1. Touch the Earth Natural Area

0

Columbus, IN

Cancel

Open app

Search

Touch the Earth Natural Area

4.0 (1 review)

Touch the Earth Natural Area Photos

More like Touch the Earth Natural Area

Recommended Reviews - Touch the Earth Natural Area

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration
Photo of Ken N.
668
3984
21554

8 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

Verify this business for free

People searched for Parks 128 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

Verify this business

Johnson County Park & Recreation - deck overlooking pond

Johnson County Park & Recreation

3.9(7 reviews)
12.8 mi

I want to focus my review on the public train rides offered at the park by the Indiana Live…read moreSteamers. I took my 8 and 3 year old kids today. I highly recommend that you read the information on the Indiana Live Steamers website since all the important information is listed there. The group does rides for the public a few times a year for just $3 per person. (Bring cash!) Lots of families with smaller children were there but I also saw people and couples of all ages. Note that children under 2 are not able to ride. As another reviewer stated, this park is huge. There wasn't a lot of signage to point me where to go for the trains. Unsure, I turned into the campground area to ask. What I should have done was to stay on the main road, past the campground entrance on my right, continue down the road, past a horse statue on the right, then start watching for wooden shelter buildings, a cabin and large garage/storage building. Once we arrived in the train area there was ample parking and plenty of volunteers to direct us where to go. There is a building that houses trains not in use. It's a great chance for everyone to get a closer look at trains. Volunteers were obviously thrilled to talk about trains and answer any and all questions. It wasn't too busy so one train owner turned on an engine and let my kids push the whistle button and move it forward and backward a few feet. I'm not sure I would expect that to happen again but it sure was a terrific surprise. All of the owners/volunteers/enthusiasts clearly love what they do and it showed! The ride was about 15 minutes and took us over bridges, through woods and out in open fields. It was a bit quicker than expected but never felt unsafe. I have no complaints though I should note that there was only one portable bathroom. I didn't see anyone selling food or drinks which is a bit of a lost opportunity. However, a family could definitely pack a lunch and find a place to picnic in the park. We didn't stop by but were told that there were small model trains at an office in the park. I highly recommend for anyone who remotely likes trains.

Great amount of activities and different trails and great area to bring the kids. Wish they would…read moreopen the obstacle course

Photos
Johnson County Park & Recreation - Nature habitat in the middle of the park

Nature habitat in the middle of the park

Johnson County Park & Recreation - Playground at campground

Playground at campground

Johnson County Park & Recreation - McClain Cabin

See all

McClain Cabin

Selmier State Forest - bridge crossing by the pond

Selmier State Forest

4.0(1 review)
25.5 mi

When the Selmier family owned the property, Frank Selmier began planting pine, black locust, black…read morewalnut, sycamore, and tulip trees on the land. From 1921 to 1934, he worked on the property and most of the property was placed on Indiana's Classified Forest Program between 1927-1931. After Frank's death, his wife donated the property to the State. This 355 acre property is located just a short distance from US 50 to the northeast side of North Vernon. The park is only accessible form CR 350 N and has the Forest Office/Property Manager's station on the east end of the park. However, if you don't wish to stop by and pick up a brochure, you can take the self-guided trail which starts (and has its own small parking lot) on the west end of the park. That's what I decided to take. The self-guided trail is fairly easy to navigate with wide gravel based roads making up most of the trail. Elevation changes are easy with the exception of one area where steps have been built into the hillside. The trail is roughly 1 mile in length and there are benches for resting or stopping to enjoy the sights and sounds of the park. There are small creeks/runoffs along the way with one spot where a small pond tends to grow after rain fall as it waits to filter through a pipe under the trail to lower ground. For those who like longer hikes, there are additional trails in the park, but none of them are very long. Be advised that hunting is allowed in the park during the season, but hunters should check in at the Forest Office to make sure of any additional restrictions. The brochures list the major items of concern for hunting as well as having maps of the trails. Nothing spectacular to catch your attention as far as terrain, but the forest looks to be in great health and the wide paths make the park more accessible (though not completely) than most. Review #2632

Photos
Selmier State Forest - Benches and wide paths for hiking

Benches and wide paths for hiking

Selmier State Forest - Toad along the way

Toad along the way

Selmier State Forest - Dense foliage lines the trail

See all

Dense foliage lines the trail

ECO Lake Park

ECO Lake Park

4.4(5 reviews)
15.2 mi

I have really enjoyed my "fishing trips" to Echo. Very clean, quite, peaceful, relaxing spot. Many…read moreclear, easy accessable spots to park and fish with nice picnic tables.

This is a nice park. I do not think it gets many visitors due to its location. It is right off of a…read morebusy street. The park spans 127 acres and was previously owned by Cosco Products company, which hoped to create an employee recreational area, but it was never fully developed. The county received the property from the Cosco in 2007. The park's name, ECO, is an acronym derived from Employees of Cosco (ECO). The work "Lake" was added to the name to highlight the lake. The park runs along ECO Lake and has an ample amount of parking available. You will find a nice public boat launch that feeds right into the lake. There are also picnic tables and benches positioned in locations around the lake's perimeter. They provide very scenic views. The park has a sand volleyball court and a basketball court right next to each other. They are in fair to good shape. This park features a lot of green space, a moderate amount of shade, a picnic shelter with picnic tables under it, and a playground area. The playground area is not the most modern, but it is decent. It has a medium sized metal play structure with a bunch of slides, a net climber, and monkey bars. The playground also has a bank of traditional swings, monkey bars, and pull up bars. This is a very nice, low key park with lots of open pace. There is a gravel road that leads to the back of the park. That road will take you to camp sites and only registered campers are authorized to go past the gate. I like this park, but think it is just in a bad location. It could use a little bit of an upgrade such as a new shelter because the current one is in bad repair and maybe a restroom facility. They current have a port a potty there, that is located by the shelter and playground area. Definitely a nice place to visit and get access to the lake. Worth a visit if you are in the area.

Photos
ECO Lake Park
ECO Lake Park
ECO Lake Park

See all

Touch the Earth Natural Area - parks - Updated November 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...