Turkey Run State Park, Indiana

Remember how I said that there aren't many good hikes in Illinois? Turns out there's not exactly great hiking in Indiana either. I was honestly surprised that Indiana offered any hiking or state parks at all, but last summer one of my coworkers recommended that I check out Turkey Run State Park in Indiana. I was pretty skeptical but the park was only a 2.5 hour drive from home, so the next weekend I hopped in my car and headed out. 

This sign in front of a 
barely thirty-foot rock pile
feels excessive

My skepticism was correct. This park in Indiana felt like Starved Rock State Park's younger and less impressive cousin. The views were underwhelming compared to Starved Rock's hundred-foot cliffs and river overlooks and the park was extremely overcrowded -- honestly worse overcrowding than I've seen at Starved Rock. In addition, any cars coming into the park with out-of-state license plates had to pay a $9 admission fee, whereas Starved Rock has free entry. And don't even get me started on parking. 

With all that being said, the park wasn't 100% bad. The trails were decently challenging with some nice elevation change. There were also portions of the trail that required some climbing up rock walls and embankments which I enjoyed.  The overcrowding did turn into a real issue on some parts of the trail - namely a suspension bridge and an area where you had to climb straight up a ladder bolted into a rock wall. Climbing single-file up that was certainly an experience. 

Overall, there was some decent scenery there in the form of sandstone bluffs. I ended up going for a quick drive out in the country after I'd completed my hike and came across a really cute covered bridge maybe ten miles away from the park where I was able to stop and eat a packed lunch. Of course, I forgot to bring any plastic silverware with me and I was nearly an hour from the nearest gas station, convenience store or civilization in general. I was hungry enough after the long hike that I didn't want to wait to eat, so I had to resort to eating the lunch I'd brought with my hunting knife that was thrown in the trunk of my car. Definitely would not recommend. 

On the 2.5 hour drive home, I really found myself wishing that I had just taken the hour long drive to Starved Rock. With better scenery, free admission, and a shorter commute from Peoria I'd definitely recommend skipping out on Turkey Run and just heading over to Starved Rock. Not a bad park by any means, but in my opinion there's lots of better options.