Listen, there really is more than just corn in Indiana! We have many wonderful hiking locations right here in Tippecanoe County—within about a one-hour drive. Here are some of my favorites!
Martell Forest
Martell Forest is a teaching and research laboratory for students and faculty of Purdue University. The property is managed by the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources. The trail is a lovely mix of meadow and woods, flats, and hills. It’s open from dawn to dusk, and pets that are on a leash are welcome. No bicycles or horses are allowed on this trail.
McCormick Woods Trail
Don’t miss this hidden gem! 3.5 miles of multi-use trails for hiking and mountain biking off Cherry Lane along the Ackerman-Allen golf course at Purdue University. This heavily wooded area is owned and managed by the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue, with assistance from the Tippecanoe Mountain Biking Association. It’s open all year to foot traffic and pets on leash. Bikers can ride with helmets except between November 1 March 21, or when trails are wet.
Wabash Heritage Trail
This is an excellent mixed paved and native trail along Burnett Creek and the Wabash River. I had lived in Greater Lafayette most of my life before discovering this wonderful trail! You’ll find great wildlife watching along this approximately 18-mile scenic trailway. Park in Battle Ground and hike to Fort Ouiatenon. No horses or bikes are allowed on this trail, unfortunately.
Clegg Memorial Garden
Clegg is a lovely botanical garden on a Lafayette hillside overlooking the scenic Wildcat Creek. NICHES Land Trust started managing the former country retreat of the Clegg Family in 2014. They work hard to reintroduce native plants and animals to the Lafayette area. It’s quite hilly terrain with many stairs, but it’s another wonderful trail in Tippecanoe County.
Prophetstown State Park
Indiana’s newest state park sits where the Tippecanoe River meets the Wabash near the town of Battle Ground. The landscape features vast tall prairie grass and wonderful paved biking, hiking, and walking trails. There are four trails ranging from easy to moderate, 1.9 to 3.5 miles in length. If you’re up for camping, this location also has a campground!
Turkey Run State Park
Another wonderful Indiana state park, Turkey Run State Park offers some famous trails! From deep sandstone ravines to aged forests along Sugar Creek, there’s no shortage of expeditions to take on! Eleven marked trails range from 0.5 miles to 3 miles in length, including the famous ladders trail! Be sure to check the weather before you set off on your adventure!
Shades State Park
The Indiana DNR also manages this famous Indiana state park, which is about 17 miles southwest of Crawfordsville. Beautiful sandstone cliffs overlook Sugar Creek along with numerous shady ravines. Pine Hills Nature Preserve is also on the property and affords spectacular topography for anyone willing to take a fairly long hike.
Get outside, friends! The fall colors are absolutely incredible right now!
These trails sound perfect for enjoying the fall colors in Tippecanoe County! There’s nothing like a crisp autumn hike to reset and soak in the beauty of the season. As a cabinet painter, I spend a lot of time indoors, so I’m always looking for great outdoor spots to explore when I get a chance.
I hope you can enjoy them! They’ve been beautiful this fall!