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

Click to access HowtheIceAgeShapedIndiana.pdf

A 3-hour driving radius covers 100,000 square miles and 200 counties. Indiana is the 38th largest state with 36,000 square miles, so we cover almost 3 Indiana’s. This is equal to the combined land area of Michigan and Ohio or the combined land area of Illinois and Kentucky! Indianapolis is deemed the “Crossroads of America” due to its central location and direct access to national highways in all 8 directions away from the city. Chicago, Peoria, St. Louis, Evansville, Louisville, Cincinnati, Columbus and Lansing. US 31 provides a ninth limited access highway north to South Bend and Grand Rapids. The abundance of highways offers 3-hour access up to 210 miles away.

During the pandemic I hiked in all 200 counties within 3 hours of Hamilton County. I summarized the top 40 hikes in 3 blog posts based upon distance away and an extra one for honorable mentions. Let’s organize them below based upon their primary attraction for hikers.

Hiking – Less than 2 hours from Indianapolis

Hiking – About 2 Hours from Indianapolis

Hiking: Up to 3 Hours from Indianapolis

Hiking: Off the Beaten Path / Sleepers / Honorable Mention

Forests (6)

Hoosier National Forest / Pioneer Mothers Memorial Forest (121 S)

Great Seal State Park (205 SE) Ohio

Morgan-Monroe State Forest (61 S)

Jackson-Washington State Forest (93 S)

John James Audubon State Park (196 SW) Kentucky

Lawrence Woods State Nature Preserve (184 NE) Ohio

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/hoosier/about-forest/?cid=fsbdev3_017499

https://www.greatsealstatepark.com/

https://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/properties/morgan-monroe-state-forest/

https://stateparks.com/jackson-washington_state_forest_in_indiana.html

https://parks.ky.gov/parks/find-a-park/john-james-audubon-state-park-7815

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

Hills and Streams (6)

Spring Mill State Park (90 S)

Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve (144 E) Ohio

Cedar Line Nature Preserve (151 SE) Kentucky

McCloud Nature Park (40 W)

Versailles State Park (75 SE)

Portland Arch Nature Preserve (80 W)

Guide to Spring Mill State Park in Indiana

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

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

https://www.visithendrickscounty.com/listings/mccloud-nature-park/186/

https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/parks-lakes/versailles-state-park/

https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/portland-arch-1/

Waterfalls (6)

Clifty Falls State Park (90 SE)

Charleston Falls Preserve (122 E) Ohio

Cove Spring Park (186 SE) Kentucky

Highlands Nature Sanctuary (196 SE) Ohio

Hoosier National Forest – Yellow Birch Ravine (142 S)

Williamsport Falls (83 NW)

Clifty Falls State Park Indiana

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

https://www.frankfort.ky.gov/751/Cove-Spring-Park

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

https://www.hoosierhiking.com/the-blog/yellow-birch-ravine-nature-preserve

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

Rivers (4)

Devou Park (138 SE) Ohio

Harmonie State Park (206 SW)

Battelle Darby Creek Metro Reserve (175 E) Ohio

Providence Metro Park (186 NE) Ohio

https://www.exploredevoupark.org/

https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/parks-lakes/harmonie-state-park/

Battelle Darby Creek

https://metroparkstoledo.com/explore-your-parks/providence-metropark/

Lakes (2)

Patoka Lake (142 S)

Pokagon State Park (158 NE)

https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/parks-lakes/patoka-lake/

Pokagon State Park

Prairie/Flatlands (5)

Hooper Branch Savannah (125 NW) Illinois

Kickapoo State Recreation Area (100 NW) Illinois

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie (176 NW) Illinois

Ouabache State Park (110 NE)

Pumpkinvine Trail (150 N)

https://dnr.illinois.gov/inpc/area.area3iroquoishooperbranchsavanna.html

https://dnr.illinois.gov/parks/park.kickapoo.html

https://www.fs.usda.gov/midewin

https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/parks-lakes/ouabache-state-park/

Home

Nature Preserves/Small Gems (5)

Ott Biological Preserve (205 NE) Michigan

Spicer Lake (143 N)

Gallagher Fen Nature Preserve (147 E) Ohio

France Park (80 N)

Calli Nature Preserve (70 SE)

https://www.calhouncountymi.gov/departments/parks/ott_biological_preserve.php

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

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

https://www.co.cass.in.us/departments/e-i/france-park/home

Click to access Calli.pdf

Arboretums (6)

Allerton Park (150 W) Illinois

Gabis Arboretum (146 NW)

Bernheim Arboretum and Forest (157 S) Kentucky

Boone County Arboretum (130 SE) Ohio

Yew Dell Botanical Garden (144 S) Kentucky

Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park (115 SE) Ohio

Home Page

Gabis Arboretum

Plan Your Visit

https://bcarboretum.org/

Home

https://www.pyramidhill.org/