Such a Great experience for all ages doing both the drive thru and walk thru gave you an up close…read moreand personal experience with the wildlife

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this place. I expected some little petting zoo but this was a…read morelot more. We splurged and did the wagon ride and we're not disappointed. Everyone is given a bowl of animal food and these animals know it! The wagon crossed the cattle guards and here came the animals. Horses, water buffalos, things I've never seen nor heard of. You then can place food in your hand and these animals reach under the bars of the wagon to eat from your hand. For those not wanting that you can always place the food on the wagon floor. But hand feeding a bison was definitely a first for me. There is also an option to drive your own vehicle through the zoo but the wagon ride seems more exciting (and safer on the car). There is also a walking trail past the petting zoo, kangaroos, hyenas, and others. We did not go through the prehistoric museum. Only disappointment for one of us was that we didn't pet the sloth. A great kid experience after spending time driving through Amish country.

Lots of excellent facilities and services at this park. I felt like the upkeep and cleanliness was…read moreexcellent, better than one would expect. The ranger at the campground check in was extremely helpful and friendly! The campground facilities were very clean and had recent remodeling such as new sink, counter, and floor resurfacing.

Wonderful park. They keep it very clean. There are several hiking trails that have great scenery…read morearound the lakes.

Very nice little park with tables and grills! We enjoyed the playground. I'm sure we'll be back…read morenext time we visit.

I used to come to this park often when I lived in Champaign, IL. Some friends and I used to play…read morebaseball in this park. I also brought my girlfriend to this park to talk about what was bothering her. Before moving to Champaign, IL I used to come to this park often. Later when I had moved away to another town I came back to this park with my new puppy before going on to move back into my parents home for awhile. Years later I brought a new girlfriend to this park to show her where I used to park to think things over. I also showed her a tree that had grown into a huge shade tree. I told her that many years ago it was only a sapling not much taller than me.

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.

It's no real secret that I tend to be a little harsh in my reviews when accessibility is an issue,…read morehowever, nature is nature and I've never thought it made sense to be completely harsh because the natural world isn't as accessible as I'd like. So yeah, while Turkey Run is one of Indiana's prize state works it's also one of the least accessible ones. Established in 1916, Turkey Run is consistently named Indiana's favorite state park. It gets over 1 million visitors annually and it's Inn is known for being booked up to a year in advance. The Inn has 61 rooms ranging in price from $115-180, though if you use Booking.com you can often get more affordable rates. There are also 23 rental cabins (around $155 a night) and 213 campsites. Turkey Run is a gem for hikers, though it's worth noting that an awful lot of the hiking is not wheelchair friendly. Turkey Run has over 14 miles of hiking trails (11 trails, only one described as "easy"), picnic areas, a swimming pool, a nature center that I truly love, several historic sites (including some that have been made accessible, fishing, a sand volleyball court, tennis courts, a basketball court, canoeing/kayaking, and quite a few special events. For most of the sports fields, you have to bring your own equipment. There's an amazing suspension bridge. Again, not accessible as you have to do about 70 steps to get to it. For those who can, getting to it offers the Rocky Hollow-Falls Canyon Nature Preserve. I actually did do this bridge when I was younger, though as an older wheelchair user now I wouldn't even think about it. The bridge is over Sugar Creek, though there's no swimming in the creek. Turkey Run is spread out over 2,382 acres. It was Indiana's second state park. As a slightly morbid fun fact, Col. Richard Lieber has a memorial right around the end of Trail 11. Lieber is considered the father of Indiana's state parks and was instrumental in getting Indiana to become one of the first states with a significant park system. While I can't say that Turkey Run is truly my favorite park, it's one I visit from time to time partly because it's beautiful and partly because of nostalgia as it's a place my father loved to visit. He was born in deep, rural Kentucky and I think this park kind of reminded him of home. For those who love hiking, this is a must visit park. For those who appreciate a tapestry of history, that's also a reason to visit here. While wheelchair users and/or anyone with mobility concerns will struggle here, there's still enough to make this worth a day trip and/or a visit to the Turkey Run Inn for a weekend getaway.

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.

It had been 40 years since I last visited, and it's still gorgeous. I'm glad I decided to run by…read moreShades with my wife for a quick walk on our drive from Indy to Lafayette: it wasn't peak leaves, but the place is just lovely - a side of Indiana that's not often viewed by folks from elsewhere, and that's a shame. It's worth your time. Be aware that it's not as large or feature-driven as the larger Turkey Run State Park a few miles west of Shades, but it's a lot quieter and it more than holds its own as a place to visit. (In fact, the more serious outdoors people I know seem to prefer visiting Shades to TR.)

What a serene and beautiful state park! Went during memorial weekend which was the perfect…read moretime/weather. We brought 2 dogs (small and medium size) with us. Recommend bringing plenty of water, bug spray, a packed lunch/snacks, a bag for trash because you must pack in and pack out - leave no trace behind. Wear hiking boots for ample ankle support and when you cross creeks/streams of water. For hiking - we hit up trail 2, then 1 and ended with 9. I'm glad we did it in that order because we did the most challenging trails in the beginning and ended with a nice walk. Easily hiked ~6 miles. We went when it wasn't crowded so we were fully immersed into nature without big groups. This park doesn't have much foot traffic compared to Turkey Run, which is what we enjoyed the most here. We went around noon and left before it got dark. PROS: $7 for Indiana residents, modern restrooms, playground for kids and benches for lunch. CONS: No trash cans

We visited the Salt Fork River preserve for an outdoor wedding, and then popped next door to the…read moreSalt Fork Center for the reception. The preserve itself is lovely and looks well-managed. The Salt Fork Center is an aging A-frame building, and the A/C was NOT working. After being crowded inside a few hours, guests began to figure out that the exterior temperature had come down enough that it felt slightly cooler outside. Putting aside the A/C problem, this place offered an easy-to-access water-and-woods escape from Champaign-Urbana, just 15 to 20 minutes away.

I feel like I left a beautiful fairy land that should not exist in this world…read more The lake here blends beautifully with the smooth grass that surrounds it. The way the sun hits this lake is comparable only to pictures that I have seen in story books of lands far away or that have only existed in our imaginations. When the sunsets over it colors are displayed on this iridescent canvas that have no name. The trees are simply gorgeous with amazing diversity in variety. They supply ample shade for picnicers and families enoying the peace and beauty here. There are many ancient trees that appear to be hundreds of years old deep in the woods. Homer Lake as the people who live near here call it also bosts many amenities such as a look out tower, various trails, play grounds, and a very educational nature center. I left here feeling at peace. What a beautiful place!

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.

This is another great rail trail in Indiana that straddles Sugar Creek. Finding the trail is…read moretricky, winding pass farmland, through a golf course and around some tight curves. There is plenty of parking and a porta potty at the entrance we used. There was no phone connectivity, so I could not check in. This is wilderness! This was my third visit to the trail. There is short hike up a hill to access the trail. The tree lined trail is nicely paved with occasional benches and pet clean up stations. There are lots of wildflowers along the path and some picturesque views including and old train bridge across Sugar Creek. There were lots of birds chirping so a good place for bird watching. On the weekend, there are many people out walking, running, riding bikes and more. Rock hunters look for fossils under the bridge. The trail itself is accessible and navigable in a wheel chair but I don't know how a wheelchair could climb the hill to get on the trail. Perhaps there is another area with easier access. The trail closes at dusk.

This is a 4 and a half mile trail of wilderness on the outskirts of Crawfordsville. It's…read morewell-maintained and peaceful, great for walking, jogging, or biking. It's mostly paved with a short gravel section. Although it is technically part of the trail I would skip the section by Crawfordsville High School and start by Donnelly's, its more nature-y. I don't think there's any water fountains so definitely bring a water bottle. It's rural and seems very safe, I've never heard of any crime on it, but I would still recommend normal safety precautions because it is very isolated.