IN the Parks

Come discover what may truly be Indiana State Park's hidden gem: Trine State Recreation Area. The beautiful property is just minutes away from Pokagon State Park, and we have a woman named Helen Swenson to thank for the personality and style at each park. Helen's hand-drawn maps of each property still exist. Her attention to detail and intention in every design choice reflect a deep love for natur...

Let’s go for a ride or walk along the Monon South, stopping in 6 small towns along the trail. We’ll get breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, snacks, and plenty of activity along the way! And best of all, you’ll be close to several state parks, so consider adding in these communities to your visit to Spring Mill State Park, Deam Lake, or Patoka Lake! Below are events or places I visited and recommend...

Indiana Dunes State Park is our most visited park and has been loved for over a hundred years! But do you even know what a dune is? Or why they're important? Or the people we have to thank for the park's creation? What about the shipwreck offshore? And how many birds migrate along Lake Michigan every year? You're about to discover there's a lot more that makes the dunes special than you know! If y...

It's my 50th episode! Hooray! To celebrate, we're hearing from Brandt Baughman, the Indiana State Parks Director. Brandt grew up going to Spring Mill and spent time working there, at Ouabache, and at Indiana Dunes before moving into management roles. After 36 years, he's now the director of all Indiana's state parks. I loved learning about his deep family connections to Spring Mill, what he's exci...

Starve Hollow State Recreation Area is an intimate, beautiful property where it's nearly impossible to take a bad picture! The lake perfectly reflects the trees and rolling knobstone escarpments. The lakefront camp sites are highly sought after, and the trails and access to neighboring Jackson-Washington State Forest offer exciting challenges for hikers. What's really special about this park and s...

Come with me to Tippecanoe River State Park where there is so much to discover! Hear about the history, fire tower, diverse ecosystems, wildlife, camping, generous community, and activities at this beautiful park. I learned about the Works Progress Administration (later renamed Works Projects Administration) on several sites: Britannica , PBS , the state of North Dakota , Indiana DNR . Go for a ri...

Shakamak State Park is a park for campers: group camps, cabins, campgrounds, primitive camping, and even deluxe duplex cabins! You'll hear from some of the park's camp hosts (who are also Friends group volunteers) about how they developed a community in the campground and created their family by choice! Check out the Friends of Shakamak site to save the date for Christmas in July and the October H...

The extended Knobstone Hiking Trail is Indiana's 160-mile long trek through the southern part of the state. It includes the original Knobstone Trail, the Pioneer Trail, Hoosier National Forest Trail, and Tecumseh Trail. These four sections wind through the hilliest parts of the state to show off the amazing beauty of Indiana. Ready to hike parts (or all!) of it? Get maps, tips, segment ideas, pict...

Redbird Off-Road State Recreation Area in Dugger, IN, is another epic spot for driving, riding, and hiking! This park provided me with a chance to be a little braver than I wanted to be, but was I ready to take advantage of it? If you visit Redbird to ride, don’t forget the park fees are a little different. You’ll need to pay a different (but still small) fee if you plan to take a motorized vehicl...

Turkey Run State Park may be Indiana's best-loved park! It was cherished by the Lusk family, the white settlers who owned the land in the 1800s. Later, the community fought to keep it as a park instead of letting a lumber company get their hands on it. The creator of our state parks system, Colonel Richard Lieber, also had a very strong connection to the property. There's something about the rugge...

Head to Southern Indiana to visit Deam Lake! You'll enjoy time on the water and discover it's the gateway to more trail systems than you'd expect! Horse riders and hikers can camp at Deam Lake and access Clark State Forest, for more miles of exploring. The Knobstone Trail's southern terminus is at Deam Lake, and the Monon South has a trailhead here too. You'll also learn that Deam Lake is named fo...

Get ready for an off-roading adventure at Interlake, one of two off-road state recreation areas in Indiana. Interlake OSRA offers hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, off-roading, fishing, kayaking, hunting, and more! It's a stunningly beautiful park whose history is literally visible on the land. Learn how this property went from surface coal mining to an exciting off-road experience! I did...

Before he was the 16th president, Abraham Lincoln was a kid growing up in southern Indiana. From ages 7 to 21, he was shaped by his experiences in the forests and farmlands of our state. Those formative moments from his childhood developed him into our country's leader. Learn a few stories from Abe's childhood and consider how your own childhood has influenced you. Learn about the events and proje...

Travel to the southwest corner of Indiana to visit Harmonie State Park! We'll learn about their big trees, the park's features, how several groups tried to create harmony on earth here, and the charming town of New Harmony. We also discover how Harmonie is part of the story of Indiana's state insect, Say's Firefly. (Here's a ton more info about fireflies!) In New Harmony, I highly recommend a visi...

It's another special Holidays IN the Parks episode! Your shopping list, wish list, and holiday events are all taken care of! Listen now and you'll be in the know for the best gifts, activities, and family traditions. Holiday Gifts 1. Purchase a 2026 state parks pass 2. Subscribe to Outdoor Indiana magazine HOT TIP: Purchase the state parks Holiday Gift Pack (while supplies last) 3. Buy all the sta...

Get ready for an early Giving Tuesday and amazing examples of generosity and gratitude! You'll hear from Indiana Parks Alliance about how they support all the state parks and nature preserves. They also share practical ways you can support parks. To support Indiana Parks Alliance, visit their website . They're also on Facebook and Instagram . You'll learn from the Friends of Charlestown State Park...

Whitewater Memorial State Park was created to honor WWII veterans and be a place of solace for them and their families. Decades later, the park still offers peace for veterans, their families, and the entire state of Indiana. You’ll find options for camping, water activities, hiking, bridle trails, and events that specially honor veterans. Look for information about Shine a Light On Our Veterans n...

Brown County State Park is the first episode to come in at over an hour, although just barely! Once you listen, you'll see why these stories had to be told together. You'll hear about the trees and peak leaf peeping time, and you'll also learn about the volunteers who have spent thousands of hours helping the park staff clean up from multiple storms and a tornado this spring. There are so many way...

Get ready to face your greatest fears at O'Bannon Woods State Park! Whether you're scared of heights, snakes, the dark, small spaces, or water, this park will help you find some inner courage to overcome those fears. You can climb the fire tower, see Indiana's venomous snakes from a safe distance in the nature center, take a hike down in Wyandotte Caves, or splash around at the aquatic center. You...

Patoka Lake is a massive property with over 26,000 acres! In this episode, we'll explore all the great water activities you'll find there like boating and their commitment to excellent fishing. We'll also spend time out of the water in the campgrounds and on the amazing trails. I biked on the hilly, paved multi-use trail and hiked several beautiful spots in the woods. You'll be transported through...

Join me at beautiful Hardy Lake where you'll find all the water recreation, hiking, or hunting you crave along with the state's largest raptor program! The Dwight Chamberlain Raptor Center was once a place to rehabilitate animals and birds of all kinds. Now, their educational birds can be seen at parks and events across the state. Much of the funding for the center comes from the Friends of Hardy...

It’s my birthday AND the podcast’s one year anniversary! So today’s episode is a little different. My friends Halle and Kelcy are hosts of the travel podcast Love It There , and today they are interviewing ME about myself, the podcast, and the parks. Hope you enjoy this conversational episode and get to know me a little better! Plus, I'm excited that you'll now be able to find IN the Parks content...

It's Brookville Lake's 50th anniversary! So grab some cake and ice cream, put on your party hat, and learn how this reservoir has been thriving for half a century. We'll cover the past (fossils and mounds), the present (bluebirds, sandhill cranes, camping, hunting, boating, walleye, hiking, and mountain biking), and discuss the future plans to keep the park a wonderful place! If you want to learn...

Time to go back to Peru, Indiana, to visit another beautiful reservoir property at Mississinewa Lake! There is so much to do here from camping, fishing, hunting, biking, hiking, and so much more. Plus, the Native American history here is information every Hoosier should learn about. If you’re interested in seasonal camping , be sure to enter the lottery when it opens. My boating fans will definite...

Potato Creek State Park has been many things to many people for hundreds of years, and there is so much to discover here! You’ll learn about how bugs helped this park come to life, hear stories of an integrated community pre-Civil War, and find out about the diverse activities and events the park offers. You'll also get the latest info on the inn being built in the park. All of these experiences d...