In west-central Indiana, where Sugar Creek cuts through outcrops of Pennsylvanian-age sandstone on its way to the Wabash River, Turkey Run State Park has been one of Indiana’s most beloved destinations since it was established in 1916. The park’s network of gorges, canyons, and forest trails offers hiking experiences unlike anything else in Indiana, and the historic Turkey Run Inn adds a comfortable and charming lodging option that has been welcoming guests for generations. For Hoosiers and visitors alike, Turkey Run is the answer to the question of where to find wild and beautiful scenery in the Hoosier State.
The Canyons and Rock Formations
The defining geographical features of Turkey Run are its sandstone canyons, carved by Sugar Creek and its tributaries over thousands of years. The creek has cut down through the bedrock to create a series of narrow gorges with vertical walls of cross-bedded sandstone rising 20 to 40 feet on either side. The canyon floors are filled with massive sandstone boulders, and in places the passages narrow to just a few feet wide, creating intimate, almost tunnel-like passages through which visitors scramble. Ladders assist with the steeper sections, adding a touch of adventure to what would otherwise be a straightforward hike.
The trails at Turkey Run are numbered and classified by difficulty, with the more challenging routes descending into the canyon systems. Trail 3, the Ladders Trail, is perhaps the most famous, taking hikers through the narrow, boulder-choked Turkey Hollow gorge with its distinctive sandstone walls and overhanging shelters. Trail 5, the Rocky Hollow-Falls Canyon Nature Preserve Trail, is a longer route that visits a particularly spectacular section of gorge with a small waterfall and some of the park’s finest canyon scenery. Trail 9, the Sugar Creek Trail, follows the creek at water level and provides access to the banks and beaches that form along Sugar Creek’s gravel bars in summer.
Sugar Creek
Sugar Creek is as much of a destination as the trails. Indiana’s finest recreational canoeing stream, Sugar Creek flows through the park in a series of broad sweeps and quick riffles, with clear water that in summer warms enough for swimming. The creek is lined with silver maple, sycamore, and cottonwood, and its gravel bars and sandy banks invite visitors to stop, splash, and linger on warm days. Canoe and kayak rental outfitters operate on Sugar Creek above and below the park, and paddling through the park is a wonderful way to see its rock formations from a different perspective.
Wading and swimming in Sugar Creek from the park’s beach area is a classic summer activity. Families set up on the gravel bars, children splash in the shallows, and the whole scene has an unhurried, timeless quality that is part of Turkey Run’s enduring appeal. Tubing is popular on the lower reaches of the creek outside the park.
The Turkey Run Inn
Like several other Indiana state parks, Turkey Run has an inn operated within the park, and Turkey Run Inn is one of the finest. The original inn building dates to 1919 and has been expanded and updated over the decades while retaining its rustic character. A large stone fireplace anchors the main lodge building, and the dining room serves good home-style Indiana food that has fueled generations of hikers. Cabins scattered through the forest around the inn provide a range of accommodation options for those who want to stay inside the park. Camping is also available, with both electric and primitive sites.
Staying at Turkey Run Inn and waking up to hike the canyon trails before the day visitors arrive is one of the finest experiences the Indiana state park system has to offer. The early morning light in the gorges, before the crowds arrive and when mist still rises from Sugar Creek, is particularly beautiful.
Adjacent Shades State Park
Turkey Run is connected to Shades State Park, located about 8 miles to the northeast, by a stretch of Sugar Creek that can be paddled. Shades, sometimes called the little sister park, has canyon and gorge scenery of its own and is significantly less visited than Turkey Run, providing a quieter alternative. The combination of a canoe trip on Sugar Creek linking the two parks, with hiking at each end, makes for a wonderful full-day or multi-day adventure. Local outfitters offer shuttle services for the canoe trip.
Getting There
Turkey Run State Park is located in Parke County, Indiana, on State Road 47 near the town of Marshall, about 45 miles west of Indianapolis and 30 miles north of Terre Haute. It’s a straightforward drive from Indianapolis, making it a popular weekend destination for the capital city. Parke County is also famous for its covered bridges, and the park visit can be combined with a covered bridge tour of the county for a thoroughly satisfying Indiana rural experience. The park charges a vehicle entrance fee.
Turkey Run State Park captures something essential about Indiana that is easy to miss if you stick to the highways: the state has genuine natural beauty in its river valleys and stream-cut terrain, and Turkey Run is among the finest examples of that beauty. The sandstone canyons, the tumbling creek, and the old forest combine into an experience that Hoosiers return to again and again with good reason. If you’re looking for adventure in Indiana’s natural landscape, start here.
