Our favorite state park in Indiana. My friends and I camp here for a four day weekend at least…read moreonce a year, and sometimes visit for just a day hiking trip and picnic. The campgrounds are excellent, especially Taylor Ridge. But be aware that you need to make reservations ahead of time, especially if you are planning a fall camping trip. Campsites sell out early. Shower rooms are decent, not wonderful. But satisfactory for a campground. Quiet hours are strictly observed, and the park rangers will pay a visit to your campsite if you aren't quiet after 10:00 pm Once we received a visit from a friendly park ranger when we were playing cards around 11 pm. We hadn't realized that we were being noisy at all but the ranger advised us that sound carries throughout the campground. Hiking trails range from easy to moderate. Trail maps are available are the trails are well marked. You will likely see deer and raccoons when hiking the trails. Some members of our group enjoy mountain biking too.

Love the mountain bike trails. They have trails from beginner to advanced so there is something for…read moreeveryone. Love the very large campgrounds. The only bad I would have to say is twice while staying at the campground the power went out. I do NOT! Recommend staying at the INN, Abr Martin Lodge. It needs a major renovation. The air was out in all 5 rooms they tried to put us in. The beds needed a major cleaning. Two were pee stained sheets. The last had dead bugs. The overlooks throughout the park are breathtaking. A definite visit at sunset or sunrise.

Beautiful, untapped, natural gem…read more Came here for lunch today and got in a couple miles my advice to senior or maybe not so experience climbers would be to take the stair steps down that are just down the trail about 100 yards

We were in Bloomington for a wedding and had a few hours to kill. this park had everything…read moreincluding a waterfall, caves and scenic shaded trails. Parking lot was small, we came early and no one else was here, 2 cars when we left.

High quality ingredients and delicious! My mom used to make me delicious fried egg sandwiches when…read moreI was a child. Cordry makes an even better one!

Nestled 60 minutes south of Indianapolis in the north east corner of Brown County are man-made…read moresister lakes, Cordry and Sweetwater. These lakes are one of the best kept secrets in Indiana. The lakes are for the private use by the landowners of the properties within the district. Currently there are over 1000 homes and cottages surrounding the lakes. The Conservancy governs lake and wilderness of the district ensuring preservation of the natural beauty of the area. The lakes are among the clearest in the state. Recreational activities include boating, fishing, swimming and hiking. The is a small playground and beach near the Sweetwater dam. Amenities include a library, clubhouse, volunteer fire department and recycling center. There is no commercial business in the district except for one real estate business. The closest grocery is about a 30 minute drive except for a convenience store about five mikes north. The lakes are patrolled daily by safety patrol boats. The lakes have regulations to ensure guest safety. We have caught bass, blue gills and perch in the lake. There is a small hiking trail. Unfortunately there are no running or biking trails although runners and walkers frequently walk on the roads encircling the lakes. The area is also ideal for bird watching. Summer season is the most active with residents enjoying a multitude of water sports including water skiing, tubing, wake-boarding and swimming. The fall season offers spectacular color shows of changing leaves characteristic of Brown County. Winter is quiet and particularly lovey with snow on the lakes. Historic Nashville, Indiana is a short 30 minute drive.

We enjoyed fresh air and a long relaxing hike along the creek. There was a nice little Sandy Beach…read morewhere the kids played and built castles. Can't wait to come back in the Spring.

This is more surprising than that scene in Garden State. Yeah, that one! Gasp! Takes your breath…read moreaway. Get a local to walk you there from parking at the commune lake. That's the top view. Needmore Commune was started by Kathy Canada, the grand daughter of Eli Lilly. Yeah, that Eli Lilly. It's not a tourist attraction. Locals don't bite. Ask and you'll find it. Bring wampum and trade beads. Flashbacks to 1969 are common in these-here-parts. Aaron Levy Property infamously reverted to family and was later purchased by Sycamore Land Trust. Google 'Trevlac Bluffs Nature Preserve' on the Sycamore Land Trust Site, for two maps so hard to read they scare people away. Prepare to be alone. Not crowded, except when morels poke out.

The staff at the boathouse are so friendly and helpful, especially the young handsome and strong…read moreman. He got my boat in and out the water lickety-split oh wow! I love visiting just to see his hard working fine butt pls give him a raise!

What a great spot! Feels like a million miles away from Bloomington. So calm and peaceful…read more We enjoyed the well marked hiking trails. Would love to return and get out on the water!

We had the best weekend getaway here and are so happy to have found this spot through a friend of a…read morefriend. This forest has many camping sites, but they don't let yo reserve any before arriving. Our friend recommended arriving before 2pm to hopefully get a spot. We arrived then on one of the busiest most beautiful fall weekends and scored the LAST spot. Woohoo! We were allowed two tents on our camping spot, which came with a bonfire set up and cooking rack. There was a wooden bathroom only a few steps away and a lake within walking distance as well. The bathrooms didn't have sinks, but there was a water spigot down the road if needed. Most people camping here came for four or five days at a time and had awesome RV or airstreams set up on their camping sites. Therefore, most people went to bed quite early and we weren't bothered by anyone being too loud. Everyone had great fires going and we liked not being the only ones out here. The building where you pay for your campsite also had $5 log bundles you could buy, so we got a couple of those. There were tons of sticks and leaves around that we used to build up our fire as well. This spot is only a fifteen minute drive from Nashville, IN, so is such a great spot. Go check it out!

This review is specifically for the Jackson Creek trail…read more Overall rating: DNR - Do Not Recommend! Sure, there are some scenic views but the trail is pretty poorly marked. It is an "interpretive" trail but the interpretative markers don't have any description. Let's hope you took a picture of the map at the trail head! This could be a lot nicer with some TLC.

What a wonderful place to get out of the city and just slow down! My honey took me here 4/26/26…read moresince we've had some nice weather lately. Pleasantly surprised they have many picnic tables, the cover bridge to see and of course the Falls. Just be careful when walking to the lower fall as you are pretty close to the ledge of the falls. Plenty to enjoy here. Next time we shall have a nice picnic and enjoy the scenery. You can swim too.Parking is easy but i'm sure it gets crowded in the summer time!

Cataract Falls is a geological wonder worth visiting and only an hour west of Indianapolis. These…read moremagnificent Falls were created over millions of years as ice and water carved into the ancient limestone resulting in Mill Creek and two sets of falls. The Upper Falls drops 20 feet and can be viewed near the entrance to the park at several overlooks. We visited this week on a bright summer day. The waters were loud and rapid after recent rains. This is one of Indiana's most beautiful sites. There is a large parking lot near the Upper Falls along with picnic tables, grill, pavilion and small playground. We brought a picnic lunch so we could enjoy the Falls. There are pit bathrooms near the playground in a second parking lot. The Lower Falls are a short drive through the park. A nearby lot provides plenty of parking. The short path to view the falls is not paved, but an easy walk. These falls drop 18 feet with incredible views of the layered limestone exposed west of the falls. I was envious of a lone kayaker below the falls. There are marked trails through dense woods descending near the creek. You'll want to wear good hiking shoes and bug spray if you are up for the adventure. The property was donated by Agnes Stuckey in memory of her mother, Agnes Steiner. The Park is maintained by the Indiana DNR. There was no admission during our midweek visit.

This is a great spot for locals and visitors alike! We stopped by from out of town thinking it…read morewould be a good winter activity for our little one while it's too cold to walk much outside. The conservatory exceeded our expectations! Admissions is affordable at $5 per person, but it was free the day we visited because of a reptile show! We got to see tortoises, skinks, salamanders, tarantulas, snakes, and more! Inside the conservatory, there are fish and a couple other critters permanently on display. The signage around the gardens is informative and interesting- and the plants are simply beautiful! So well cared for and healthy. I could have walked around the loop 5 times and noticed new things each time. There are several places to sit and relax throughout the gardens (we fed our baby on one of the benches). There is a restroom and coat racks- which you'll need because the gardens are quite warm! What a great find for the afternoon! Bonus that it's located right in a park, by a library, several cute places to stop and eat, and public art. The only downside I can think of is that there wasn't a ton of parking- probably more accessible when there isn't a special event going on!

There is something about plants and nature that brighten up my mood. I came here on a gloomy rainy…read moreday, and it was the perfect decision to lift up my spirits. It's close to the highway so easy access and near my house - double plus. The admission to get in was $4 per person, and they take card - another plus for being inexpensive. They have plants for sale and host events/activities, the lady working was friendly and explained all of that. They have brochures in the front as well. Inside is so astonishing, there is so much to see. It's so beautiful, I adore and admire all of it. I love how things are labeled and have informational tidbits about the plants. They have ponds with live fish and waterfalls around. They have a restroom and it had a window so of course there is a plant inside, I love it. I'll have to take note next time I go here that it was very warm inside, I felt very hot so dress accordingly. There is parking available. Check hours before coming, holidays vary.

This is a delightful park and almost living museum in the town of Waverly. There is a lot of great…read morehistorical information as you walk in the park as well as buildings that share history from the height of Waverly and commerce along the White River. We also took the trail along the river for a short walk and found it to be well maintained. It is a paved path but has lots of trees and nature along the way so you feel as if you are stepping into the woods. There are several spots along the path to stop and sit as well as take a picnic or fish. We will for sure come back in warmer weather! This is a wonderful spot with not a ton of traffic so you can have a nice picnic, walk and see some history all at the same time. Plus they even have spaces for bonfires which means s'mores! Highly recommend checking this lovely park out.

Old town wavery park has a nice wooded trail. After walking through the park (and reading about…read morehistoric Wavery), head across the street to the Greenway trail. Great place to walk you dog!