Unless you are a skilled hiker, I recommend going to this beautiful nature preserve when the…read moreweather has been dry. There is about 90 feet of elevation change on the 0.8 mile loop that can be a bit slippery if you pick a time when mud/rain can be a problem. I only explored the north end trail during my visit. After parking in a shaded lot, I went into the park where I had a choice of left or right. The right side has a steeper descent than the left. Fortunately, there is a hand rail for stability. I figured it easier to go down the steep side than up, so I stayed on the right hand path. There is a fairly level area before you reach the "stairs". The stairs are mostly natural, so they aren't evenly spaced. Just keep focused and you should be alright. Once the trail reaches the bottom of the gorge, there are places where elevated paths keep your feet from trekking through the mud. Depending upon how much rain has fallen, you may get some mud, but my feet stayed dry the entire loop. At the base, there are deep ravines where the trees catch the sunlight and light up in brilliant yellow greens. The rocks are layered and take on a rusty color that can make for some great photos. The highlight of the loop is finding the "arch" through the ridge of rock. It was just a bit taller than my head (I would say most folks won't need to duck going through.) After that, you will start working your way back. Although I traveled the same distance up, it was gradual and not nearly as challenging as climbing steps. I didn't see much wildlife there, but there were squirrels and butterflies that showed themselves. I like a short hike that features a destination and great scenes along the way. If you like that too, then seek out this park. Review #2840

Great trail among beautiful landforms. It's a nice hike that makes for a good day trip along with…read moreWilliamsport Falls, Attica, and the courthouse murals on Covington.

The Eugene Covered Bridge is one of the most accessible bridges in the area. Since the bridge was…read moreclosed to vehicular traffic in 1974, it allows for more exploration of the inside of the bridge without fear of being run over. The bridge was built in 1873 by JJ Daniels using the Burr Arch-truss system. Built over the Vermillion River, the bridge is 187 feet long, with the longest span being 176.8 feet. The bridge also has convenient parking and windows on each side that makes it easy to get great views of the river. The covered bridge uses the familiar red sides and white faced openings of the area. Review #2834

EAGLE CAFÉ AND COVERED BRIDGE I had breakfast for dinner. It…read morewas very good, and the portions were decent. The price was very fair like most restaurants here. The server was efficient and friendly. Most of the servers at these small-town restaurants are like this. I could hear a few conversations around me. I could tell these were mostly farmers. It was very quaint. Being from California, I really appreciate this hometown type of restaurant. I wasn't there for the restaurant. That was just an extra perk. I was there for the covered bridge of the same name next to it. I left Nika in the car to eat and then walked her around the bridge. There was a dog on the other side of the bridge that was chained up out back that barked the at Nika the whole time. The bridge was beautiful as most of them are. I have a fascination for covered bridges. There are none in California. I have been to several since I've been living in Indiana. This one, as most do, has a stream under it. There is easy access to the stream unlike most covered bridges.

Almost hidden in the little town of Williamsport is an amazing geological feature millions of years…read morein the making. The Williamsport Falls at 90 feet high is the longest falls in Indiana. We knew it was there somewhere, but Eric at the Hot Dog Station said it's right out back and sure enough, there it was. There is a small parking area and maps of hiking trails where you can walk along the creek, descend and watch the waterfall. You can observe the top of the falls right from the parking lot. There was no water flowing due to lack of rain during our visit, but you could see amazing crevasses created by water rushing over the falls. For a small observation deck, you can see the shear drop of the falls. The fall foliage was just starting to change making the view spectacular. There is no charge to enter the park, which is dog friendly. There are several trails.

A great place for a walk and a swim to cool off afterwards! The path is newly updated for easier…read morewalking and the area is all cleaned up and nice!

The Public Library in Covington is an original Carnegie Library. The staff had retained immaculate…read morerecords of the history of the library that I was allowed to review. The Covington Women's Club prepared the grant request and Andrew Carnegie provided $10,000 for construction. Construction began in 1913 and was completed in 1914. The Neoclassical building was designed by Liese & Ludwig, Danville, Illinois. The library is on the National Register of Historic Places. During WWII, the assembly room was used by the American Red Cross as a sewing room and during the Great Depression, the W.P.A. Used the basement as a sewing room. (They kept amazing notes, probably the best details I've see of any Carnegie Library.) The exterior is a dark brick with clay tile roof. Inside, beautiful original oak trim and furnishings exist throughout. Several paintings by local artists hang including a mural by Eugene Savage. The building had been expanded to provide accessibility with an elevator and accessible entrance. The expansion also provided additional space to increase the holdings. A children's area downstairs held books and a small play area. Upstairs were adult books, dvds, and a bay of computers for public use. There were five staff members working during our visit. There is free parking. This is a beautiful little library.

The Williamsport Public Library wants to be of service to you! It's warm and welcoming with a…read morefriendly staff. Nice reading areas, fun children's and teen areas. Current computers and technology are available to everyone. They provide fax, copies, laminating, and reference services. Go check it out!

The historic Warren County Courthouse is in the small town of Williamsport. The Courthouse is the…read morefourth Courthouse for the county, built in 1907, replacing the previous structure destroyed by fire. According to a plaque outside, the building was designed by J. W. Royer, Urbana, Illinois. The dome on the courthouse is covered with terra cotta tiles. The staff inside the courthouse is welcoming and friendly. During my visit, early voting and a trial was in progress. This is an active courthouse. The floors are mosaic tiles and stair rails are all steel painted black. Oak trim and furnishings are original. A huge black board that has been used for decades on the second floor was ready to record voting results. The courthouse has several cases of local artifacts, including a flag memorializing Warren County War mothers. I spoke with the custodian about the building. The bell on top of the building is still rung by hand on special occasions. He told me the furnishings in the court room are original to the building. I wasn't allowed to take photos on the third floor because of the trial. The courthouse has undergone renovations over the years, I was told. This is a great example of a Midwest courthouse that remain in original condition. There is free street parking around the building. The building is accessible with a ramp and elevator. I recommend a visit to anyone interested in history or architecture. There are a couple good places to eat in town and other sites to see.

This Single Span Burr Arch Truss bridge was built in 1907 by William Hendricks-- the last of his…read morethree covered bridges in Parke County. It is readily accessible over the paved surface of Towpath Road. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, it is #31 on the Parke County Covered Bridge Map. The sign at the bridge attributes it to D.M. Brown. Brown won the contract to build the bridge, but had to call in Hendricks to undertake the project.

In the northwest corner of Parke County is Mill Creek Covered Bridge. It's remote enough to be…read moreexcluded from the County's tourism routes (the "Yellow" comes within a few miles of this bridge). The bridge is a standard Burr Arch-truss structure in the familiar red and white colors with black lettering. The bridge is 111 feet in length and spans Mill Creek 90 feet. The bridge is open to through traffic without any place designated to pull off, so be aware of traffic if you pull over and walk through the bridge. The bridge is located about 8 miles northwest of Turkey Run. However, there is no direct route to get there. So, I would suggest heading west to US 41, then north about 3.25 miles to 1050 N. Head west about 6 miles passed Sylvania and Tangier to Tow Path road. Then head south about a half mile to reach the bridge. If you use alternate routes, you will probably encounter gravel roads. Either way, your driving speeds will be reduced due to limited road width and winding roads. Review #3225