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    Prophetstown State Park

    4.3 (31 reviews)

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    Allison F.

    Prophetstown State Park is for you if you hope to... -walk your pup -ride your bike -go for a relatively flat hike -have a picnic on the river Make sure you bring... -sunglasses -hat -comfy shoes -full water bottle

    Bernie C.

    One of our favorite state parks in Indiana! Kids love the aquatic center (aka mini water park) in the summer and the campground and playground areas are very nice. The trails are mostly flat and easy. There is even a working farm and historical building to check out. If paved areas are perfect to stretch your legs on or bike on. Only gripes if I had to really try hard to think of any are that the campground seems understaffed. Unlike some other state parks, you rarely see DNR driving through here. Often times the camp check in is done at the main gate as there is not enough staff to go around. The proximity to Lafayette and West Lafayette make it super convenient as well. Feel like sitting down in a restaurant and not cooking? No problem. Options galore within 10-20 mins of driving.

    Nice firepits with moveable grates

    The park is amazingly clean. Facilities are too. The sites are well laid out. The hosts are pleasant and helpful. Scenery is lovely. It was September so the views were wonderful. For being next to a gravel pit, it is very quiet. Light pollution is low (but not zero). Wood is available for $6 for about 5 logs. NO KINDLING, so bring your own or be prepared to split logs. There are paved paths to walk, a small farm which is great for exposing kids who do not normally get to see farm animals. Nothing fancy, but nice. But if you are a tent camper be warned. YOU CANNOT PITCH YOUR TENT ON THE GRASS. That's right, you must pitch it on the gravel space. This means if your tent is not free standing you will have a problem. The spaces are well designed FOR TRAILERS. This means they are concrete hard and gravel covered. You will not be able to drive stakes into the pad. This also means you will be laying on gravel, so have a good pad. I was doing bikepacking so had limited gear.

    Brady R.

    Prophetstown SP is a simple 1 hour drive from downtown Indy. Along your route there, it's relatively flat and that's exactly how it is at the state park. The entrance into this park is very lengthy and some direction services give you the incorrect address/route, so be sure to use Google Maps to make sure you take the correct way. I've been here a couple of times now. The first time, it was flooded with runners and bikers on the road as part of an annual marathon they have. They also had a ton of community-engaged scarecrows along one of the routes towards the front of the park. It was so cute and TONS of scarecrows were there - I would highly recommend going during the fall to see them. One of the best parts of this state park is that it's right along the river. There are quite a few trails that allow you to go down to the banks of the river and watch the water flow by. Very peaceful experience. The trails towards the back of the park are filled with hikers and runners and walkers. Again, it's very flat and mostly meadow-like so don't expect lots of hills or trails rated challenging. You can combine lots of the trails togther to get a good 6+ mile hike in. It's quite spread out, too.

    How tall the foliage was, couldn't see the Wabash river next to the trail on the other side.
    Rachel S.

    Took a day to enjoy some time with family outside. First time at this park. Defiantly a mix of trails not to hard. We did trail 2 and 3. Only thing I didn't like about trail 3 was that the plants were so tall you couldn't enjoy the water when you walked by it. Not mush shade on some of the trails but all in all a good trip.

    Pat D.

    This park is hidden on the north side of west LAFAYETTE and never seems busy. It is a newer park and is mostly flat. Most of the park is without trees so on a sunny day bring a lot of sun screen. Great for riding bikes because not a lot of traffic and they have paved trails. The pool was nice to have their at the park and more modern than other state parks. Food took about 15 minutes at the pool in a line of about 15 people. The camp sites are all crushed gravel and most of them were filled with campers. There is on around 100 spots so you HAVE to book online because they get full in advance. One fishing pond but when we were there it had a lot of growth in it. It would be nice if they would plant more trees at this location for shade through out the park.

    Prophets Rock
    Sarena W.

    After a week on the AT, I desired an adventure but was financially stuck in Lafayette. Then I discovered Prophets Rock, and the outcropping transported me on an adventure that distanced me from the buzz of Indiana. For a few minutes, I was captured by the beauty and able to channel my inner chief. Pretty much, it's a hidden gem!

    signage entrance
    Dick B.

    Campground - Excellent State Park - 3rd visit now Most recent stay was June 6th 2017 - I'm "late" in posting my review ~ We camp in a Little Rig "Tear Drop" style RV only 15' long w/o toilet or shower ~ plus we like to eat outdoors using the picnic table and set up our dining canopy for sun and weather protection and thus rely on condition of campgrounds facilities and being nearby our site ~ so our critique is focused in that area Liked our site #210, (electric only) was in newer section of park right next to restroom albeit it had no shade trees unlike the older section that did. Modern restroom/shower building; very roomy with ample # of stalls with full tiled walls was clean and well kept. Each stall had bench in changing area and ample hooks for towels and clothes. Nice conveniences but it would have been better if there were rubber floor mats as you exit shower to keep feet off wet floor. Communal sink area had shelves for toiletries beneath each mirror but no hooks for hand towels and no paper towels for cleanup after use leaving sinks somewhat messy. Overall grounds were well cared for; grassy areas surrounded sites that were large and flat with gravel and level and good distance way from neighboring sites. Minimal vegetation between sites for privacy but time will tell. This state park gets a high rating and will return when in the area.

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    5 years ago

    Nice state park. Good sites and has some no e trails and pond for fishing. The sites are level and easy to park in. Love the historic farm.

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    3 years ago

    Beautiful park with wonderful walking trails and activities for family fun! Plus incredibly cheap!

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    2 years ago

    Lovely place to camp, but has so many other things to do with the trails, and especially the aquatic center my grandkids love that

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    3 years ago

    Fantastic park. Clean, well maintained. Walking trails are amazing. Our dogs love going there for hiking. Campground is awesome as well.

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    3 years ago

    Different than most of the state parks but a great place to camp. We usually come more than once a year.

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    Ask the Community - Prophetstown State Park

    Review Highlights - Prophetstown State Park

    Kids love the aquatic center (aka mini water park) in the summer and the campground and playground areas are very nice.

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    Columbian Park

    Columbian Park

    4.9
    (8 reviews)
    6.0 mi

    This is an amazing park tucked away in a small suburb of Lafayette. It sits right in front of the…read morezoo and spans 40 acres. It is relatively well maintained and clean. There is tons of parking available, spread out between a couple of lots and some street parking. The park has lots of shelters with picnic tables under them and a grill just outside of them. I would say there are at least 18 of them that are available to be rented. The park also has a couple of shuffle boards that you can play and a loose picnic tables scattered on the grounds. The park is home to an amazing playground that has just about everything you would want in a playground. It's only negative is that it is on a bed of wood chips. The area is pretty large and divided into different areas for recommended age groups. There is a wide mix of equipment here including traditional and toddler swings, a saucer swing, sit-n-spins, slides, expression swings, and a teen area with a jungle gym that has a suspended pebble bridge and monkey rings. There is a huge jungle gym that sits a top a hill in the area that has a bunch of slides and some monkey bars. The equipment seems to be in pretty good repair and looks great, even though it is a bit older. You will find a share a book kiosk and a glider swing in the area as well. The park features a train depot that sits right across from the zoo entrance and it has an operational train that goes around the park. It was not running while I was there because it was out of season. I really liked the park's man-made lagoon that winds through it. It very picturesque and calming. It adds a nice touch to the park. They have a little pier on the lake where they do paddle boat rentals, in season. You will see little amphitheater at the park. It seems relatively new and is very nice. it has seating and a scenic little plaza area with picnic tables that over look the park's lagoon. There is also a trail, the Columbian Trail, that weaves in and around Columbian Park. It is well paved and has a very scenic view. What sets this park apart though is its veterans area. They have a large area, the Memorial Plaza, located along the water dedicated to memorials to veterans. They have the United Spanish War Memorial, Gold Star Family Memorial, Medal of Honor Memorial, Purple Heart Memorial, and the Vietnam Memorial. There is also a bunch of flag waving from flags poles over there and a Howitzer gun on display. You will also see the Tippecanoe County Veterans Memorial, which is the oldest memorial in the park, dating back to 1949. I did not see a bathroom facility dedicated to the park, but I was able to use the one attached to the Zoo's entrance. It was very nice and well maintained. Also located on the water is the Rush Pavilion which serves as a clubhouse that can be rented for special events. It can hold up to 50 people and includes access to a full service kitchen. The wrap around porch can hold an additional 100 people. This is a destination park that you can easily spend a half of day without even going to the zoo or amphitheater. It has everything that I look for in a park and more. It is very picturesque and I really enjoyed my time there. I also like, that they included salutes to veterans in their planning. I highly recommend checking this place out. It checks off all the boxes and will not disappoint.

    Im actually sad this park is not closer to home for me. We enjoyed walking around the lake. They…read morehave paddle boats, an amphitheater, lots of picnic shelters and grills, and a small train. Plus playground equipment, a beautiful banquet hall, and a small zoo. My favorite part was the swinging benches. I'd be there all the time if I lived by this park.

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    Columbian Park
    Columbian Park
    Columbian Park

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    Wabash Heritage Trail

    Wabash Heritage Trail

    3.9
    (7 reviews)
    6.0 mi

    The best trail for running in the West Lafayette/Lafayette area. On the southernmost point, you can…read morepark at Fort Ouiatenon, take the sidewalk 3/4s of a mile to the trailhead then follow the dirt path along the Wabash River up to the pedestrian bridge, where you can cross over to the Lafayette side or continue up a bit more on paved surface toward a small park, restaurants and the edge of Purdue's campus. If you head over to the Lafayette side, the trail continues on paved surface for a while before returning to a dirt surface and concludes at the Tippecanoe Battlefield Park in Battle Ground, roughly 13 miles from Fort O. The trail is mostly flat and runnable from start to finish. After heavy rains, the river regularly floods the southern part of the trail.

    The Wabash Heritage Trail is 13 miles long making it a perfect training ground for a mini marathon…read more However, today we were exploring nature with our granddaughter. We started on the north end at Battleground Memorial. At the head of the trail is a sweet little nature center (Wah-ba-shik-a Nature Center) filled with descriptions of wildlife and fauna that are native to the area. My granddaughter was delighted to see the big white owl that greeted us at the door. The volunteer at the Center was welcoming and admission was free. They had maps for the trail that you can take. There are also special programs offered throughout the year. The trail starts and Battleground and extends all the way to Fort Ouiatenon. We only toured a couple miles along a creek that eventually meets the Wabash River. The trail is mulch covered and easy to navigate by foot. It would be difficult to maneuver a stroller or wheelchair onto the trail. The trail is lined with very large sycamores, oaks, walnuts and other trees native to the area. Some of the trees were at least 300 years older. The creek is clear and suitable for a little stomping. There are occasional benches along the trail as well as informational markers. There were also picnic tables and a water fountain at the trail head. We did not see any restroom facilities, but there were probably some in the Battle Ground Museum. The hike is quiet during the week. You can enjoy the sounds of birds and squirrels. I can imagine how beautiful the trail is when the leaves are changing color. There is some highway traffic noise as you get closer to the highway. The trail does not loop, so you have to backtrack to return to your car. There was plenty of parking at the Memorial. The map indicated that there were about five parking lots along the trail. We enjoyed the hike and will return to do a different section soon. I highly recommend.

    Photos
    Wabash Heritage Trail
    The Snowy owl at the nature center.
    The Snowy owl at the nature center.
    The creek along the head of the trail.

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    The creek along the head of the trail.
    Tapawingo Park

    Tapawingo Park

    4.2
    (5 reviews)
    4.6 mi

    Beautiful well kept park for sport and summer games and ice skating in the winter, there is easy…read moreand free parking, even more nearby at the mall, easy access right off State Street, good lookout points to the river, and excellent walking to downtown via the pedestrian bridge which also leads to the trails. Makes for a relaxing bit of green amidst downtown, campus, and a good stopping point on the Wabash Heritage Trail that runs all over for both running and biking.

    Location! Sometimes a park benefits from having an ideal location more than any of the amenities…read moreyou find there. For Tapawingo, the location is ideal. Located along the Wabash River, the park is on the north side of the State\Columbia Street Bridge. As you cross the river into West Lafayette, head north at the roundabout onto Tapawingo Dr and head to the north end of the park. Turn right onto Brown and you will find free pull-in parking there. The park is lush and green with mature trees lining the paved pathways through the park. The northwest corner has a decent playground for the kids to enjoy. To the east is a small shelter. South of the playground is an elevated art installation that appears to be the bones of a ship called "Tapawingo Travelogue" by artist Eric Nordgulen (2015). Continuing south, there is a building that hosts outdoor ice skating in the cold months. I am not sure if there is any activity there during the summer, but it seems they out to let kids roller skate during the warmer months to make full use of the space. At the south end of the park is Margerum Fountain, named after a former mayor. The fountain is one with the high spray in the center and a small circle of spray surrounding it. Another benefit of the location is that the John T Myers footbridge is directly east of the fountain. If you haven't crossed the bridge, it has the makings of a great festival area and offers even better views of the river. (If you go, check out the large Millenium Sundial by David Aho - 1999). Lots to see and do at this park...or do nothing at all. You can still have a great time here. Review #1126

    Photos
    Ice skating rink
    Ice skating rink
    Tapawingo Park
    Open space and a small shelter

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    Open space and a small shelter
    Turkey Run State Park

    Turkey Run State Park

    4.6
    (147 reviews)
    46.2 mi

    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.

    Photos
    Turkey Run State Park
    Turkey Run State Park
    Remi

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    Remi

    Prophetstown State Park - parks - Updated August 2026

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