Enjoy A Long Walk At This Underrated State Park In Indiana
By Tori Jane|Published December 20, 2023
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Tori Jane
Author
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
Fun fact: Indiana is home to 24 state parks, all of which are 100% worth an adventure or ten. Of course, some of these state parks definitely get more love and attention than others, like Turkey Run State Park and McCormick’s Creek State Park, but others tend to fly under the radar – and sometimes those hidden gems are absolute magic. For example, Lincoln State Park is an absolutely wonderful place – and it’s woefully underrated. Of all the state parks in Indiana, this one might just be the most tragically underrated. Come check it out and see why it’s one of my secret favorites.
Lincoln State Park isn't overly enormous, coming in at just over 1,700 acres in size.
It was originally established back in the 1930s to honor Lincoln's mother, Nancy Hanks. It's absolutely beautiful, with plenty of things to do and see while you're here.
Most of all, honestly, the lake and the ten miles of hiking trails are what make this tranquil place perfect for a quiet afternoon.
Park, walk, relax - it's a wonderful thing to try, especially if you've never been here before. It's truly beautiful, and you'll wonder - like I did - just how such a wondrous place goes so tragically under-noticed.
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The camping here is great, as long as you're okay with the outdoors being... well, the outdoors.
In the summer, sometimes bugs can be a bother. Bug spray will fix that; in the winter, it gets very cold, so dress accordingly and prepare for nothing short of an idyllic winter wonderland.
Autumn, of course, brings with it a multitude of jaw-dropping colors in golds and oranges, offering plenty of splendor for those who bring a camera to capture the moment.
Of course, for obvious reasons, summer is the most popular season around here... if you could really call it "popular". I'd say it's popular among those who know it exists... but all too many simply don't.
There are other points of interest beyond the lake, of course. Perhaps most interestingly, Little Pigeon Creek Baptist Church and Cemetery is on the grounds and is the final resting place of Abe Lincoln's sister, Sarah.
She was born in 1807 and would sadly never be able to see the amazingly brilliant legacy her brother would have. She died in childbirth at the age of 21, and her passing would leave a major imprint on Lincoln's life.
In the southernmost region of the park, you'll find the Sarah Lincoln Woods Nature Preserve, kept lovingly in her memory.
Sunsets and sunrises are always beautiful over Lake Lincoln, but personally, I'm a fan of wandering among the historical buildings and markers before daytime guests arrive.
There are a considerable number of campsites in the park, so it makes for a wonderful place to stay for the weekend... the week... and beyond!
Checking out this park is as close as we'll get to traveling back in time and visiting Lincoln's boyhood home as it looked all those decades ago.
To learn more about Lincoln State Park and all the info you’ll need to plan a camping trip, visit the official Indiana Department of Natural Resources website. If you’d rather not go camping but you’d like somewhere to stay nearby, no worries! I’ve got you – check out the offerings from our friends at VRBO.
What are your favorite, lesser-known state parks in Indiana? Which one would you like to take a nice, long walk through? Let me know!
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