On the southwest side of town, there is a nice park complex. The park has a large playground, a…read moreshelter, beach volleyball, and a parking lot in each side so you don't have to walk far. There is also some shade around the perimeter of the park, though not any in the middle. Across the street are the municipal pool and a skate park as well. Overall, there is a lot to do for primarily younger kids at this location, but also a few things for families that want to have an outdoor get together. Review #2926

A hidden gem in Southern Indiana. This is right off I-69 by Jasper. Only $10 to camp here with a…read moretent. For canoe and kayak rentals it's only $1 a day! Such great prices for an amazing location. We set up our tent on a peninsula overlooking the lake with nobody near us. The interstate noise carried, but it wasn't too loud. We didn't put on the rain fly and could hear the crickets, frogs and fish jumping. Campground was well kept. Clean bathrooms, mowed lawn, playground for kids, and everyone (staff and campers) were friendly. Perfect spot to test out my new tent. Great park to enjoy Indiana summer nights!

Camped here once great! Golf course we go here sometimes every Sunday! We love this place.read more

If you've ever looked at a rock and thought, "Wow, that looks like a giant ceramic moonshine jug,"…read morethen congratulations--you may be spiritually connected to Jug Rock. Nestled in the scenic hills of Martin County, Jug Rock is exactly what it sounds like: a big ol' rock that somehow defied gravity, erosion, and logic to become Indiana's most charming geological oddity. It's nature's version of a middle finger to physics and a beautiful one at that. Getting there feels like a mini adventure--you'll drive through a peaceful little town, maybe wave to a few cows, and then boom: there it is, standing tall like it's just waiting to be Instagrammed. You don't climb it (please don't climb it), but you do stand in front of it and try to make serious faces in photos next to something that looks like it belongs in a Looney Tunes desert scene. Is it just a rock? Technically yes. Is it also a hilarious and majestic reminder that nature sometimes gets weird? Absolutely. Bring a camera, bring your sense of humor, and prepare to be humbled by Indiana's finest jug that isn't full of cider. 10/10 would rock again.

Tony and I was driving the back roads of Indiana and we saw the sign for Jug Rock Preserve and we…read morehad to stop to check it out. The rock formations was amazing! It's Free to check out and close to the road. I definitely recommend you to check it out so stop!!!! There's also a great diner near by...Velma's!

It seems like there is a lot of construction around the area where 3rd Avenue crosses the Patoka…read moreRiver. The Riverwalk runs along the Patoka for quite a distance. I thought I would be able to find parking at the address assigned on Yelp, but that parking has signs posted that state the parking is for specific businesses only. Fortunately, I found a nice parking lot on the south side of the Patoka and one block west of 3rd Avenue. (Take Brucke Strasse west to Cemetery Drive and there will be shaded parking on both sides of the street.) This lot is really convenient for anyone who wants to check out the Jasper City Mill (when it is open) or the City's first handicap accessible playground (at least that is what the tombstone style marker claims.) Because of time constraints, I didn't try hiking the entire 2+ mile length, but was able to check out the downtown area. Next to the Mill, a bridge spans the Patoka with great views of the small dam/waterfall next to 3rd Avenue. It also offers views of the working side of the Mill. The trail goes east underneath 3rd Avenue to avoid the traffic and soon leads to an area called the Dave Buehler Plaza. Back near where I parked, the playground has equipment targeted towards smaller kids. There is also a fitness station with several pieces of workout equipment available. Note that during my visit, some construction cones were in the area, so be advised that at times, passage may be limited until the work is completed. Review #3190

There is nothing that I don't love about this part of Jasper! This riverwalk is absolutely…read moregorgeous and a perfect way to get out and get some running, walking, jogging or biking in after all and the meat and potatoes you consume! I wish this trail was closer to where I live because I would be on it every day! The Riverwalk "stretches 2.1 miles from the Ruxer Golf Course on South Clay Street, to 15th Street. It follows the Patoka River through scenic wooded areas and along farm fields." As you pass through the 2.1 mile route you take in the Jasper City Mill and bridge, a deeply wooded area where you'll find some fisherman throwing lines and some squirrels that aren't afraid to stay on the trail and eat the corn that passers-by leave for them. It makes for great photo ops! The trail can obviously get a bit hot and sweaty in the summer months in the unshaded, sunny portions but it's well worth the time! There's even an ice cream shack you can stop by to cool you off a bit and if the river is high enough, it's fun to just sit and listen to the running water. A truly beautiful place! Know before you go: No restrooms! However, the owner of the Mill lets me use his but I ALWAYS buy a little something when I do. Their old candies and cornmeal are my top favorites! A perfect place for my 300th review!!

Clean park with lots of shade. Playground is older but I'm good conditions. Kids had a great time!read more

Located north of downtown is a park that includes a clubhouse, basketball courts, a large swimming…read morepool, and a wooded playground. The park was renovated by the local Jaycees and partners back in 1985. There is a large paved parking lot next to the park which can easily hold the visitors to the area. The playground features numerous slides and has swings and some climbing structures. The pool is fenced and has a waterslide. The basketball goals are on the east side of the pool structure so they are separated from the playground area. Review #3200

We had Vivi as our tour guide and she was very educational for my husband and my first cave tour…read more It lasted close to an hour and the average temp was a very comfortable 54 degrees on a summer day! We saw a transparent cavern fish that you can see their spine and a frog and a bat.

It was the day before mine and the wife's 30th anniversary and I was looking for something fun and…read moredifferent to do. Enter Bluespring Caverns Park. So on our Anniversary Eve I told her what time we needed to get up and what time we needed to leave to make the drive from Louisville to the park. She had no idea where we were going. When we pulled in to the parking lot she said "Well, this looks fun!". We were fortunate enough to arrive about 10:45 am and were the last two booked for the 11:00 tour. The entre fee is around $25 per person, but being a Veteran I was able to get a $4 discount (I'm also told that the Veteran discount is the only discount they offer any more). The tour starts with a walk down a hill that I couldn't help but think would be GREAT on a sled in the winter. It's a helluva walk (both down and up), but VERY scenic. As you descend you can feel the air cool. On a 90° degree day it felt REALLY nice. Once you're down to the bottom you board a boat and start the tour. Sam was our tour guide and he was Most Excellent. Sam has been doing tours at Bluespring Cavern for about 9 years and he shared all kind of facts and trivia during out tour. As I recall our tour was about 5/8 of a mile at a very leisurely pace. Caverns are such amazing, wonderful places. They're their own little, secret underground world. No matter how many I my brain goes into overdrive trying to imagine how it was hundreds/thousands of years ago, how incredibly still and quiet it must be when empty, and how completely isolating they can be. Sam educated us as we went along and entered different "rooms" in the cavern, giving us history and safety tips (DO NOT drink the water) along the way. We even got to see a few bats on our journey. Our boat tour got over a lot sooner than I expected, then it was time to walk back up the hill I think it'd be a blast to sled down. No worries, I'm in pretty good shape. A quick visit to the gift shop and we were on our way. (I added another shot glass to my collection of over 700). We did the boat tour, but they also offer kayak tours and have an overnight room where groups can actually sleep overnight in the cavern. That would be SO freakin' cool! The staff was friendly and funny, the tour was great, and the gift shop wasn't overdone or kitschy. Bluespring Caverns is SUCH a cool place, and we will absolutely visit again.

Shakamak State Park is considered one of Indiana's more rustic state parks with a strong focus on…read morecamping and fishing within the park. Shakamak includes three man-made lakes within its boundaries offering 400 acres of lakes along with an aquatic center for family activities. Shakamak was dedicated on Sept. 3, 1928 with land donated by the counties of Clay, Greene, and Sullivan. It's believed the name was chosen by the park's founders and is an Indigenous word meaning "river of the long fish" meant to describe the nearby Eel River. The word is believed to be either from the Delaware (Lenape) or Kickapoo Indians. The first lake was created by stopping up a 5-foot sewer. The other two lakes were added in following years including Lake Kickapoo (30 years later). Prior to these lakes being made, there were no lakes in the area. Richard Lieber stocked the lakes with bass and began what would really make this particular park noteworthy. The Civilian Conservation Corps also helped develop the park from 1933-42. Shakamak State Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. In terms of camping, Shakamak has 8 sites with full hook-ups, 114 electric sites, 42 non-electric sites, and on Maple Loop there are 10 sites (2 are paved and accessible). There's group camping, a dumping station, and a camp store. There are also cabins - I generally find them not very accessible. Shakamak offers picnic areas w/shelters (must be reserved), a nature center, a boat launch ramp, fishing/ice fishing, hiking trails, paddleboat/rowboat/kayak rentals, a recreation building that can be rented, a tennis area, a basketball court, and a swimming pool/water slide area. Shakamak is about 3 miles southeast of Jasonville in Sullivan County. Shakamak has seven marked trails with five being labeled as moderate in difficulty. The other two, both under two miles, are considered easy, multi-use trails for hiking or biking - these two trails have no stairs and white-tailed deer have been known to be seen on them. The longest trail is just under four miles and will take you by Lake Shakamak. The multi-use trails are for the most part accessible, though you are out in nature and I generally recommend not going on trails alone. That said, I've been able to do just fine on both trails. This isn't a real touristy state park except for those who want to fish and hike. That's the real selling point here. For those needing accessibility, it's definitely possible but will involve pre-planning. As some have noted, upkeep here is somewhat hit-and-miss. It's a beautiful park, however, my experience has been it's fairly lightly staffed compared to some other parks. That said, my recent visit things were in good shape and I know DNR has been really working on our less popular parks. I tend to see Shakamak as a less appreciated park that is definitely worth a visit for nature lovers and for hikers who want a chance to see wildlife. I've never not seen wildlife on the trails here.

Shakamak is much bigger than I anticipated. My husband, dogs, and I got a lovely 4-mile hike in…read morewith great views of Lake Kickapoo, one of the three lakes. With two more lakes and six more trails to explore, it appears we'll have to make another trip in the future. I look forward to it!

Bicknell Southside park is great for such a small town. The park is always clean. Never trash on…read morethe ground, bathrooms are kept up and there is now a water pad to enjoy on the hot days.

The southside park in Bicknell seemed to be the place to go for fun. Whether using the paved…read morewalking trails, the multiple pieces of playground equipment, or relaxing on the benches or a shelter, people were using and enjoying the park. There is also a baseball field, basketball court, volleyball, and tennis courts. On the east side is a fitness station with several pieces of equipment as well. On the south end is a park for smaller kids. Parking was along the street for access to most of the park. Nice place to visit with plenty of space, shade trees, and shelters for organizing your events. Review #2983

I don't live too far from here, and I love that this is so close. In a perfect world, it would be a…read morelittle easier to get to by bike or scooter. When you have to cross Leonard Springs and Bloomfield road, you have to be careful. So even though we live close, I drive there. One playground was updated recently, and has been very popular. It's very fun, especially for the younger crowd. There is a nearby walking path that loops around the small valley. It's great for kids who want to ride their bike or some other vehicle around. The larger and also fairly new play area in the rear near the dog park is also a winner. It's next to the water park, which is a bit of fun in the summer! As of now, there is currently a very large project that has been going or a while and has made parking here more difficult. I don't know what it' supposed to be, but progress is slow. There is also a dog park and a basketball court nearby. Lots of places to walk, and sometimes few places to park if soccer is happening. There are a lot of fields, and it seems to be THE place to play. The bathrooms have been well maintained, and shelters are available to rent. There is also a building that can be rented out for parties and gatherings. This is great, especially if it involves kids and you don't know how the weather will be. I'm glad we have this park!

Have to walk all the way across the whole park because only one bathroom is unlocked. Very long…read morewalk when your game is over by the elementary school and a child has to use the restroom.

Nice park it's next to a river so keep a close eye on the kiddos do not swim in the river it has an…read moreundertow that is deadly it will kill you other than that the shelter house has a big fireplace to burn logs in we sometimes go there to roast weenies

Beautiful scenic park next to the Wabash River. The park is connected to the Vincennes Riverwalk…read moreTrail which runs all the way down to the George Rogers Clark National Historic Park. Park has also been renovated over the years.