Posted in Indiana Hiking, Nature February 20, 2022 by

8 Amazing Indiana Hikes Under 3 Miles You’ll Absolutely Love

Are you looking to explore more of the outdoors but not looking to hike dozens of miles? No worries. These eight incredible Indiana hikes are all under three miles long and offer some of the best glimpses of beauty in the Hoosier state. Check them out for those days where you want to go outside, but you don’t wanna work too hard:

1. Lawrence Creek Trail - Indianapolis
Steven M./Yelp
This breathtaking trail will get city dwellers back in touch with nature. Located within the charming For Harrison State Park, this two mile trail is perfect for all bikers and hikers (including your four legged friends!).
6000 N Post Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46216, USA
2. Bluebeard Hills Trail - Angola
KenX01/Flickr
Nestled within the stunning Pokagon State Park, this scenic trail offers 1.8 miles of rolling hills, a restored wetland, and incredible plant life. If you're ever up for more of a challenge, check out the Trails 3, 8, and 7 loop.
450 Ln 100 Lake James, Fremont, IN 46737, USA
3. Hardin Ridge Trail - Heltonville
dancingnomad3/TripAdvisor
If you're looking for a fairly easy hike that still has plenty of natural beauty, this popular trail in the Hoosier National Forest is perfect for you. It's a 2.1 mile hike of relatively easy terrain and stunning scenery. It's AWESOME for camping, too!
6464 Hardin Ridge Rd, Heltonville, IN 47436, USA
4. Great Marsh Trail - Beverely Shores
I Bird 2/Flickr
This breathtaking trail is located within the Indiana Dunes, offering a stunning lakeside view. This 1.3 mile trail is so accommodating that even strollers and wheelchairs can be easily pushed along and connects with a popular observation deck which can be used to view even more of this beautiful area.
Broadway, Beverly Shores, IN 46304, USA
5. Trail 2 at Brown County State Park - Nashville
Photographer/Flickr
Brown County State Park is one of the most visited state parks in Indiana, with vibrant natural colors and amazing hikes. Trail 2 is easily the most popular hike and this 2 mile trail offers some of the park's best scenery and largest trees. This is definitely one of Indiana's all-time best hikes.
1810 IN-46, Nashville, IN 47448, USA
6. Trail 1 at Versailles State Park - Versailles
J Stephen Conn/Flickr
This stunning 2.3 mile hike will take you through wooded areas and by ravines. You'll also take in limestone sinkholes and be able to witness the Busching Covered Bridge.
1387 US-50, Versailles, IN 47042, USA
7. Trail 3 at Turkey Run State Park - Marshall
anono9/TripAdvisor
This 1.7-mile trail is one of the most unique in the state. You climb up (or down) ladders, walk along ridge tops, and experience the fascinating beauty of the Punch Bowl and Rocky Hollow. It might make you forget you're in Indiana for a minute.
8121 Park Rd, Marshall, IN 47859, USA
8. Trail 4 at Potato Creek State Park - Liberty
Al/Flickr
This stunning 2.5 mile trail takes you through the Beech-Maple woods, along the lake, and past old farm sites and buildings, like the above spring house. The beauty here is off the charts.
25601 IN-4, North Liberty, IN 46554, USA

Have you explored any of these short, yet beautiful hikes in Indiana yet? For more beautiful places to explore, check out these little-known small-town parks in the Hoosier state.

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The OIYS Visitor Center

Best Hikes In Indiana

February 24, 2022
Tori Jane

What are some of the most scenic hikes in Indiana?  

Indiana is an underrated state for hikers! Plenty of folks give the Midwest a lot of grief, claiming it’s “flyover” or boring, but that’s simply not the case. Indiana is home to more than 1,000 awesome hiking trails, many of which are outrageously scenic and truly amazing. Some of our favorites (though choosing just a few out of the 1,000+ is pretty close to impossible) include the AMAZING Clifty/Hoffman/Tunnel Falls Trail, which can be found at Clifty Falls State Park. That trail takes hikers through landscapes so amazingly beautiful that you’ll feel like you stepped into a JRR Tolkien novel from the moment you begin. If you like fairy-tale landscapes, check out Hemlock Cliffs National Scenic Trail, which you can find in the Hoosier National Forest. At just 1.2 miles long, it’s brief, but it’s brisk – rated as moderately difficult. Finally, check out the absolutely unreal Indiana Dunes Trail 8 to Trail 4 hike at Indiana Dunes National Park. That one’s also brief and somewhat challenging, but well worth it.  

What are some of the best easy hikes in Indiana?  

Of the more than 1,000 hiking trails all over the state, about 700 of them are rated as “easy” and suitable for all skill levels, from beginning beginners to the most advanced of hiking enthusiasts. A few of our very favorite easy hikes in Indiana are the awesome West Beach Dune Succession Trail, which is inside Indiana Dunes National Park and features some of Indiana’s most breathtaking landscapes. If you’ve never visited Indiana Dunes National Park, well, you’re going to want to bump it to the top of your bucket list. While you’re there, don’t skip the Mount Baldy Beach Trail! Then, there’s the amazing Little Clifty Falls Trail, at Clifty Falls State Park, which features a waterfall and is brief, at just over one and a half miles long. Interested in more easy hikes (preferably with waterfalls)? Check this list out for plenty more!