Happy New Year!
So if you’re reading this, you made it. It was a rough year last year for the entertainment industry wasn’t it? We lost a lot of talent!
Last year I made several trips to the Knobstone, spent a lot of time at Lapping Park, hiked and swam at Deam Lake, took a trip to Red River Gorge, and a day at Otter Creek Park. I’m very blessed to live in a spot that is SO CLOSE to lots of great places!
This year I have designs on several more places in the area:
Charlestown State Park
Opened in 1996 this is one of the newer parks in our state system. It’s only 25 minutes from my house and I’ve never been there!
The park contains more than 12 miles of trails in the moderate to rugged range! The shortest is 1.4 miles and the longest is 2.9. I’d like to wake up there and hit the trails early to see just how many miles I can get through!
This place is rich in local lore. During WWII it housed the Indiana Army Ammunition Plant. Also home to Rose Island, the ill-fated amusement park which opened in 1932 and was destroyed by the 1937 flood. Legend also tells of a fortress on the Devil’s Backbone built by 12th century Welch explorer Prince Madoc.
Clifty Falls State Park
Also another park I’ve never been to! Opened in the 1920s in Madison Indiana, Clifty Falls is named after the Clifty Creek which runs through the park and houses 4 waterfalls!
Clifty Falls is 50 minutes from my place. It contains around 15 miles of trails ranging from easy to very rugged. Trail two is supposed to be the most rugged trail in Indiana. This will likely be one I try to wake up and go!
Falls of the Ohio State Park
Though not exactly a new trip for me, most of my trips have just been to the fossil beds. I know there’s much more to see here and a little hiking.
This is a popular spot in warm weather. There are I believe two out and back trails that aren’t more than a couple of miles a piece. Rated very easy and sometimes sharing the road with motor vehicles, it’s not the place to get your bushcraft on!
Of course you’re right on the Ohio river, so you’ll see a lot of fishing, occasionally some paddlers, and a lot of fossil hunters. There’s an interpretive center, though I’ve never been I’ve heard nothing but good about it. If you get down far enough you get to the George Rogers Clark cabin or a mock-up of something I might have looked like.
It’s only a few minutes from my house, so it’ll just be a quick little day trip with lots of discovery.
Spring Mill State Park
Also not another new trip for me. I was last up there late summer 2015 and we there many a time growing up.
Located near Mitchell Indiana, Spring Mill is loaded with possibilities for fun. Among them are:
Restored pioneer village! Make sure you go there when the pioneer village is staffed. You’ll find people running the mill, a blacksmith’s shop, working away at the loom, and I’m sure more I can’t think of at the moment. Also stop by the gift shop to pickup the wares made on site.
Caves! You can take a boat ride through Twin caves or if you’re feeling adventurous, hike out to Donaldson cave and climb up through either the wide mouth or up the hill to the peep hole. It’s not a very big cave, but boy is it muddy.
Hiking! The park features about 8 miles of trail ranging from easy to rugged.
Other: More things you can do here are camping, fishing, swimming, and sure there are lots more.
What’s next?
Do you have a favorite camping spot within a couple of hours later? Comment below and tell me all about them!
Thanks for reading and God bless!
Backpacking with Just Plain Phillip 