By:
Submission
If you’re looking for the perfect camping destination to tell spooky stories around the campfire, Shades State Park is the place to do it. Just 16 miles southwest of Crawfordsville, the area’s original name was Shades of Death. This harkens to some of the grizzly legends from early settlement years that originated under the area’s dark and foreboding forests. In the late 1800s, a health resort named “The Shades” was built on the site, taking advantage of the many natural springs in the area. Today, Shades State Park offers a pleasant and serene outdoor getaway among 3,000 acres of beech and oak woods and sandstone ravines, where Sugar Creek flows through and spills over small waterfalls.
Open from April through October, the campground in Shades State Park offers 105 drive-in campsites, 7 hike-in sites, and 10 boat-in sites. The main sites are equipped with tent spaces, picnic tables and fire rings, and can accommodate trailers and RVs up to 55 feet. Hookups are not available in this park, but there is a dump station. A limited number of sites are ADA accessible. Facilities in the campground include drinking water, flush restrooms, hot showers, picnic areas and playgrounds, and sports fields. An amphitheater hosts seasonal nature programs, and ice and firewood are available to purchase onsite. Campsite rates range from $10–$24/night; hike-in and boat-in sites are first-come, first-serve.
For exploring the area, more than 10 miles of hiking trails are available for exploring the Shades’ woods, waterways and canyons. Take a short, easy stroll along Red Fox Ravine, or more moderate hikes around Devil’s Punchbowl and Silver Cascade Falls. For more adventure, hike into the adjacent Pine Hills Nature Preserve on the east side of the park. Or, for a fun nighttime alternative, take a guided, full-moon hike with one of the park’s naturalists. Swimming and wading in Sugar Creek is not permitted, but you can cast a line for bass and bluegill, or visit one of the canoe outfitters outside the park to take a float down the creek.
Had an amazingly great time. Thankfully they take card because we forgot cash, we were provided maps and event pamphlets as well. They had many picnic tables and grills, as well as very clean restrooms, and a nice little playground area for the kids. There was even a water station to fill up your water bottles. The whole area is beautiful. Would not recommend strollers lol take a backpack with water and snacks. Easy trails for you and the kids, and more advanced ones for older kids. Everyone we came across was super friendly and just happy to be outside, super dog friendly. Take bug spray too, those mosquitoes will ruin the whole experience!
We stayed in the campground and it was pretty nice. The sites had much more privacy than most other state park campgrounds we've been to.
Most trails were marked pretty well and upkept decently. Trail 8 could do with a few more markers and Trail 7 needs a few steps replaced on the stairs, but overall it was great!
We also wished that this park would have had its own Nature Center instead of "sharing one" with Turkey Run.
We absolutely loved this state park! From the stunning views to the friendly employees to the beautiful trails, we really had a great trip!
Thank you to the staff that make this park so enjoyable!
Scenic ravines, less traveled than Turkuy Run. The trails marked "rugged" are definitely challenging and not child friendly. There are a lot of stairs and even some ladders leading up and down the multiple ravine.
ROUTE: We took trail 1 and then trail 5 to 3 and then did a large loop through 7 and 8. We ended up hiking around 6 miles.
It rained 2 days prior to our trip, so there was mud and water. Water proof boots would have been amazing. I definitely had wet socks as I ended up stepping/sliding into the water at different points.
The view near the river is probably the most beautiful of what I saw.
