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Marshall, IN

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Turkey Run State Park

4.5 (149 reviews)
Open • 7:00 am - 11:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

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Lilia Z.

A popular and well-loved park for a reason! It's a little over an hour's drive from Central Indy, but totally worth it. The park was somewhat busy from the parking lot to crossing the bridge, but once we got onto the trails it didn't feel crowded at all. I really appreciated having different trail distance options, especially for my two senior dogs. We got in just the right amount of walking and exploring. Since I had them with me, I couldn't take the ladder trails this time, but that's definitely on my list for when I come back in the spring!

Eliette C.

This is my favorite park to visit when in Indiana. It has a vast amount of activities but I go for the hiking. They have over 10 trails to hike from easy to very rugged but no matter the level,they all end up in a beautiful river where you can freshen up with a swim or just lay back and enjoy the scenery. It also includes a great amount of space for setting up a picnic and or bar b q and even on busy days, it does not feel full. There is a community pool and even a small amphitheater where we enjoyed a little country music.

Historic inn
Marissa C.

This is a beautiful area! The natural features are stunning and there are a lot of nice amenities, including an inn, cabins, campsites, shelters, sports fields, and playgrounds. The gorge is fun to explore and has a great view at Sunset Point. Rocky Hollow Nature Preserve is located inside the park and is accessible via a neat suspension bridge across Sugar Creek. It has a lot of amazing sandstone formations - canyons, caves, slump blocks, and more. Some of the trails themselves wind in and out of the actual streambed. There is also a nature center available at the park. Great place to visit!

Kristin B.

This place is so peaceful and beautiful! Although we were not quite prepared for our trail loop of 3, 5, 9, 10 and 1... when they are described as "rugged" within the park map, it's pretty spot on, as I was trying not to slip, fall, and injure myself during several portions (especially trail 9... the devil's trail lol). Make sure you pack water & snacks, as there isn't anywhere to fuel up once you begin your journey. We came on a (blazing hot) Sunday afternoon and while there were plenty of people, it never felt crowded and everyone was very respectful on the trails and ensured one another's safety. I would love to see how beautiful this park looks during the fall and winter seasons

Fatima G.

We visited Turkey Run right after winter today and it was still as beautiful without the leaves and greenery. Granted there soil was mushy but we had a great time hiking loop 6 and 7. There are about 6-7 trails and some of them are far more rugged and require climbing a lot of steps. For seasoned hikers, it's fun and definitely worth your time. The camps and inn are busy and overflowing in summer but today it was a good, quiet day with a couple hikers here and there. Definitely recommend and turkey run doesn't grow old!

Breanne B.

Wow. An absolutely beautiful State Park. Our family of five visited in April and had the best day. I definitely recommend looking at the trails before and deciding what works best for your group. Since we had a 7 year old we decided to do portions of 3 of the trails. Don't get me wrong, these trails, 3, 5, 9, (where they intersect) still are a lot. You will be tired. But take your time. Bring plenty of water and a small snack. Please wear comfortable shoes with grip and dress in layers. It was cool when we arrived in the early afternoon but we soon got warm by 1 or 2pm with all the walking (and stairs

The ladder
Ian B.

What can I say that already hasn't been said!! I'll make this short and sweet. One of Indianas best parks!! Easy to get to, lots of parking and lots of room for people to explore. Great for families, great solo hiking, great to do with pets. Not too technical but keep in mind there are the ladders on trail 3 that would be very difficult with large dogs or children/people afraid of heights. 11 different trails ranging from .5 miles to 2 miles, easy, to rugged. Tons of options. Great picnic areas, always clean and just a great time out here. Also when it's warm out there is some great tubing, canoeing, kayaking down the river through the park.

Park closed sign
Brandy B.

First, I will say that this is a beautiful park. I absolutely recommend it. I think it's 100% worth the trip. It's beautiful year round! Lovely trails and beautiful landscape to see. That being said... this trip was soured by a massive breakdown in communication to patrons. My family drove from Bloomington IL to visit. We made reservations by phone for the lodge. We were not told the park was closed. When we arrived a very speed woman at the park entrance told us the news. We told her that we were staying here and had come from Bloomington il, and we were told we could only go corticosteroids to the lodge and can not go anywhere else in the park. When we went to the lodge to cancel our reservation... we saw there is not even anywhere to eat because the lodge restaurant is closed also. No one told us when making reservations, it's not on the park website, there was claim that it was on the Facebook page. We never saw it. We looked. I feel that there should be something more done for these situations. If we had been told when making reservations... we could have saved a lot more time, gas, and money.

Incredible views like this all through the park. Not your typical Indiana views.
Ryan A.

This is the park that made me fall in love with hiking. There's so much to see here and all within a relatively short distance, this really is the perfect park for a day of hiking. Bring your waterproof shoes as Trail 3 is the creek, but with preparation this is such a great time. Cannot recommend this highly enough. Get out here and explore - you'll be glad you did.

Karley C.

While I have not been to every state park in Indiana, I must say this is my favorite one I've been to so far! If I have out of state guests visiting who want to hike, I'll drive here from Indy because I think the drive is worth it. While it can get crowded in the summer, this state park has some fun, rugged trails that will lead you through Creeks with some light scrambling. Wear your Chacos to make sure you can get your feet wet! For people who have a dream of doing "The Narrows" at Zion--all the "canyoneering" you can do here is as good as it is going to get in Indiana :) The campground itself has a pool and an Inn, so there are also some great amenities at this state park as well. A great way to spend a summer day, if you ask me. Be sure to pack your picnic--you are going to need it after doing the five mile loop!

The suspension bridge made my evermore heart squee
Heather B.

This is absolutely one of the best places to go hiking in Indiana. I love how many trails they have and they're all kind of difficult, which makes it fun. I've also not seen ladders used frequently and trail 3 has 3 of them for added fun. Once you cross the suspension bridge over sugar creek, you've got three options: take trail four or go right or left on trail three. I recommend left because then you go UP the ladders instead of DOWN. I probably would have peed a little at the idea of going down them. It's a long drop to very hard rock. So that's a nope from me. Luckily I chose correctly! Also, listen to the map. Trail three is very rugged. It was very fun though. And it rained yesterday and was very wet. The map is not wrong when it says parts may be impassable during high water. My friends foot slipped and she ended up in shin high water. In December. Oops. Absolutely cannot wait to go back. I'm going to do the covered bridge trail next time.

Ty H.

Excellent place to hike. This place does get crowded on weekends, so plan ahead and arrive early! There's also a swimming pool within the park and plenty of picnic areas.

Julie M.

During Covid, we struggled where to go as a family. We stayed outside of the state park at some small cabins that were privately owned. We went to Turkey Run on three separate days. We were so excited to see the variety of trails and the geographical features. We've been to Scotland before as a family and so many of us said it reminded us of Scotland. If you spin around completely in some of the areas with the tall rock formations and water features, it would be hard to believe you were in Indiana. We also on one day, decided to do a two hour canoe trip with a local outfitter. You actually canoe on the river through Turkey Run and can see some of the beautiful cliffs and rock formations from the water in a different way versus inside the woods. Some of the trails are tricky when you are trying to hike through creek beds and see where the path goes, but there are markers if you pay attention. We had so much fun we plan to go back. If you are looking for an adventure, whether you're looking for leisurely hikes or really rugged terrain's and ladder system hikes, this is the place for you! We also were traveling with two young children and they were able to do most of the trails except for some of the ladder systems. Our group split up for that portion of the trails. I felt like the state park map was very accurate about the difficulty level. Some of the trails were labeled as more rugged and they had stairs and some climbing. The trails that said moderate to easy, truly were. Even the easy to Moderate trails were stunning. I think whatever your level of fitness, you will find true enjoyment inside of this state park.

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Simply beautiful setting - the stairs were a real challenge but we loved every minute of it!

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It was my first time tent camping & had a great time at the campground! The hike was beautiful and the nature was very vibrant as well!

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5 years ago

Fun place to spend the day, bring your kids or even camp! I mean who doesn't love Turkey run??

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Ask the Community - Turkey Run State Park

Review Highlights - Turkey Run State Park

“Once you cross the creek and the suspension bridge, you can spend half a day across sugar creek.”

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Wolf Park - Animal sanctuary

Wolf Park

4.6(37 reviews)
48.8 mi

This place is surreal. A true blessing to have within 15 mins of Purdue…read more You can see Wolves, Bison, Foxes, turtles, you name it. Everybody who works here is super sweet and very knowledgeable. I am blown away with my experience and cannot wait to come back in the fall!

I guess I expected something different from Wolf Park, so I was slightly underwhelmed. But I think…read morethat's my own fault. My life motto is to approach everything with low expectations, and I think my expectations were very high for this animal sanctuary. That's not to say Wolf Park isn't cool. It is. The tour guides are very knowledgable and engaging, you learn a lot about wolves, there are some neat things in the gift shop, and it's nice to know that there's a sanctuary in Indiana that cares for these canine creatures. The wolves were mostly sleeping and behind fences, and we had to stand way far away from the fences, so it was difficult to see the wolves, most of the time. Mostly, it was a lot of walking and looking at the animal enclosures during the one-hour tour. But we did learn a lot about wolves and animal conservation, which was nice. There are also buffalo and fox here, but we didn't see those, either. I guess your mileage may vary depending on how active the animals are on the day that you visit. Because the tour is a lot of talking and walking and not a lot of seeing of wolves or touching things, I would say that this experience is better for adults and older kids. There was a young child in my group, and he was trying to climb the fence and then melting down by the end of the tour. Parking is in a gravel lot, but there seemed to be plenty of spaces. There are also restrooms on site.

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Wolf Park
Wolf Park
Wolf Park - Wolves are somewhere in there

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Wolves are somewhere in there

Shades State Park

Shades State Park

4.5(53 reviews)
7.7 mi

During a recent trip to Turkey Run State Park for a meeting, I had some extra time to explore a…read morebit. While you might think that's what led me to Shades State Park, to be honest I landed here because I got lost. So, I figured "What the heck?" and decided to snag a second Indiana state park in one day. Located about 17 miles southwest of Crawfordsville off SR 47, Shades State Park is an ideal location for camping, hiking, and canoeing. As Katy E. notes in her review, Shades is less popular than the pretty close by Turkey Run. With sandstone clicks overlooking Sugar Creek, this is the place for those who want more nature and less activity. You can also check out the Pine Hills Nature Preserve while here. Shades is definitely not built necessarily for someone like me (a wheelchair user) precisely because it's not "built." It's a pretty natural setting, though it does have a picnic area with shelters, a 6-ravine hiking challenge, 10 trails (plus a backpacking trail), fishing, interpretive naturalist services (seasonal), and it's a favorite spot for a number of astronomy groups due to its dark skies. While I found the entrance to Turkey Run (which I love) a little too developed, such is not really the case here. There are 105 non-electric camping sites, 7 backpack camping sites, 10 sites for canoe camping, youth tent areas, and a dumping station. For hikers, the trails range from about .5 miles to about 2.5 miles. A couple of these trails are genuinely rugged, and probably not best for beginners. There are a couple shorter trails that are considered easy, though obviously "easy" means different things - especially for wheelchair users. Trail #7 is currently closed due to recent rains/floods. A few fun facts: Shades State Park opened in 1947. It was the state's 15th state park. This area was originally known as "Shades of Death" due to its darkness and deep forest. In the 19th century, there was a mineral springs resort here. Joseph Frisz, the owner, actually sold the land to the state for a park to preserve the area. Shades does not have a hotel or inn, however, you're close to Crawfordsville. Turkey Run Inn is about eight miles away for those not into primitive camping. I'm a big fan of this park. While there are certainly trails here I can't really do in the wheelchair, there's enough places to go that I can easily still spend the day here. Including Pine Hills, Shades covers about 3,000 acres.

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

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Shades State Park
Shades State Park
Shades State Park - Ravine. Very Jurassic park.

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Ravine. Very Jurassic park.

Cataract Falls State Recreation Area

Cataract Falls State Recreation Area

4.4(48 reviews)
37.8 mi

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.

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Cataract Falls State Recreation Area
Cataract Falls State Recreation Area - Inside the bridge

Inside the bridge

Cataract Falls State Recreation Area - Info

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Info

Oakley Playground in Deming Park - shelter with a stone fireplace

Oakley Playground in Deming Park

4.3(6 reviews)
30.4 mi

While visiting Terre Haute, the first park I visited was Deming Park, and I knew I would return…read more The park has multiple amenities, including a full disc golf course, a swimming pool (during season), horse shoes, tennis, the Clark-Landsbaum Holly Arboretum, several art installations, a mini train "the Spirit of Terre Haute", and, oh yeah, a very cool playground. There are 177 acres at this park and that allows visitors to find quiet places as well as the hustle/bustle of the playground area. Shelters are available throughout the park and with many paved roads winding through the park, access to the shelters is easy. The playground was busy with families playing on the multiple pieces of equipment. I liked that there was plenty of shade close to the playground and that the picnic tables have roofs on them. During the season, a mini-train ride is available for a small fee. Just look for the colorful mural by Becky Hochhalter painted on the train shelter to know where to board. (Tickets are available at the nearby Torner Center during the season). There is also a nice garden near the playground entrance called "Jackie's Garden". It features a bronze sculpture of a seated little girl who is watching butterflies. The arboretum is a plant garden dedicated to preserving the varieties of holly. The entire hillside is covered with mature plants and each has been identified with markers to assist visitors. Nearby, a 14' tall stainless steel sculpture called "On the Wings of Flight" by Simonis (2015) can be found too! The park is a great place to spend some time if you are wanting to get outdoors and play. Review #892

Huge playground for the kids. One area is for the bigger kids and another area for 2-5 year olds…read more Tons of shade for the parents to watch the kids at play. There is a train that goes around a small track for $1.25 each passenger close to the playground. Haven't checked out the restrooms for cleanliness but they have them here and a water fountain in case you forgot to pack drinks. Lots of covered picnic benches great for a family picnic. There Is a community pool open in the summer close to the playground too. It's $2.75 for kids and $3 for adults. They have a diving board and water splash area for the younger ones. I wasn't able to see if the pool has a baby pool as it's not open until noon.

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Oakley Playground in Deming Park - Awesome swing for Mom and baby!!

Awesome swing for Mom and baby!!

Oakley Playground in Deming Park - Concession stand and ticket booth for the train

Concession stand and ticket booth for the train

Oakley Playground in Deming Park - More playground

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More playground

Portland Arch Nature Preserve

Portland Arch Nature Preserve

4.6(8 reviews)
23.7 mi

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.

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Portland Arch Nature Preserve - Portland Arch trail

Portland Arch trail

Portland Arch Nature Preserve - Halfway down the ravine - rugged

Halfway down the ravine - rugged

Portland Arch Nature Preserve - Portland Arch trail

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Portland Arch trail

Sugar Creek Nature Park

Sugar Creek Nature Park

4.5(2 reviews)
19.7 mi

Very nice nature park. Loop trail is easy walking. Great place to take the kids or the dog for a…read morewalk. Several access points for fishing along the trail and near the bridge.

Just north of Crawfordsville on US-231 is a nature park with a wooded hike and lots of bench/tables…read morealong the path. The majority of the trail parallels the river, including the bend for the last third of the trail. Near the entrance are several board displays including a map and information about the wildlife in the area. The trail starts on the left of the parking lot and loops around a small pond to cover the majority of the park to the right. Most of the paths are dirt, though parts are sandy (near the bend) and rocky. Decent footing for walking, but not so good for jogging since there can be muddy stretches and uneven surfaces. Near the bend, the trail opens up to a "beach" area across from an old power plant. The river has a small dam that creates a murmuring that is relaxing. Fishing is allowed, but there are signs posted that the fish may not be healthy for eating. Sadly, after the rounding of the bend where the trail passes under US-231, a "camp" for homeless blocked the path. I didn't see anyone there, but felt uncomfortable going beyond that point. On the trail back, I found a bypass along the front of the park where the tall grasses had been cut straight to the parking lot. Overall, the park was a decent hike, but could use some attention. I kept running into cobwebs through the wooded area, so I wonder how much use the trail gets. Also, the trail got hard to follow beyond the bend. I wasn't sure if I was to continue along the river or if there was some woodland path that was obscured from view. Note: Access to the park is only available from the north bound lanes of US-231 near the Elston Park Softball Complex. Review #966

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Sugar Creek Nature Park
Sugar Creek Nature Park
Sugar Creek Nature Park

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Turkey Run State Park - parks - Updated October 2026

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