Quick question: do you think Indiana is boring? Indiana is one of those places way, way cooler than you think – I promise. Unfortunately, after a lifetime of living here, all too many folks become jaded and bored with it, unable to see the beauty that’s everywhere, all around us, all the time. The Hoosier State gets waved off as “flyover” country, a boring place where there’s little going on, but this is simply not true. There are lots of surprises. For example, did you know that there is a population of carnivorous plants in Indiana? Yep – in at least two different spots, with some stragglers in a couple of others. Come out to Indiana Dunes National Park and see for yourself.

Indiana Dunes National Park is Indiana's only National Park, and as a result, it's quite popular.
Indiana Dunes National Park/Flickr
But while most folks are checking out the dunes, enjoying a beach day, or any other assortment of popular activities, some of us are distracted by something else. Something... unusual.
Little do some know, this incredible park is home two not one but two places where carnivorous plants reign supreme.
Tom Gill/Flickr
After all, if the water you're growing in isn't the best, you gotta find other ways to stay nourished, right?
And that's exactly what these little fellas do.
Tom Gill/Flickr
The two areas, specifically, are known as Pinhook Bog and Cowles Bog, and in my opinion, they're easily two of the coolest places you can go in Indiana.

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It's not just one or two species of plants we're talking, here, either.
Dept of the Interior, NPS, Indiana Dunes NL/Wikimedia
You'll find an array of carnivorous flora friends, including purple pitcher plants (my favorite, pictured before this one), Pink Lady's Slipper (pictured above), round-leafed sundew (pictured next), and LOTS more.
Pinhook Bog can be toured by appointment only, and tours are ranger-guided and chaperoned to ensure the safety of this unusual landscape.
PitcherPlanter765567/Wikimedia
Cowles Bog, on the other hand, is even harder to access thanks to the heavy foliage and the nature of said foliage that surrounds it. Some folks are able to reach it, though, following a hike and a blessing from the National Parks Service.
Ask anyone what kind of landscape Indiana's got and they'll probably tell you all about the plains and the prairies...
PitcherPlanter765567/Wikimedia
...but nobody's gonna mention the bogs and meat-eating plants, which is weird, because they're awesome and everyone ought to know they exist.
Next time you're at Indiana Dunes National Park, see if you can get yourself a tour of these amazing bogs.
Diego Delso/Wikimedia
They're unlike anything else in this entire state, and are totally worth a visit or two.

For more information about these unusual areas of the Hoosier State, be sure to visit the official Visit Pinhook Bog and Discover Cowles Bog websites. Have you ever encountered any carnivorous plants in Indiana? Tell me all about them in the comments – I love to hear from you. If you’d like to step up your hiking game, I recommend checking out AllTrails Plus, which will provide you with the most up-to-date maps and info about the trails to reach these bogs.

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Featured Addresses
Pinhook Bog, 945 N Wozniak Rd, La Porte, IN 46350, USA
Cowles Bog, Westchester Township, IN 46304, USA