Turkey Run State Park

Turkey Run State Park is a protected area in western Indiana featuring sandstone ravines, dense forests, and trails along Sugar Creek across approximately 2,382 acres (964 ha). The terrain covers rolling hills with deep crevices cut by streams and open riverbanks along the waterway.

The protected area was established in 1916 after a local fundraising effort saved the land from timber firms planning to clear the woodland. This success coincided with Indiana's centennial celebrations and helped lay the foundation for the state park system.

Trail names in the park such as Devil's Ice Box or Wedge Rock refer to geological features visitors encounter when walking these routes. Local groups use the area regularly for educational programs about forest ecology and river systems.

The park offers eleven marked hiking routes with different difficulty levels, with some sections requiring ladders through rocky passages. Shoes with firm grip are advisable, especially after rainfall when surfaces can become slippery.

Within the park, the Rocky Hollow Falls Canyon Nature Preserve contains some of the last old-growth forest stands in Indiana, with trees several centuries old. This zone preserves vegetation that disappeared elsewhere in the state through logging.

Location: Parke County

Inception: 1916

Operator: Indiana Department of Natural Resources

Website: https://in.gov/dnr/state-parks/parks-lakes/turkey-run-state-park

GPS coordinates: 39.88451,-87.20677

Latest update: December 17, 2025 08:40