I hiked in each of the 200 counties within 3 hours (210 miles) of Indianapolis during 2020-21. These 10 locations were not in the top 30, but they deserve “honorable mention” and are surely worth a visit.

Near the Indiana/Illinois border, SE of Kankakee is a sand based savannah with unique vegetation.

https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/INPC/Pages/Area3IroquoisHooperBranchSavanna.aspx

Far south within the Hoosier National Forest is a nature preserve with a challenging hike up a stream valley, stream bed ending at two small waterfalls from the cliffs of this valley.

https://www.crawfordcountyindiana.com/attractions/park-scenic/yellow-birch-ravine/

Near the Indiana/Michigan border, part of the South Bend parks system is a kettle lake of true beauty. There is a boardwalk into the lake and other trails in the glaciated area.

http://www.sjcparks.org/591/Spicer-Lake

The Hoosier National Forest has dozens of strong hiking options. The Pioneer Mothers Memorial is located just outside of Paoli, IN (yes, Paoli Peaks skiing area). Stunning old growth forest. Easy 1 mile out and 1 mile back trail.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/hoosier/recarea/?recid=41586

Fall Creek Gorge is a nature preserve hike down a stony creek north of Covington, IN near the Illinois border. It is now closed.

https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/fall-creek-gorge/

Nearby Williamsport Falls is a worthy substitute.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williamsport_Falls

Boone County Arboretum is a very well laid out facility 20 miles south of the Cincinnati airport.

https://bcarboretum.org/

Devou Park is a community park in Covington, KY with amazing views of the Ohio River valley and Cincinnati.

https://www.exploredevoupark.org/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8rCOtIGN9AIVlmxvBB2vBQ1DEAAYASAAEgLCcvD_BwE

Yew Dell Botanical Gardens is another Kentucky arboretum, east of Louisville.

Cedar Line Nature Preserve is just 30 south/southeast of Cincinnati, but it is “worlds away”. The drive through steeply ravined hills near the Ohio River is as enjoyable as the remote feeling hike.

https://pendletoncounty.ky.gov/Pages/CedarLineNaturePreserve.aspx

Springfield, OH, midway between Dayton and Columbus, OH is noted for Wittenberg University, childhood home of John Legend and … Gallagher Fen State Nature Preserve. A fen is a special type of wetland.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fen

https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/gallagher-fen-state-nature-preserve

This relatively flat section of Illinois contains several river areas with attractive hiking trails.

Forest preserve and attractive botanical garden NW of Champaign, IL.

https://www.ccfpd.org/lake-of-the-woods-mahomet-illinois

Lake, farm, prairie and stream trails north of Decatur, IL.

https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/Parks/Pages/WeldonSprings.aspx

5 miles of scenic trails west of Lake Charleston.

Click to access Trail_Map_2.1(1).pdf

Relatively steep ravine trails at an impounded lake NW of Terre Haute, IN.

https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/Parks/Pages/WalnutPoint.aspx

Community park in Paris, IL, NW of Terre Haute, IN.

Community park SW of Bloomington, IL.

https://destinationlogancountyil.com/kickapoo-creek-park

Old growth woods, SE of Decatur, IL.

https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/Parks/Pages/SpitlerWoods.aspx

Beautiful formal gardens and trails west of Champaign, IL.

Variety of trails in a reclaimed surface mining area along the Vermilion River, west of Danville, IL

https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/Parks/Pages/Kickapoo.aspx

Walk the country roads of this river valley area, west of Mattoon, IL.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaskaskia_River_State_Fish_and_Wildlife_Area

Camping trails along impounded Lake Shelbyville, SE of Decatur, IL.

https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/Parks/Pages/WolfCreek.aspx

2 miles of forest trails west of Lima, OH.

Sections of the Miami & Erie Canal towpath are open for hiking. The area from St. Mary’s north is attractive.

http://www.htparks.org/the-towpath-trail

Small impounded lake northeast from Dayton. A little more rolling hills than expected.

https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/kiser-lake-state-park

Short hike in a unique environment that feels like you’re surrounded.

https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/gallagher-fen-state-nature-preserve

5 miles of trails at this mid-sized impounded lake. The view of the spillover to the west is interesting.

https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/buck-creek-state-park

2 miles of varied prairie, wetland and farm trails northwest from Dayton. A historic log house is featured.

http://www.darkecountyparks.org/shawnee-prairie-preserve-nature-center

Moderately challenging horse trails west of a large impounded lake, north of Columbus.

https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/alum-creek-state-park

Large park system with many attractive hiking options west of Columbus.

1 mile of old growth forest trail east of Lima, OH.

https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/lawrence-woods-state-nature-preserve

Hike the lakeshore of this highly commercialized natural lake north of Dayton.

https://www.indianlake.com/

1 mile trail at small impounded lake west of Columbus.

https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/madison-lake-state-park

Short trails in a community park adjacent to the historic Ft. Recovery, north of Richmond, IN.

https://www.fortrecovery.org/ambassador-park

Waterfalls hike near Dayton.

https://www.miamicountyparks.com/parks/charleston

Short trails at an impounded lake north of Dayton.

https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/lake-loramie-state-park

2+ miles of trails in a diverse nature preserve northwest from Columbus.

https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/big-darby-headwaters-nature-preserve/

Rolling hills, Ohio River views, lakes, forests and small towns east of Louisville.

Privately owned sculpture park in a rolling hills setting.

https://josephinesculpturepark.org/

Short (moderately challenging) hiking trails at this historic lodge sight, NE of Louisville high above the Ohio River.

https://parks.ky.gov/carrollton/parks/historic/general-butler-state-resort-park

Series of stream valley and highlands trails in Frankfurt, KY.

https://www.frankfortparksandrec.com/Parks/Cove_Spring/cove_spring.html

Historic Ohio River town, SE of Cincinnati.

https://www.cityofwarsawky.org/index.html

Short river valley walk in a community park.

Walk historic Main Street with the railroad tracks and Wilborn Park in LaGrange, NE of Louisville.

https://www.lagrangeky.net/parks.html

Moderately rugged hiking in this nature preserve east of Elizabethtown, KY.

https://eec.ky.gov/Nature-Preserves/Locations/Pages/Vernon-Douglas.aspx

Walk Main Street, residential neighborhoods and this state park in historic Harrodsburg, KY.

https://parks.ky.gov/harrodsburg/parks/historic/old-fort-harrod-state-park

Hike the trails around this community park/fairground in a scenic area midway between Louisville and Cincinnati.

https://www.owencountyky.us/parks-rec

Higher traffic, series of developed trails just east of metro Louisville.

Extensive multi-purpose trail system around an impounded lake SE of Louisville.

https://parks.ky.gov/mount-eden/parks/recreation/taylorsville-lake-state-park

Small cemetery overlooking Ohio River across from Madison, IN.

https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/75156/moffett-cemetery

Visit the museum and walk the disc golf course an hour SE of Louisville in scenic area.

https://parks.ky.gov/springfield/parks/historic/lincoln-homestead-state-park

There are some nice hikes in the Cincinnati area, but heading further north and east provides outstanding options.

Wetlands, a creek and rural roads await east from Cincinnati.

https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/indian-creek-wildlife-area

Large sculpture park with hilly hiking trails north of Cincinnati.

https://www.pyramidhill.org/

Impounded lake, some hiking trails along the edge and into the surrounding forest/wetlands, just east of Cincinnati metro area.

https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/stonelick-state-park

Impounded lake, camping and trails near Wilmington, OH.

https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/cowan-lake-state-park

Larger impounded lake, trails and a lodge, southwest of Columbus.

https://www.deercreekparklodge.com/

Hiking this stream bed is outstanding, up close and personal.

https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/john-bryan-state-park

https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/clifton-gorge-state-nature-preserve

Scenic and challenging trails just NW from downtown Cincinnati.

Barret’s Rim Trail is a favorite, but this whole area is full of scenic hikes.

https://arcofappalachia.org/highlands-nature-sanctuary/

Extensive trails and views near Dayton.

Larger state park, lake and lodge with surrounding trails.

https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/hueston-woods-state-park

Relatively challenging trails up to the top of these knobs on the edge of the Appalachian Mountains.

https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/great-seal-state-park

Trails from the museum cover stream valleys and the historic mound works.

https://www.ohiohistory.org/visit/museum-and-site-locator/fort-ancient-earthworks

Rolling hills, boating lakes, arboretums and community parks in this area from Louisville SW.

One of several camping parks oriented towards boaters along the Rough River 45 miles SW of Louisville, KY.

https://www.campgroundreviews.com/regions/kentucky/mc-daniels/north-fork-park-rough-river-lake-11426

Arboretum, hiking trails and “giants” just south of Louisville as “Bourbon Country” begins.

One mile nature trail in this Owensboro, KY community park and access to a 15 mile loop trail.

https://www.joefordnaturecenter.com/

Follow the lake ridge nature trail. Southeast of Owensboro, KY.

https://parks.ky.gov/falls-rough/parks/resort/rough-river-dam-state-resort-park

Nice short hike around this Hawesville community park/lake, high above the Ohio River.

https://www.hancockky.us/Tourism/vastwood.htm

Community park featuring a creek, war memorial and trails around a lake.

Outstanding museum and forest trails across the Ohio River from Evansville in Henderson, KY.

https://parks.ky.gov/henderson/parks/historic/john-james-audubon-state-park

Basic hiking paths in this large, multi-purpose Louisville community park.

https://parks.ky.gov/louisville/parks/recreation/ep-tom-sawyer-state-park

Variety of moderately challenging forest trails and a nature preserve area near Ft. Knox.

https://www.radclifftourism.org/saunderssprings.shtml

Very attractive arboretum east of Louisville, KY.