Contrary to popular belief, hiking is not just a warm-weather activity. Winter hiking trails can be just as fun to explore, and can even offer more interesting and beautiful views. For the best cold weather trails in the state, check out these ten parks that offer the best of winter hiking in Indiana. The best winter hikes in the Hoosier State truly are like a dream come true, especially if you’re a big fan of the great outdoors (and snow). Check them out and let us know which ones are your favorites:
- Turkey Run State Park - Marshall
Donna H./TripAdvisor This stunning park is even more breathtaking in the winter. Though you can explore a wide variety of trails here, Trail 3 definitely has some of the best views (just don’t go when it’s icy!). Craving the great outdoors despite the cold? Turkey Run State Park is an amazing state park in Indiana to visit during the winter. Turkey Run State Park, 8121 Park Rd, Marshall, IN 47859, USA
- Pokagon State Park - Angola
tagnrocky/Trip Advisor This park offers some of the best winter sights and trails to explore in the colder months. As a bonus, check out their incredible toboggan run on your way out. Come see why this delightful winter wonderland in Indiana is at its best when covered in snow. Pokagon State Park, Park Office:, 450 Ln 100 Lake James, Angola, IN 46703, USA
- Morgan-Monroe State Forest - Martinsville
Amanda L./Yelp This state forest is a popular place for hiking, with its Low Gap Trail offering the best sights around the park, especially in the winter. You’ll enjoy this gorgeous hike with or without snow. Oh, and if you’re a fan of the spooky side of life, the Morgan-Monroe State Forest is home to a delightfully haunted hiking trail in Indiana you ought to try out! Morgan-Monroe State Forest, 6220 Forest Rd, Martinsville, IN 46151, USA
- Shades State Park - Waveland
photohiker/TripAdvisor This often overlooked gem has arguably the best natural sights in the entire state, no matter the season. Come find all the beauty winter has to offer by exploring this park’s trails. Hiking this legendary Indiana state park feels more like hiking Middle Earth than the Midwest. Shades State Park, 7751 S 890 W, Waveland, IN 47989, USA
- Hoosier National Forest - Bedford
Lookin_for_Stuff/TripAdvisor The Hemlock Cliffs National Scenic Trail in the Hoosier National Forest is a hauntingly beautiful experience. Enjoy a peaceful hike surrounded by nothing but nature, here. This unique waterfall hiking trail in Indiana is especially magical when it’s cold out. Hemlock Cliffs, National Forest Rd, English, IN 47118, USA
- Clifty Falls State Park - Madison
Christie D./Yelp Clifty Falls State Park has plenty of trails and frozen waterfalls to explore this winter. Take the Clifty Falls Loop for a full winter hike around the entire park. This amazing park is full of the best winter hiking trails in Indiana. Clifty Falls State Park, 2221 Clifty Dr, Madison, IN 47250, USA
- Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore - Chesterton
ccindyk48/TripAdvisor While there are numerous trails to explore along the Indiana Dunes, hiking along the water is always a fun and lovely way to enjoy the dunes in the winter. Cowles Bog is another stunning trail that also explores icy beaches. This one is extra special, considering it’s literally the first National Park in Indiana. What better time to visit than now? Indiana Dunes National Park, 1215 N State Rd 49, Porter, IN 46304, USA
- McCormick’s Creek State Park - Spencer
McCormick’s Creek State Park/Facebook Visit this state park for some of the best snow-covered trails in winter. All the trails are pretty epic, but trail 5 might offer the best tour of the entire park. The incredible frozen waterfalls at McCormick’s Creek State Park are indeed a sight to behold. McCormick’s Creek State Park, 250 McCormick Creek Park Rd, Spencer, IN 47460, USA
- O’Bannon Woods State Park - Corydon
slerkins/TripAdvisor Often considered to be Indiana’s best-kept secret, these woods are spectacular to explore along the Adventure Hiking Trail in the wintertime. If you decide you don’t want to leave, there’s always an amazing winter cabin rental at O’Bannon Woods State Park where you can book a stay. O’Bannon Woods State Park, 7234 Old Forest Rd, Corydon, IN 47112, USA
- Brown County State Park - Nashville
Steve_IN162/TripAdvisor Brown County State Park is dubbed one of the most beautiful parks in Indiana, especially in the summer and fall. However, in the winter, come explore this park in a whole new light. All of their trails are fantastic, but Trail 7 will take you along a frozen lake. Brown County State Park Road, Brown County State Park Rd, Nashville, IN 47448, USA
Have you ever explored any great winter hiking trails in Indiana? For more winter fun outdoors in Indiana, check out these incredible frozen waterfalls in IN that you have to see in person! Some folks might think winter is a time to bundle up and stay inside, but we believe the opposite – it’s time to bundle up and go outside! Enjoy!
Donna H./TripAdvisor
This stunning park is even more breathtaking in the winter. Though you can explore a wide variety of trails here, Trail 3 definitely has some of the best views (just don’t go when it’s icy!). Craving the great outdoors despite the cold? Turkey Run State Park is an amazing state park in Indiana to visit during the winter.
Turkey Run State Park, 8121 Park Rd, Marshall, IN 47859, USA
tagnrocky/Trip Advisor
This park offers some of the best winter sights and trails to explore in the colder months. As a bonus, check out their incredible toboggan run on your way out. Come see why this delightful winter wonderland in Indiana is at its best when covered in snow.
Pokagon State Park, Park Office:, 450 Ln 100 Lake James, Angola, IN 46703, USA
Amanda L./Yelp
This state forest is a popular place for hiking, with its Low Gap Trail offering the best sights around the park, especially in the winter. You’ll enjoy this gorgeous hike with or without snow. Oh, and if you’re a fan of the spooky side of life, the Morgan-Monroe State Forest is home to a delightfully haunted hiking trail in Indiana you ought to try out!
Morgan-Monroe State Forest, 6220 Forest Rd, Martinsville, IN 46151, USA
photohiker/TripAdvisor
This often overlooked gem has arguably the best natural sights in the entire state, no matter the season. Come find all the beauty winter has to offer by exploring this park’s trails. Hiking this legendary Indiana state park feels more like hiking Middle Earth than the Midwest.
Shades State Park, 7751 S 890 W, Waveland, IN 47989, USA
Lookin_for_Stuff/TripAdvisor
The Hemlock Cliffs National Scenic Trail in the Hoosier National Forest is a hauntingly beautiful experience. Enjoy a peaceful hike surrounded by nothing but nature, here. This unique waterfall hiking trail in Indiana is especially magical when it’s cold out.
Hemlock Cliffs, National Forest Rd, English, IN 47118, USA
Christie D./Yelp
Clifty Falls State Park has plenty of trails and frozen waterfalls to explore this winter. Take the Clifty Falls Loop for a full winter hike around the entire park. This amazing park is full of the best winter hiking trails in Indiana.
Clifty Falls State Park, 2221 Clifty Dr, Madison, IN 47250, USA
ccindyk48/TripAdvisor
While there are numerous trails to explore along the Indiana Dunes, hiking along the water is always a fun and lovely way to enjoy the dunes in the winter. Cowles Bog is another stunning trail that also explores icy beaches. This one is extra special, considering it’s literally the first National Park in Indiana. What better time to visit than now?
Indiana Dunes National Park, 1215 N State Rd 49, Porter, IN 46304, USA
McCormick’s Creek State Park/Facebook
Visit this state park for some of the best snow-covered trails in winter. All the trails are pretty epic, but trail 5 might offer the best tour of the entire park. The incredible frozen waterfalls at McCormick’s Creek State Park are indeed a sight to behold.
McCormick’s Creek State Park, 250 McCormick Creek Park Rd, Spencer, IN 47460, USA
slerkins/TripAdvisor
Often considered to be Indiana’s best-kept secret, these woods are spectacular to explore along the Adventure Hiking Trail in the wintertime. If you decide you don’t want to leave, there’s always an amazing winter cabin rental at O’Bannon Woods State Park where you can book a stay.
O’Bannon Woods State Park, 7234 Old Forest Rd, Corydon, IN 47112, USA
Steve_IN162/TripAdvisor
Brown County State Park is dubbed one of the most beautiful parks in Indiana, especially in the summer and fall. However, in the winter, come explore this park in a whole new light. All of their trails are fantastic, but Trail 7 will take you along a frozen lake.
Brown County State Park Road, Brown County State Park Rd, Nashville, IN 47448, USA
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Winter Hikes November 26, 2022 Tori Jane
What are some of the best winter hikes in Indiana?
Who says you can’t go hiking in Indiana in winter? Some of the best winter hikes in Indiana are gems like:
The Pumpkinvine Nature Trail Trail 6 at Shades State Park The Fire Tower Trail at Brown County State Park
2. Where should I go hiking in winter in Indiana? Of course, the list doesn’t even come close to ending with those! Other amazing options for Indiana hiking in winter include trails like:
Fort Harrison State Park Trail 7 at Turkey Run State Park
3. What is winter in Indiana like? Winter in Indiana can be cold and snowy, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a wonderful time of year! After all, no matter how cold it gets, you can always bundle up more. Some fun things to do in winter in Indiana are things like:
Go winter horseback riding in Hendricks County Admire the best Christmas lights displays in Indiana
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Winter Hikes
November 26, 2022
Tori Jane
What are some of the best winter hikes in Indiana?
Who says you can’t go hiking in Indiana in winter? Some of the best winter hikes in Indiana are gems like:
The Pumpkinvine Nature Trail Trail 6 at Shades State Park The Fire Tower Trail at Brown County State Park
2. Where should I go hiking in winter in Indiana? Of course, the list doesn’t even come close to ending with those! Other amazing options for Indiana hiking in winter include trails like:
Fort Harrison State Park Trail 7 at Turkey Run State Park
3. What is winter in Indiana like? Winter in Indiana can be cold and snowy, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a wonderful time of year! After all, no matter how cold it gets, you can always bundle up more. Some fun things to do in winter in Indiana are things like:
Go winter horseback riding in Hendricks County Admire the best Christmas lights displays in Indiana
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Who says you can’t go hiking in Indiana in winter? Some of the best winter hikes in Indiana are gems like:
- The Pumpkinvine Nature Trail
- Trail 6 at Shades State Park
- The Fire Tower Trail at Brown County State Park
- Where should I go hiking in winter in Indiana?
Of course, the list doesn’t even come close to ending with those! Other amazing options for Indiana hiking in winter include trails like:
- Fort Harrison State Park
- Trail 7 at Turkey Run State Park
- What is winter in Indiana like?
Winter in Indiana can be cold and snowy, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a wonderful time of year! After all, no matter how cold it gets, you can always bundle up more. Some fun things to do in winter in Indiana are things like:
- Go winter horseback riding in Hendricks County
- Admire the best Christmas lights displays in Indiana
