls to do some hiking and enjoy nature. My GPS took me to the southern entrance where the gate was closed and directed me to the Northern entrance. I drove to the Northern entrance and found the trail map...weirdly, the only two trails that were open were closest to the southern entrance. I TOTALLY understand having things closed down due to COVID-19... however, it didn't make sense to me that all but two of the (smallest) trails were the only ones left open. To me, it makes no sense to condense all the park visitors to two of the smallest areas... Why not keep your largest 4+ mile hike open to those who are likely going for more exercise and will be more spaced out. It seemed to make more sense to either close all of the trails or keep them all open. Regardless, even their smallest of trails had some nice scenery. I would definitely recommend returning when all of the trails are open back up - I definitely will. The nearby Madison Indiana was a great place to walk around after some hiking and snag some ice cream. I'll be back, Clifty Falls! read more

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The park is nice, we came over here in early Nov so there is no entrance fee required.. we head on trail 8 once we get in north gate, the trail is well marked, though we have a map, it do helps at the end when we need to decide whether to go on trail 1 or 2. The trail is all covered by leaf, made it a little hard to see the trail, if u are not pay attention to the trail, easy to slip or fell.. the leaves is colorful and pretty.. read more

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A park with trails you wouldn't expect in Indiana, Clifty Falls has several miles of shaded trails with varying difficulty levels and beautiful views of valleys and waterfalls. This park is stunning and accessible at any point of the year. While it does not have biking trails, the park does have multiple shelters, playgrounds, and fields for use along with tent and camper sites in the middle-southern portion of the grounds. The park also has a pool that is cleaned and maintenance regularly with a slide, diving board, and zero-entry portion. Whether you're looking for a weekend get away in nature, an evening hike in the woods, or a scenic drive - this park is the perfect spot! read more