Find yourself itching for some outdoor fun? Don’t worry, we’ve tracked down 11 of the best places to help you get your fair dose of adventures in Indiana. Here are our picks for some of the very best outdoor attractions in Indiana:
1. Clifty Falls
Mark Moschell/Flickr
Clifty Falls State Park, 2221 Clifty Dr, Madison, IN 47250, USA
Mark Moschell/Flickr
Clifty Falls State Park in Madison offers year-round adventurous things to do in Indiana. The stunning waterfall changes dramatically season by season, ranging from delicate mists to massive plunges of water to icy, frozen displays. There are also tons of hiking trails, a nature center, picnic facilities, and fun courts for outdoor games. Learn more about some of the hikes at Clifty Falls State Park.
2. Marengo Cave
Clayton Sieg/Flickr
Marengo Cave U.S. National Landmark, 400 East State Rd 64, Marengo, IN 47140, USA
Sarah Ewart/Wikimedia
Marengo Cave is a U.S. National Landmark and arguably the most popular natural attraction in Indiana. Take an hour-long tour through the Dripstone Trail (roughly one mile), or explore the Crystal Palace in just over a half hour. Read further on about Marengo Cave, one of the best adventures in Indiana.
3. Pokagon State Park
Anna Hesser/Flickr
Pokagon State Park, Park Office:, 450 Ln 100 Lake James, Angola, IN 46703, USA
Greg Walters/Flickr
Pokagon State Park (formerly Lake James State Park) offers a variety of activities to take part in. Go camping, go swimming, rent a pedal boat, play volleyball, or enjoy a horseback ride through the gorgeous scenery. In the winter, you can even go skiing or tobogganing! No matter the season, you will always find some fun outdoor activities in Indiana here. Get more details about the hikes at Pokagon State Park.
4. Indiana Dunes National Park
Michael Kappel/Flickr
Indiana Dunes National Park, Porter, IN 46304, USA
Jade Leetz/Flickr
One of the best outdoor attractions in Indiana, Indiana Dunes National Park has over 15,394 acres of adventure waiting for you. Walk along the stunning coastline on the edge of Lake Michigan or revel in the beauty of the nearby woods with walking and hiking trails. Indiana Dunes is truly a treat you won't find anywhere else. Discover more about the hiking trails at Indiana Dunes National Park.

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5. Indianapolis Cultural Trail
Indianapolis Cultural Trail, Indianapolis, IN, USA
Jun Wang/Flickr
Adventurous things to do in Indiana can be found in cities, too! The Indianapolis Cultural Trail is a revolutionary community-building trail that escorts walkers, runners, and bikers along eight miles of historic scenery, beautiful art exhibits, natural splendor, and great shopping and dining. Read further on about the Indianapolis Cultural Trail.
6. Turkey Run State Park
Turkey Run State Park, 8121 Park Rd, Marshall, IN 47859, USA
Anthony Doudt/Flickr
Turkey Run State Park offers a variety of outdoor activities in Indiana for adventurers to partake in. Explore the sandstone gorges or walk through one of the park's ravines, for starters. Head to the campsite and make a weekend out of it! Find out more about the hiking trails at Turkey Run State Park.
7. McCormick's Creek State Park
TrailSeeds/Flickr
Located in Spencer, Indiana, McCormick's Creek State Park offers a large variety of trails and waterfalls, as well as a trail cutting through Wolf Cave Nature Preserve. Enjoy the best of Indiana wildlife and adventures in Indiana at this fascinating park! Learn more about the trails at McCormick's Creek State Park.
8. Spring Mill State Park
spablab/Flickr
Spring Mill State Park, 3333 IN-60 E, Mitchell, IN 47446, USA
bnpositive/Flickr
Spring Mill State Park in Mitchell, Indiana, has a lot to offer visitors. Pick one (or all) of four main attractions: Pioneer Village, the Nature Center, Grissom Memorial, or the Twin Caves Boat Tour. Read further on about trails located in Spring Mill State Park.
9. Cataract Falls
Matt Riding/Flickr
Cataract Falls State Recreation Area, North Cataract Road, Spencer, IN, USA
Sarah Altendorf/flickr
Cataract Falls is actually Indiana's largest waterfall (by volume, of course). It's part of the Lieber State Recreation Area in Owen County, and it even has a quaint covered bridge to admire, too. Get yourself further acquainted with Cataract Falls.
10. Bluespring Caverns
Bluespring Caverns Park, 1459 Blue Springs Cavern Rd, Bedford, IN 47421, USA
Amit/Flickr
Tucked away in Lawrence County, there is a breathtaking cave system known as Bluespring Caverns. In fact, it's noted as having the largest subterranean river in the entire country! Talk about adventurous things to do in Indiana! Learn more about what Bluespring Caverns is all about.
11. Zip-lining in Brown County
eXplore Brown County, 2620 Valley Branch Rd, Nashville, IN 47448, USA
pamela salazar/YouTube
Fly through the woods and over impressive bodies of water with zip-line tours available in beautiful Brown County. Want to see just what you're in for at one of the best places for outdoor activities in Indiana? Watch the video below, and check out some further reading about eXplore Brown County.

 

Need to stock up on some proper adventure gear? Backcountry has you covered!

The Hoosier State is a great place to explore and experience outdoor fun and adventure. What are some of your picks for the best adventures in Indiana? Tell us in the comments!

Consider signing up for an AllTrails account to learn about more Indiana hiking spots.

If you’re craving more Indiana adventure, check out these quick road trips in Indiana.

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More to Explore

Best Adventures in Indiana

Tori Jane | May 11, 2021

What are some fun day trips in Indiana?

Lucky for those of us in the Hoosier State, there are so many potential fun day trips in Indiana to enjoy that it's hard to pick just a few! However, some of our favorite adventures in Indiana include gems like taking a wine cruise in Birdeye, driving out to White Rock Park and going cliff diving, and heading out to Berne to get a little taste of life in Switzerland.

Where are some fun places to go in Indiana?

There are plenty of fun places to go in Indiana, depending on what you like to do!

  • If you are looking for outdoor activities in Indiana, there are more than 4,200 miles of amazing hiking trails, 86 different lakes, and thousands of miles of rivers and creeks; take your pick from any one of them for the adventure of a lifetime!
  • For those who prefer city life, there's always the world-famous Children's Museum in Indianapolis, which is the largest museum of its kind in the world. You'll also find an assortment of history, art, and science museums, and Indy alone has almost 200 parks to enjoy.
  • And for the foodies in Indiana, you'll find something delicious Indiana restaurants in almost every county.

 

What Indiana waterfalls can I hike to this summer? 

Oh, waterfalls. How do we love thee? Let us count the ways... okay, seriously, though - there are a ton of waterfall hikes in Indiana. Some of the most popular are:

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