Indiana’s diverse landscapes invite groups to paddle, hike, bike and explore year-round
By Madelyn Bugai
From dense woodlands to sandy lakeside beaches, Indiana offers a wide variety of outdoor experiences that blend adventure, relaxation and natural beauty, perfect for travelers seeking fresh air and open spaces.
Whether your gang prefers paddling rivers, hiking wooded trails, biking scenic greenways or spotting wildlife in peaceful preserves, Indiana delivers with diverse landscapes and welcoming communities. From the banks of the Ohio River to the dunes of Lake Michigan, groups can explore the state’s great outdoors in every season.
Hamilton County
The White River Canoe Company offers guided canoe, kayak and tubing trips along the scenic White River. Groups can choose half-day or full-day excursions. Lined by trees, the White River is the ideal place to get lost in nature and observe a diverse range of flora and fauna.
Fort Wayne
Promenade Park, joining the St. Marys, St. Joseph and Maumee rivers, is the ideal destination for recreation, arts and culture. The park is the first phase of Fort Wayne’s transformational Riverfront Fort Wayne project, connecting the rivers to downtown amenities, including dining, shopping, events and activities. Go kayaking or canoeing, take a walk or ride a bike on the canopy trails, or enjoy a relaxing boat ride.
Terre Haute
Nestled in a secluded forest just outside Terre Haute, Griffin Bike Park is a nationally recognized mountain biking destination with trails available for beginners to experts. Across 300 acres, more than 30 miles of trails are made up of multiuse trails, a network of all-skill-level bike trails, dual slalom course, pump track, basic training skills park, water skills training park and soon-to-be rebuilt jump park.
Griffin Bike Park hosts special events year-round, offering ways to not only experience the magnificent, wooded landscape, but also to watch riveting races on some of the most exciting trails.
South Bend & Mishawaka
At East Race Waterway in downtown South Bend, the first manmade whitewater rafting course in North America, water levels are customizable and controlled from three headgates. Rivaling the Colorado River, the rapids—at 2,000 feet long and with a 12-foot drop—can generate waves over 6 feet tall.
Another great option is walking the East Bank Trail, near downtown South Bend, which connects to parks like Howard Park and Governor Joseph Kernan Park. In Mishawaka, the Mishawaka Riverwalk is one of the most beautiful riverfront walks along the St. Joseph River. The riverwalk is accessible from downtown Mishawaka, where you will find fabulous local restaurants and bars.
Kokomo
The Kokomo Trails are a great way for groups to explore connecting parks and attractions. Along 18 miles of paved pathways, follow creeks, meander through forests, admire murals and catch glimpses of downtown Kokomo as you walk or cycle.
Evansville
Delve into history on the banks of the Ohio River at Angel Mounds State Historic Site. Spanning 600 acres, the historic site—sacred to Native Americans and one of the best-preserved Mississippian sites—includes 11 earthen mounds, a town plaza and hundreds of individual structures from 1250-1500 A.D.
Take a self-guided tour on the 1.4-mile loop or hear first-hand from living descendants of this Mississippian society at the site’s interpretive center. The museum hosts Native American-inspired craft workshops, guided nature walks and educational programming highlighting Indigenous culture.
Lafayette
Lafayette also promises an educational outdoor experience with historical farmstead tours at Prophetstown State Park. The park’s partnership with The Farm at Prophetstown allows visitors to discover 1920s farm lifestyles, Native American culture and 900 acres of restored prairie.
Ideal for hiking and biking, the park’s landscape was shaped over time by glaciers, water, fire and human hands that maintained the prairie grass. For thousands of years, Native Americans lived along the two rivers that surround the park.
South Shore
Indiana Dunes National Park, an all-season playground, consists of shifting sand dunes, tranquil woodlands, prairies and verdant wetlands. The riverbanks of the Heron Rookery—a birder’s paradise—are speckled with wildflowers in the spring. Summer is the ideal time to build sandcastles, admire Lake Michigan sunsets and go swimming or hiking. The Calumet and Dunes Kankakee Bike Trails are known for their views in late summer and early fall. As the trees burst with fall colors, go for a hike by Chellberg Farm. Winter opens up more opportunities, with crisp, white snow begging for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and sledding.
Elkhart County
A blend of rustic heritage and nature can be found at Bonneyville Mill County Park. The state’s oldest operating grist mill produces fresh, stone-ground flour, available seasonally. Beyond the mill, 222 acres of rolling hills, woodlands, marshes and open meadows await hikers and mountain bikers. In winter, the park invites skiers to tackle challenging terrain and promises family fun with two sledding hills.
