By Ginger Murphy
Winter in the parks is the perfect time to explore the outdoors!
The winter season offers a unique look at some of Indiana’s natural features. As temperatures drop for extended periods of time, our beautiful waterfalls may freeze. Indiana’s largest waterfall, Cataract Falls at Cagles Mill Lake (Cloverdale, IN), is a stunning example of Indiana’s frozen beauty. Likewise, Clifty Falls State Park(Madison, IN) is home to multiple waterfalls which become sheets of ice as their flowing waters cascade into icicles. Along Lake Michigan, see, but do not walk on, the ice shelf, an unstable formation that builds from the beach out to the lake, without freezing to the lake bottom. The ice shelf offers gorgeous artic-like views but should only be viewed from the base of the sand dunes or further inland at Indiana Dunes State Park (Chesterton, IN.)
Winter in the parks also offers a variety of birding opportunities. Clear skies and long views around lakes are the perfect place to eagle watch. Eagles dive, reaching speeds of 100 mph, as they hunt for fish near the water’s surface. Several properties, including Patoka Lake, Monroe Lake, Salamonie Lake, Mississinewa Lake, and Turkey Run State Park offer group eagle watch events. At Brookville Lake, IN, guests may spot or hear sandhill cranes stopping over. Birders can also enjoy the indoor warmth of watching winter wildlife at nature center observation windows. Finches, cardinals, chickadees, juncos, woodpeckers and sparrows are
regular visitors. In some locations, wild turkeys make appearances, too.
Winter at the parks is also the time for hiking. Turkey Run (Marshall, IN) and Shades(Waveland, IN) state parks, with their incredible sandstone cliffs and ravines, offer a wonderful place for ice hikes through their frozen hollows. At Brown County State Park (Nashville, IN), explore off trail with the interpretive naturalist in the winter hiking series that takes you to places not often seen or explored! Many parks will be offering guided winter hikes where visitors can learn about and see animal tracks, winter tree identification, rock formations, and more. And, of course, you can join a First Day Hike at any state park-managed property and begin 2025 in Indiana’s great outdoors! Learn more about guided hikes, winter workshops and more at interpretiveservices.IN.gov.
If you want to immerse yourself in the outdoors, you can join an increasing number of Hoosiers who winter camp. Learn more about electricity, water, and heated restrooms in our state parks at on.IN.gov/wintercamping. And of course, there’s nothing like a warm fire and a cozy room at an Indiana State Park inn after a winter day outside. Spring Mill Inn is open again – find out more and make your winter reservations (Annual winter special – two nights for the price of one Sun-Thurs) at IndianaInns.com.