A Short But Beautiful Hike, Shades State Park Loop 2 Leads To A Little-Known Waterfall In Indiana
By Tori Jane|Published June 27, 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.
If you were to ask someone who’s never been to Indiana to describe it, you might hear something like, “I dunno. It’s… flat? Boring? When’s lunch?” Anyone who has been here (or lives here), however, would probably laugh at such a blase description. Indiana is a stunningly beautiful place with more than 4,200 incredible miles of some of the best hiking in the Midwest – if not the country! It’s an underrecognized little slice of heaven and we just love exploring the best hikes in Indiana and bringing our favorites to you, and today, we found a stunning trail that’s short and sweet, challenging, and rewarding. And, as a bonus, it even features a delicate, beautiful little waterfall you’ll find yourself adoring the magic of. For one of the most interesting waterfall hikes in Indiana, head to Shades State Park and find Trail #2. You’re in for a treat, so check it out, and be sure to take your time:
Trail #2 at Shades State Park in Indiana feels like something out of another, far-away fantasy world.
Honestly, if "Lord of the Rings" were to be filmed here in Indiana (what a thought!), they probably would have used Shades State Park for the majority of the on-screen forestland adventures. It's astonishingly beautiful, and when it comes to people who have never been to Indiana, it is depressingly overlooked.
Trail #2 isn't an easy trek; it can be slippery and muddy, especially after a good rainstorm, and there are several rocks to scramble up and ladders to climb.
It's a short hike, coming in at just 1.25 miles long, but it's rugged, and we suspect it may not be suitable for small children or folks with mobility needs. Wear good, solid hiking shoes, and pack lots of water; the trail is shaded almost the whole way through, but still, you don't want heat exhaustion to creep up on you.
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You'll begin your trek at a gorgeous little spot known as Lovers Leap, one of the most-photographed places in Indiana, and from there you'll meander into a green, misty gorge, ready to take on all the adventure Trail #2 is willing to throw at you.
You'll wander past Sugar Creek, which you'll encounter many times along the way. You'll cross rivers and ravines, climb some amazingly awesome boulders, and clamber up a few ladders on your way through.
Its volume depends on recent rains; wetter times will produce a more powerful cascade. Usually, though, Maidenhair Falls is beautifully subtle and only runs at a mere trickle - which is how it got its whimsical-sounding name.
Maidenhair Falls is an excellent point for stopping and resting; it's nice to sit a while and listen to the forest around you, teeming with life, and the soft trinkling of flowing water from both Maidenhair Falls and Sugar Creek.
Thanks to its slippery, muddy, mossy nature, we suggest hiking Trail #2 at Shades State Park on a sunny day.
However, if you choose to come on a rainy day, you may be enchanted by the appearance of mist and fog on the trail, which adds to its drama.
For more information about Shades State Park and all its wonderful hiking trails, including Trail #2, be sure to visit the official Indiana DNR website.
So, what are your feelings? What are your favorite waterfall hikes in Indiana? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.
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