Great trails! Definitely one of my favorites. Not too crowded. There's a good variety of trail options. The trails are well kept. It was very cool to see the mounds and read about the history. read more

If you haven't been here the mounds are an archeological site, and that this site and was noticed by outsiders/settlers and survived is also amazing. The nature center has a great mural of the mounds, their preservation, and Mounds before it became Mounds State Park. The obligatory bird/wildlife viewing room, like Turkey Run and Brown County State Park, is here, when you finally peel yourself away from that peaceful space, visit the Bronnenberg House next door to the nature center. You can only go in to the Bronnenberg home on the weekends, but no one bugged us for peeking in the windows of the closed building. There is sadly no more pool, and hasn't been for a couple decades, but you can get your feet wet in the shallows of the White River. We poked around for mussel shells and man-made fossils, river-erroded glass, tiles, and brick bits. Plenty of hiking trails and bike-able spots in the park, a minimal bike trail in the from Bronnenberg house the group of mounds, but the roads are pretty flat around the park if you need a good ride. Friendly enough staff at the gate and campground gate, and one ranger took the time to say hi to us after noticing our way out of state plates. Fellow campers were quiet enough, making this a good getaway. read more

Went on a Thursday and it wasn't crowded. Nice trails that are well marked. Spent a couple hours here and would go back again.

I wanted to try Indiana state parks and mounds state park came up as something relatively close compared to the rest of the state parks. The hiking trail is great and there's a variety of distance for everyone. we spent about 2 hours and the views plus overall surroundings were great. read more

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We love it here! It's great fun for the entire family! Camping, fishing, hiking, kayaking, etc it's all here, even historical sites and a nature center, and it's always a great time! The staff are always friendly and helpful! You won't regret your time spent here! read more

Nice enough, though on the smaller side for a state park. The highlight are the Mounds- they're interesting, but pretty plain so really only a few mins. They do have a nice walk along the White River, a playground for the kids, and a campground. Nature Center is also worth stopping at, though again plan on a quick visit, 15 mins tops for the center. read more

This is a very cool park. Our Indiana family has been telling us about it for years and we finally checked it out. Facilities are very nice and clean. RV campsites were also very nice, though we really wished their were full hookups at each site (there are water and RV dump spots, though not next to each other). The mounds themselves were very interesting. One trail we took lead us down a set of stairs and into a super cool hollow area. Definitely worth your visit. We will be back. read more

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Mounds state park is one of our favorite parks to go to. It is a decent size and there is much information to learn there! Around the part are various informational boards to tell you about the past including the mines, amusement park, former train depot, and of course the great mounds. They have several trails you can walk, a garden, community building, campgrounds, camp store, and even a small boat ramp that'll put you out onto White River. It's definitely a beautiful place and well worth the visit. read more

Mounds State Park - Mounds after a heavy rainstorm - Parks Near Me - Anderson, Indiana

I'm on a quest to visit more Indiana state parks - and so far, I'm not doing so hot, but I did finally visit Mounds State Park in Anderson this spring. It's not too far off the highway, and it's an easy drive from Indy. The terrain surprised me - there were certainly mounds, as promised, and flat ground. But a good portion of the park winds along the beautiful White River with some elevation changes. It proved to be a beautiful place for a spring walk. I look forward to my return! read more

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Mounds is a nice park for hanging out and relaxing. When we visited (during the pandemic, when social distancing was still in full force), we saw lots of families spread out along the grassy hills, picnicking and whatnot. We were not there to relax, though -- we wanted to do a little bit of walking in nature to get the kids out of the house, so we went on the hiking trails that are in the park. The hiking trails are beautiful and easy to navigate. Well, easy to navigate if you can climb up and down stairs. There are multiple stairs along the way, which wasn't a big deal for us, but might be an issue for people with mobility issues. There is a lot of nature to observe along the trail, like babbling brooks and creeks and leaves and all that stuff. We didn't go very far into the woods because my kids pooped out after about 30 minutes of walking, but it looked like there was a lot more to see that we didn't see. We'll have to come back at some point. We encountered some people along the way, but it wasn't overly crowded with people. There is a little playground in the park, but no one was playing at it because playgrounds were still closed in the state (remember, pandemic). There is also a pool here, but it was the same deal as the playground: it was closed. FYI: It costs $7 to enter the park. read more

Mounds felt more like a "choose your own adventure" state park. Because it's not as well marked as other parks, my husband and I covered way more ground than we originally anticipated, often veering off of the trail and venturing all over the place. I'll return, especially knowing that there is nature preserve adjacent to the park that I could check out as well. read more

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I can't believe I haven't left a review for Mounds yet! I visit here often, as it is the closest state park to me. I love the trails and being able to easily hike/walk around the park. It's also educational and interesting to learn about the history of the mounds and area. Mounds is a smaller state park but great for trails and picnicking. Some of the trails have lots of stairs, but there are trails to access without stairs. They even have a newly paved trail that is more accessible. They also have a pool, ya know - once COVID is over and all :) Easy to do social distancing here. In fact, I've never visited this park more due to COVID. Exploring nature and being outdoors has been a blessing, the scenery in the Fall is just beautiful! The restrooms are open, water fountains closed, and you can visit the Visitors Center with a mask (fun for kids and has a great nature viewing area in the back). The park is very clean and monitored by rangers regularly. It is $7 to enter as an Indiana resident ($9 for non-resident), however, if you have an annual Indiana State Park Pass or visit off-season it is free. I highly recommend the pass - only $50 for access to all Indiana state parks for a year! read more

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We had family come from out of state and decided to come here for an afternoon hike and this was our first visit to the state park as well. The employee at the booth was very friendly and informative about the upcoming changes to the fees and told us when they won't be charging the entry fee for the winter. It wasn't too busy and it was interesting to go inside the visitor center to learn some of the history of the area. The hiking trails were all clean of debris and we had a nice time on our nature walks. read more

Mounds is a great place to get some great hiking in & reconnect with nature, no matter the temperature outside! The informational signage regarding the history of the mounds & the park is great! I'm usually not a sign reader but I found myself stopping at every sign to read -- such great information about local history! My only recommendation is better trail signage. We would occasionally see trail head signs but they didn't make sense because we'd be walking on a trail that said one number, walk a few more feet & then be on a different numbered trail. It didn't matter to us, but I could see how that would be frustrating to some. It's clear that staff takes care of the trails. Can't wait to go back in summer! read more

Mounds State Park - Parks Near Me - Anderson, Indiana

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It was great! I loved it so much! Only one minus; the river. I actually thought you could swim there. Welp, ya can't. If you're looking for a good swim, it's not allowed here. There was a swimming pool, but it's permanently removed. Other than that, I loved it!! read more

This is a really cool getaway for a day hike not too far from the city! You can experience unique landscape by walking along the water on some trails, and of course stop to check out the native mound remains and learn how they were used it rituals long ago. Some of the trails have some ups and downs but none that we hiked were super rugged, which made for a relaxing day in nature. I think we hit at least 3 of the trails. They have campsites, but from what I saw, they were mostly wide open spaces. I'm not much of a camper but the few times I've been, I would have wanted a more wooded spot with some shade. The only bathrooms we could find once hiking were near the campsite. I think it was too busy and not enough woods to use the more rugged option. read more

Good like always because the trail are all ways a lot of fun you can make your own have dogs out there and it is a state park. So these place is great for kids to. Hope this helps! read more

This is my COVID update so please see my earlier review as well. I wanted a change of scenery for a walk and since it was a gorgeous Sunday after a string of hot humid days, I figured many places would be pretty crowded, so decided to make use of my state park pass and head to Mounds. It wasn't crowded, but I did pass a fair number of people on the trail. They really don't have any long trails here, so I just did Trail 5 which runs the perimeter of the park and does provide some nice views of the river. I only saw one family with masks, but other than passing on the trail, it was possible to stay 6 feet apart. Since the trails aren't very wide, I did pull my mask up when passing others; since the trails are narrow, I'd suggest bringing one along just to be safe. The restrooms are open, and you can get to them from the patio entrance to the visitor center so you don't have to walk all the way through the visitor center. Masks are required to enter the building, and the restroom smelled of bleach and seemed very clean. read more

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Although Mounds State Park gets its name from the historic earthworks on the southern side of the park, it also has numerous hiking trails, a visitors center, playground, swimming pool, and lots of shade! If you like hiking as I do, then you will appreciate the miles of shaded pathways that keep you cooler on long hikes. The trails offer views of the river and some challenging changes in elevation. Trail 2 has a "boardwalk" that 58 stairs to the first level, and another 22 to reach the top. The rest of the trail has a second boardwalk that descends over 40 stairs before rising on the other side of the ravine around the same amount. Trail 5 is the longest trail and loops around the park with about half of the trail running along the river. This is the one you probably need to pay the most attention to recent weather since the lower levels can become muddy. Trail 1 runs by the mounds including the Grand Mound and three others. Although there is information about the mounds and an opening in the mounds circular form that allows visitors to walk towards the center, there isn't a really good place to stand back and see it all. An observation tower in the proximity would be a great addition to the place. Trail 1 also has a numbered tree trail that if you pick up a brochure at the visitors center, can help you identify the tree types. Sadly, it is not in the brochure you get at the front gate. The visitors center does have dioramas of the mounds that are close to each other so that it becomes easier to see the relationship of one mound to another. Some of the mounds are kind of hard to discern since they have not maintained their height over the 2000+ years since their formation. The center also has a nature watching room, plenty of live animals, an education zone, and plenty of stuffed animals and ancient artifacts. Beyond the hiking, the park also has a playground, swimming pool, and camping facilities. There are a few shelters on site as well. My only negative about the park is that the trails are difficult to match to the maps provided. There should be more trail markers at intersections between trails. Also, Trail 3 has three branches that run parallel to each other with crossbacks and intersections with Trail 5 and an unclear starting point when you stand at the Pavilion. I wasn't sure where I was some of the time! If you like to see a diverse number of environments while you get out for a hike, Mounds could be the place for your next visit. Review #1166 read more

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Beautiful trails fun for taking the kids out to get them active and interested in history. Little museum is really nice and interesting as well read more

One of Anderson's few recreational activities, it doesn't disappoint with a rich history and well kept trails. I love traveling to state parks/national parks, and I forget that I can go hiking in my own back yard essentially. While it may seem a tad pricey at $7 a car, take your time and go with friends/a date to spend the day there. It's got play grounds for the kids, a pool for all, and rich history and different levels of hiking for those interested. Love mounds and grateful it's so close to me! read more

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Personally my favorite state park. The trails are all great and varied enough that a wide demographic can enjoy them. No matter the time of year, it is a must to go to mounds. read more

I've been going here all my life and it's so beautiful. As a child I got to a bunch of activities and learn about nature! I even built a squirrel feeder here once. I definitely recommend for walking the trails and just enjoying nature here. read more

A gem of Anderson for sure. We've hiked mounds for years (and got engaged on Trail 5) and still aren't sick of it. IN State Parks recently started charged entry fees; a state pass is worth the money just for Mounds! read more

Wife and I were staying in town for the weekend. We were staying at a hotel about 10 minutes from the park. We wanted a place to run a few miles in the morning. We did some googling and found the park. We arrived and was surprised that we had to pay $7.00 just to enter the park. Which was fine, but would have been nice to have a heads up on it. The park was beautiful. Several camping areas and a nice pool. We just used the trail. Even though it was an unpaved nature trail, we still ran on it. It was a beautiful scenic 2.6 mile loop. One bit of advice would be to use a bug repellent!! We got eaten alive by mosquitoes! Even at 9:00am. It was crazy. Again a beautiful park that should be visited by all. read more

This is a well maintained and beautiful park. The trails and mounds are well marked with educational information. As with all parks, wear comfortable shoes And insect repellent. The camp sites are nice but fill up fast. Definitely worth a day trip to learn about native Americans in the area. read more

Lovely place. Nice hiking. Great nature center. Great area to camp. On the River.

Beautiful park. It's a gem. We did a few family pictures and it's a beautiful. The nature center was a little small but cute little stop for kids. I hope to be back to enjoy more. There is lots to see so it's more than a one visit trip. read more

Mounds State Park - White river - Parks Near Me - Anderson, Indiana

It's a great place to go to be in nature! A beautiful place! You can sit and relax and enjoy yourself and YOU TIME! Or take the family and enjoy an outing! read more

Close for a place to breathe, get away from stress in the great outdoors. Great for camping, hiking, picnics, & just being outdoors.

There are some very nice trails and the shelters are great, but I like trails that are more rugged and these were pretty low key. The campground is great, very spacious, and there are nice secluded spots. The river looks like it would be good for canoeing but I'm not sure if they offer it. I would definitely chose other state parks over this one. read more

Mounds State Park - Hike with the puppy yet to be named. - Parks Near Me - Anderson, Indiana

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I've grown up going to this park from family reunions to just nature hikes. As a kid, my Scout troop camped here and we went hiking. I knew all the trails like the back of my hand. They have many events to help teach people and children about different parts of nature and the ecosystem, as well as the amazing history of the Mounds. The beautiful river running through the valley just tops it all off too! read more

Very nice park but not a great amount of things to do, pool walking trails campground and a nature building!

This is such a great park! The trails are great and provide a variety levels of intensity along with great views of the river and woods. It also reveals heritage and culture of the Native Americans. The campground is cozy with easy access to trails. It's next to the airport which is great for someone who enjoys the sights and sounds of airplanes, and a railway is nearby that provides subtle sounds throughout the day. The campsites are nicely sized and the electric has been updated. Most spots are relatively level. read more

How is it I am the first review ? This is a terrific park, obviously close to Indy, that is very underutilized. Excellent facilities....camping, pool, really nice nature trails and nature center. Never a crowd when I have ventured north. Plus... a historically significant Native American preserve, with fascinating mounds and stories. The park also follows the White River with easy trails and lovely views. Rent a canoe nearby for a float on the river. read more

I am so lucky to have a state park so close. It is a great get away to hike and clear your mind. Great Trails that are marked well. The park is well maintained. I hike here often. read more

Cute little park that has a nice private campground. We were right up to the woods and got in some hiking. Bathrooms were clean and they have a campground host in staff. read more

Loved our visit here!! We had never visited mounds state park before, but chose it since it was a reasonable drive for a short trip. This is definitely the smallest state park we have visited, but the area is beautiful! The trails were awesome! There are plenty of trails to choose from; some more rugged than others. We didn't get a chance to visit the pool, but it looked nice. The bathrooms were clean and shower area was well kept. The camp store was small, but had the typical camp store items. The campsites were clean and well maintained. The sites are electric only and there are only a few water stations. There are a few pull through sites. If you have a longer camper, I would suggest a pull through site. Since the road is a single, one way road, it can be very narrow to try to back up larger campers. If you are looking for wooded, more private sites, this probably isn't the place for you. I enjoyed being able to let our kids ride their bikes around more freely since we could see them pretty well in the more open area. All the staff and DNR officers we met were beyond friendly and helpful!! We will definitely come again! read more

Mounds State Park - Campsite - Parks Near Me - Anderson, Indiana

We love Mounds!! Beautiful and vast. So many trails to choose from. A nice walk along the river or through the woods or over streams. They have facilities available. Playgrounds, restrooms, historic buildings. The actual mounds are really cool to read about and see. So much history there that I never knew about. You would never feel like you're right in Anderson. read more

Wonderful campground and great trails. Yes it's the smallest state park but one of the nicest and friendliest too. Don't forget to say hi to Andi, Christy, Jamie, Mick and Steve. read more