A Mysterious Woodland Trail In Indiana Will Take You To The Original Rose Island Ruins
By Tori Jane|Published September 22, 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.
If there’s anything we love here at Only In Your State, it’s interesting hikes. Luckily for those in the Hoosier State, there are more than 4,200 miles of awesome hiking, biking, and walking trails all over the state – many of which are in some pretty unique locations! Did you know that there’s a mysterious forest trail within Charlestown State Park that leads to some intriguing ruins? There are several trails all over Charlestown, but Trail #7 is particularly adventurous. Follow this unique hiking trail in Indiana to some interesting and thought-provoking adventure!
Charlestown State Park is Indiana's third-largest state park and covers more than 5,000 acres.
Choosing to embark upon Trail #7 at Charlestown State Park is choosing to go back in time in a way, for you'll encounter some supremely interesting ruins along your trek.
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Once you cross the historic Portersville Bridge, you'll find yourself on Rose Island - Indiana's only publicly-accessible "island" (which is, technically, a peninsula).
On the grounds was a wooden roller coaster, a Ferris wheel, and a sparkling, cool pool - among other things. One could come to see captive animals like wolves, a bear, monkeys, and more. It was a happening place at its peak.
To this day, the remains of the pool are visible, along with several other tokens of what once was.
It's got a few strenuous parts, but for the most part, it's an easy-to-moderate hike. There's something both attractive and eerie about this area, as it seems to be a symbol of what once was (but is now beautiful again in its own way).
You'll run into the beautiful emerald waters of Fourteen Mile Creek on the trek as well.
Make sure to wear good hiking shoes and bring water. Trail #7 is a 2.1-mile loop trail, so you should end up where you started to begin with.
So, what do you think? Have you ever explored this unique hiking trail in Indiana? If so, tell us about your adventures in the comments – we love hearing from you.
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