These 5 Little-Known Natural Wonders In Indiana Belong On Your Bucket List
By Tori Jane|Published February 10, 2021
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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.
Indiana, known fondly to residents and folks around the United States as ‘The Hoosier State’ (for no particular reason that anyone knows of), is chock-full of gems, be they well-known or hidden. In some places, finding lesser-known natural beauty is a little tougher, but thankfully, here we don’t have that problem. Scattered throughout our lovely state are plenty of places where we can reconnect with nature, many of which aren’t even usually very crowded! If you play your cards right, these beautiful little slices of heaven could be your next away-from-it-all destinations, sans the crowds of more highly-trafficked spots.
Jug Rock is a fascinating and odd little wonder of geology thought to be anywhere from 286 to 365 million years old. At 42 feet high, it's the tallest object in the area (save for the trees), and it kind of sticks out like... well, a random, super-tall table rock in the woods.
And, indeed, it is- the sandstone monolith is the only free-standing table rock formation east of the Mississippi River.
It's illegal to climb on this particular rock, though, so be prepared to ogle it from a safe and friendly distance.
If you'd like more details about Jug Rock, check this article out.
Address: 722 Albright Lane, Shoals, Indiana, 47581
This beautiful and seldom-appreciated little hunk-o-heaven is actually Indiana's newest state park! It's situated where the Wabash and Tippecanoe rivers meet, and there are tons of ways to kill an afternoon here. There are shelters available for reservations for campers, and of course, you can't miss the other fun stuff like fishing, hiking and even an aquatic center.
Address: 5545 Swisher Road, West Lafayette, Indiana, 47906
Oh, wow. Where do we even begin when it comes to this piece of paradise that nobody ever talks about? Situated right on beautiful Lake Monroe, there's enough things to do that a long weekend here might be more appropriate than just a day trip.
Activities include hiking, camping, swimming, and so much more.
This spot is so well-hidden that oftentimes, should you visit at just the right time (which isn't difficult- try the middle of a day in the middle of the week!), you'll be made to feel like you're on a private beach. It feels as luxurious as it is!
Address: 6464 Hardin Ridge Rd, Heltonville, Indiana, 47436
"Ouabache", though it looks complicated, is pronounced exactly the same way as "Wabash," as in the Wabash River, is. Coincidentally (or perhaps not), that's the very river that runs through this little sweet spot. 30 miles south of Fort Wayne, this state park is also home to Kunkel Lake, where visitors are encouraged to go fishing and boating. There's also hiking, a beautiful swim-friendly beach, and a bison exhibit!
Address: 4930 E State Road, Bluffton, Indiana, 46714
What's this? A natural wonder that runs right through the heart (or should we say basement?) of Indiana's capital city. This is an actual stream that ran (and still runs) right through the planned Indianapolis city streets. So, what did developers do? They boxed the stream in with concrete and built over it. It's 2.5 miles long, completely walkable, and varies in size and strength depending on natural runoff, just like a stream that isn't entombed in concrete- just exercise extreme caution, because due to the tunnel built around Pogue's Run, a flash flood can be particularly disastrous for explorers.
Address: It's tough to say, but you're likely best off starting at 2300 North Dequincy St, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46218
How many of these not-so-legendary little gems have you heard of? Have you visited any of them? Do you have any favorites that didn’t make this list? Tell us all about your experiences in the comments section below!
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