trails

A ranger had described the Succession Trail as perhaps the most ecologically unique corner of Indiana. I was skeptical.

Bald eagles pass through the park, so stash a pair of binoculars in your hydration pack in case you’re lucky enough to catch a glimpse.

The Charles C. Deam Wilderness consists of 13,000 acres of steep ridges, curving creeks, and thick woods within the Hoosier National Forest.

The steep canyon knifing through the 178-acre nature preserve in Clifty Falls State Park offers plenty of drama.

“Brown County’s Green Valley guarantees a smile,” says Sally Marchand Collins. “It’s a fast, swooping trail that causes me to scream like a little girl as I launch off the top of each little roller-coaster peak.”

Avid hikers often use the Knobstone to warm up for longer hikes along the Appalachian Trail—even calling it “the little AT.” But if you’d like an easier introduction, these three day hikes will do the trick. Gird your glutes!

Booze-related injuries are comparatively rare on Indiana trails. Of greater concern is the threat of dehydration, which can happen when you try to replenish your sweaty, overheated body with booze instead of H2O.

These spots for everyone are designed to remove obstacles, not fun.

The geographic features revealed on the Indiana trails highlighted in this issue were surprising—from the prehistoric bog by the dunes to a sandstone canyon—making hiking and biking them all the more entertaining.

Founded in 1957, the 580-member Indianapolis Hiking Club organizes more than 2,000 hikes annually around the state and beyond (including a 2015 weeklong trip to the Rio Grande).

From Zionsville’s Starkey Park to Fort Ben, hike and bike your way around town.