Shades State Park Is An Otherworldly Destination In West-Central Indiana
By Tori Jane|Published April 12, 2022
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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.
Snuggled about 17 miles outside of Crawfordsville, Indiana, is a little state park that – if you ask us – does NOT get the attention it deserves. You might recognize it; we’ve covered hiking trails at this particular state park a few times before. But the park itself is absolutely worthy of a look, too, and once you see these photos – well – you just might find yourself needing to pay a visit to Shades State Park in Indiana.
The entire park is lush and green, and once you journey into the woods, it only gets more surreal.
Indiana isn't exactly known for its rainforest vibes - it is, after all, one of the states that makes up the American Midwest - but Shades State Park is a place that feels like a rainforest SO much more than it feels like Indiana.
The best time to visit - as long as you don't mind your hikes being a little muddy - is after a good rainstorm, when the park's waterfalls are roaring and a gentle mist envelops the area.
Be sure to wear your good hiking boots, though, especially if you do end up coming after a rain event; the trails can be quite muddy at times, and you'll need to cross some streams and ravines a few times depending on which trail you choose.
The good news is that there's no one trail at Shades State Park in Indiana that's terribly long - the longest is only about two and a half miles - and each trail varies in terms of difficulty level, so hikers from every experience level can find something to enjoy.
You'll meander within small gorges created by a winding ravine. You'll climb ladders, and scale boulders. You'll feel like you're somewhere exotic and wild.
More than 15 million visitors enjoy Indiana's state parks every year, but only a small portion of those folks ever come to Shades. Maybe it's because the park was once known as "Shades of Death" park, because that's the only reason we can think of as to why folks wouldn't be clambering to come see this paradise within our own backyards.
...that's true, by the way. It really was called Shades of Death at some point. Nobody REALLY knows why, though there are some theories.
But, we digress. Shades State Park in Indiana is the ultimate warm-weather getaway destination if you prefer to tolerate fewer crowds than more popular state parks will attract.
Be sure to explore many more of Indiana’s hiking trails while you’re here – and if you live here, well, there’s just no excuse: you gotta get out and enjoy this amazing state for all it’s got.
What are your favorite state parks to visit in Indiana? Tell us about your picks in the comments!
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