Indiana has more to offer than farmland and flat ground. Indiana offers loads of diverse hiking trails from canyons to deep forest. Weather you are in a state park, nature park, or a national forest these are five hikes under five miles that anyone can accomplish in a day hike. All trails below allow dogs that are leashed.
If you are unsure what day hiking gear you need to be prepared view the list here.
Yellowwood State Forest – Lake Trail 4.4 miles
Yellowwood State Forest is just down the road from Brown County State Park. When Brown County is packed you can head down to Yellowwood to avoid the big crowds. The most popular trail at Yellowwood is the 4.4 mile lake trail loop that takes you lakeside for half the hike and to the forest the other half. There is some road walking to make this a complete loop, but it makes for a great relaxing hike.
Turkey Run State Park – Trail #3 1.9 miles
Turkey Run is probably one of the most popular state parks in the state of Indiana. From canyons to rafting down Sugar Creek, there is so much to do. Trail #3 is one of the top trails to hike at this park. This trail takes you on a 1.9 mile loop over a suspension bridge, through deep canyons, limestone rock features, and along Sugar Creek. Be cautious because this trail can get very slippery and be prepared to get wet as there is actively flowing water especially during spring. This is a trail that no matter how many times you hike it, it never gets old. Also, be aware that due to it’s popularity that this trail can get very crowded during peak times. If you are super adventurous, visit this park in the winter after snowfall. It is an incredible sight to see.
Leonard Springs Nature Park – Loop Trail 1.1 miles
Off the beaten path on the southwest side of Bloomington, Indiana is a little park called Leonard Springs. This is a 1.1 mile loop trail that takes you through natural springs and a short walk through the forest. This is a small nature park that has flowing spring water year-round. While it is considered moderately trafficked, it never very busy which makes for a peaceful hike.
Brown County State Park – Strahl Lake 0.8 miles
Brown County State Park has some of the best and easiest to access views in the state. Most of the overlooks you can drive up to and get amazing views for miles and miles. Inside the park there are two lake trails including Strahl Lake. Strahl is a loop trail around the lake that’s just shy of a mile. If you want to add to this trail you can park at the Nature Center and take trail 6 to make it a total of 1.8 miles. The second lake is Ogle Lake and has a loop trail of 1.2 miles in length.
McCormicks State Park – Wolf Cave Trail 2.0 miles
If you are a fan of caves, then the Wolf Cave trail at McCormicks Creek State Park is a great option. This is a heavily trafficked 2 mile loop that involves shallow creek crossings that can get high depending on rainfall. It also has a short cave you can go through, but it is not for the faint of heart as it does get tight and you will have to crawl during a section of it.
Indiana may not be known as a must see hiking state, but we think we have some of the most diverse and beautiful terrain around. Even though we only listed 5 here, there are many more trails to explore.
