It's a little bit rare that I discover a spot previously unknown to me, however, this was the case…read moretoday when I visited Oliver's Woods Nature Preserve. I was between tasks near Castleton and decided to do a Yelp search to see if I could snag a review or two during my free time. As is often the case for me, I searched for "parks" and Oliver's Woods popped up along with a review from the always dependable Nicole S. It's amazing to me that I've driven by this preserve many times without realizing its existence. In fact, even while looking for it today I drove by it a couple of times before realizing the place where I needed to turn. It's not particularly well marked from River Road. As it turns out, this is part of its charm. Oliver's Woods Nature Preserve is a 56-acre preserve owned by the Central Indiana Land Trust. It includes 16 acres of woods, 37 acres of prairie-savanna restoration, and a mile of White River frontage. As is true for most preserves under Central Indiana Land Trust, Oliver's Woods is fairly light in development but a fairly nice effort toward some ADA accessibility is noteworthy. It's not perfectly accessible but, let's be honest, nature seldom is perfectly accessible. As Nicole S. notes, this is a rather sublime weaving together of urban and nature. In fact, I really expected this to be more like a pocket park considering it's situated so close to an office park, apartments, and a nearby shopping center along with the highway. Remarkably, this is simply a well preserved area of nature amidst it all. In terms of accessibility, the accessible parking is by the Daugherty house. Oliver Daugherty, who passed away in 2009, donated the property to Central Indiana Land Trust and some unexpected funding received allowed for increased development of it in 2017. The accessible parking spot allowed for access to a .6 mile trail made of crushed gravel. I'm a wheelchair user and had no issues with it. However, it's worth noting that parking in the usual parking lot is more difficult because the gravel isn't quite as crushed. While the preserve is open daily, there are specific times when a volunteer docent is available to give a tour of the preserve. There is a canoe launch available for any craft legally allowed on the water in the city of Indianapolis that you can carry to/from the river from the drop-off area in front of the Daugherty House. The southern half of the Town Run Trail Park also runs through this property with an agreement that was made between Indy Parks and Daugherty himself. Volunteers have helped plant native trees and plants and to remove invasive species. "This special care is allowing native species like wild ginger, Virginia bluebells, waterleaf, wild hyacinth and trillium to flourish," according to the CILT website. Because this is so wooded and you are along White River, seeing wildlife is also a strong possibility. This is not a "recreational" preserve other than the ability to launch a canoe. This is a wonderful preserve for enjoying nature, appreciating White River, and enjoying a short but nicely done trail. There are signs around the preserve explaining the preserve (including at the Daugherty House). Quite honestly, I'd have loved living here. I saw one other vehicle while I was here, though I never saw the person associated with that vehicle. I did hear traffic and the highway, though on a warm and sunny Fall day it all felt really perfect. Now that I know this is here, there's no doubt I'll return!

Oliver's Woods Nature Preserve is truly an urban oasis. You can see and hear the vehicles roar by…read morefrom I-465, just a short distance away. You walk through tall grasses as you walk past billboard signs. I love the city and I tolerate nature, so this place is a great combination of both for me. There are hiking trails here, but they're not clearly marked, so as we were walking and enjoying nature, we encountered several mountain bikers who raced past us. There must have been some sort of mountain biking thing going on, because there were a lot of bikers at the park. We must have been on the biking trail, because we didn't see any other walkers, just bikers. The path is super slim, so we had to duck into the brush whenever we saw a bicycler, which was every three to five minutes. Eventually, we headed back and found an actual walking path. All this to say: If you find a dirt path that is jutted, it's probably not the walking path -- it's the biking path. Once we found the walking path, it was very pretty and peaceful. The hiking / walking path will take you to the boat launch, where you can take your boat out onto the White River. It will also take you to the Daugherty House, which is a house that belonged to the original owner of the property, Oliver Daugherty. You can't go inside the house, but you can look at the outside, and there are signs and QR codes that give you more information about it. We found a lot of native plants here, including wild raspberries that were ripe and ready for picking. We also saw a beaver (!) and trekked across a stream that fed into the White River. This is such a cool place, and it's a true Indianapolis hidden gem.

What a lovely new-to-me Central Indiana adventure! One of the learnings I hope to keep from this…read morepast year is to stay hungry for visiting new parks and keep outdoor dining (specifically picnic-ing) a routine activity. My friend and fellow Yelper, Katie U, recommended we visit McGregor Park for a quick lunch time walk and picnic. I admittedly had never heard of it and was shocked to find how easily accessible it was off of US31. Upon arrival, the park has very clear directions of where you can find the trails covered spaces, etc. The bathrooms were very clean and located near a shelter with additional information about the park. I was most impressed by the hilly nature of the landscape which can be hard to find in central Indiana. It's also worth noting that the shelter spaces and landscaping were both impeccable and appeared to be new. My only regret is that I didn't have more time to explore the trails. Looking forward to future longer visits at this nature getaway a stone's throw from downtown Westfield.

I feel like the secret is out. There used to be no cars when I came to MacGregor park, and both…read moreparking lots were filled. The front lot is near a little story walk with a fairly small flat area you can walk around with kids. If you drive to the back lot you have a few different trail options, mostly around a mile. There were some hills, this is not a great park to go to after rain as it can get fairly muddy. But I think it's a nice little getaway.

Zionsville, Indiana has about 20 miles of interconnected paths and trails. This includes the…read moreofficial Zionsville Rail Trail (which I've also heard referred to as the Big 4 Rail Trail). This is a 5+ mile paved trail that goes through the heart of Zionsville, a small suburb on the northwest side of Indy. Trail parking is available at American Legion Trail Crossing, Heritage Trail Park, Carter Station, Zionsville Town Hall and the Nancy Burton Corridor Parking, and just off of Starkey Road. Currently, the trail is being extended north toward Whitestown and south to Zionsville Road. The Zionsville Road trailhead is also currently being constructed. Thus, you will likely encounter some unfinished areas and some construction along the way. While the trail can get busy during good weather, it's a much quieter trail than Monon or Nickel Plate. Because it also weaves through Zionsville, there's also places to stop and it's typically pretty easy to find a public restroom. I know there's at least one on the trail that is clearly marked. Some of the entryways don't look like they would be wheelchair friendly, however, Zionsville has actually done really well to create accessibility along the path. I haven't down this trail during the winter - so I can't speak to maintenance during adverse weather. The paved trail is wide. The most significant inclines are at access points and all those that I experienced met ADA requirements. The trail feels safe and I've seen quite a few parents with strollers on the trail. While you get runners, everyone is considerate on this trail. The plan for the trail is that it will stretch 50+ miles across Boone County and will go from northern Indy to Lafayette. The Big 4 Railroad operated along this corridor from 1889-1930. Zionsville established this trail in the 1990s. The trail is a paved 12-foot wide path with a 3-foot soft shoulder on both sides for runners. It offers restrooms, water fountains, trail markers, picnic benches, and trash receptacles. Pets are to be leashed. If you turn right onto a short path when the trail intersects with Starkley Avenue, you can go directly into downtown Zionsville. Zionsville has a brick-paved Main Street that is quite cool. The trail utilizes nearly all underpasses to go through town. You don't really experience an at-grade crossing until you hit Zionsville's north side. I find this to be much nicer and safer. The trail passes by Mulberry Fields, Jennings Field, Carter Station, Heritage Trail Park, and Rail Trail Gardens Event Center. The trail's a definite winner and only getting better in the coming years!

I walked the Zionsville Rail Trail with a friend in September '23 and it appears it was either…read morestill undergoing construction (or some enhancements). We parked at Zionsville town hall since the map online indicated an access point here. There was one, but it was a gravel path for about a half mile until we realized we were walking through an unfinished part of the trail. The Rail Trail is a straight path through residential areas of Zionsville. It wasn't very busy on a fall afternoon, and I'm not sure if it will have commercial development like the Monon Trail in Carmel and the Nickel Plate Trail in Fishers, since it does back up to houses/neighborhoods.

Very short trail. If you're going for walking I don't recommend but if you just want to be outdoors…read morein the shade and near the creek it would be fine. I went with my dog hoping to get a decent walk in and I was disappointed.

I'll openly admit that I'd never heard of Hague Road Nature Haven until I decided to do some…read moreHamilton County exploring today following church. Hague Road Nature Haven is a relatively small spot at 43 acres. It's located at the Southeast corner of Hague Road and SR 38. The master plan calls for an outdoor education center, though for the most part the current status of Hague Road Nature Haven is as a fairly rough, immersive, and absolutely peaceful place that makes up for its accessibility issues with being a bit of natural wonder right here in Central Indiana. Hague Road Nature Haven is surrounded by Cicero Creek. There's a small parking lot. It's cleared but still natural in presentation. Plans eventually call for campsites, a natural playground, a nature center, study areas, and I believe I even saw plans for a small, natural amphitheatre. There are no plans, necessarily, to turn this into anything resembling a recreation area and we should be grateful for that. For now, you've got lots of greenery, hiking trails, creekside spots for stomping or wheeling or just watching. There's one absolutely delightful spot with a sort of swing bench. It's an inspired touch for an inspiring location in Noblesville. You can fish here, of course, and I was honestly surprised at just how much of this nature haven I could handle by wheelchair (though certainly not all). The creek itself stays relatively shallow. However, obviously, children should be supervised and care should be taken to ensure safety. This is nature, after all, and things can happen easily. Animals may very well be here, as well. This haven is still relatively light in terms of attendance and in one afternoon I saw fish, tadpoles, lots of birds and, yes, even deer. I wouldn't be surprised if turtles are around here and maybe even a snake or two (I like snakes...for me, that's a good thing). There's a relatively light "nature walk" trail here. It runs just under a mile. The path is natural, though I found it cleared enough that I could manage it. In adverse weather, I probably could not. It's not technically "accessible," but it's wide enough, mostly smooth ground/crushed stone, and almost completely flat. Plus, it's right by the creek. This also means mosquitoes in season, but that's easily handled. Absolutely heaven. This is a relatively secluded area - this can be an amazing thing, but it's also worth noting in terms of taking appropriate precautions. You're really not that far from residential areas here, though this truly is a set-apart haven and a magnificent slice of nature almost smack dab where you least expect it. There's no question I'll be back.

My review isn't going to do this place justice, so just go visit for yourself and experience the…read morehidden gem that is the Taylor Center of Natural History. At this Hamilton County park, you'll learn about the indigenous people who lived in this area of Indiana before you did. There are recreations of their dwellings, and informative signs that tell you a bit about who they were and what they did, and lots of interactive outdoor exhibits for you to explore. And by you, I mean kids -- this is a great place to take kids to learn about Indiana history and archeology. There's lots of outdoor space to explore. When you're ready to explore indoors, inside the Taylor Nature Center there are displays with animal skeletons, replicas of indigenous tools, a replica of a canoe and more things to learn about. The nature center also has bathrooms and water fountains (and nice air conditioning on hot days!). This park has an easy walking trail that goes through the park. It's very wide and smooth, and seems good for strollers and wheelchairs. You'll see lots of native plants and trees on your hike around Taylor Nature Center of Natural History. Hamilton County Parks offers lots of different classes that meet here at the Taylor Center. I visited once for a class about food forests, and we walked around learning about all of the edible plants that lived on the property. It was very informative and enlightening. Check their website for other classes and activities, like seed collecting, festivals and more. This is a great park to visit to learn more about the indigenous people of Indiana. It's also a great park to bring kids -- especially kids who need to move around and discover things for themselves, because there are lots of opportunities for discovery here.

Such a very cool and random place! We were camping at White River so we thought we should come…read morecheck this out. Super friendly people, awesome artifacts and tidbits of history and some very nice trails to check out!

One of two areas in Metro Indy specifically designed for mountain bikers, Town Run Trail Park is…read more127 acres of beginner and intermediate level of trails offering an approximate total of seven miles worth of trails. The first thing worth pointing out, though it has been said in other reviews, is that this trail system is truly devoted to bikers. While hikers and walkers are allowed here, the bikers have the right of way and the trail itself is truly developed with bikers in mind. I've done my share of wheeling, I'm a wheelchair user, on difficult trails but having visited again this afternoon I was again reminded that even the easiest spots here are truly not designed to be accessible. Even if you have off-road wheelchair tires, there are lots of twists, turns, inclines, places to fall, and places where you could easily get stuck. While there's a decent chance you'll run into someone on this trail, I think the vast majority of wheelchair users should steer clear of Town Run Trail Park. Town Run does offer the possibility of other activities including fishing, kayaking/canoeing, and observing of nature. Because it truly is more of a natural trail, nature is much more likely to be here. The Hoosier Mountain Bike Association is involved with the trail and assists with upkeep and installation. The beginner features include a bridge and subsequent single track, dirt rollers, and a rock garden. The advanced features include North Shore Ladder, shoots, bridges, table top jumps, and dirt jumps. If you can't jump, then you're going to have a hard time doing the entire trail. There is parking nearby and the area has been kept fairly natural even around it. This is a great area that's really right around Indy, Fishers, and Carmel but this actually falls within Indy Parks. I enjoy coming here to just hang out and observe, though I definitely don't venture too far into the park because there's simply too high of a risk of injury, getting stuck, or having a fall. This is especially true considering my last amputation. However, for its intended use it's quite the beautiful park and for mountain bikers I'll definitely give it a thumbs up. It's also, in my opinion, one of Indy's better maintained parks.

This 7ish mile trail is an oasis on Indy's North East Side. The trails are well maintained and…read moreeasy to navigate. It is setup so bikers of all skill levels can ride. For example, when there is a big drop, there is a sign posted stating a drop is coming and there is an easy to follow path around the drop so you don't have to soar 8 ft. in the air if you don't want to. I read a review about mountain bikers being elitist here. I find that preposterous. I started riding off road in September 2015. Brand new to it, I went out on my own. I found many bikers on the trail who were nothing but friendly and helpful. I have also been riding when there are runners on the trail. It has always been met with cooperation from both. Much of the trail is in the woods, but there is a big stretch that is out in the sun (so you may want sun screen). The entrance can be tricky to find, but it is on 96th street near Allisonville road, just east of the river. I love the place!

Park is nice! But trails are dirty and need to be cleaned up!…read moreYou can tell homeless set camp up here quite frequently. The memorial is nice but beware of needles and paraphernalia. Don't recommend once the sun starts going down either!

This park is a hidden gem on the outskirts of Anderson, Indiana. I'm not originally from Indiana,…read morebeing born in Denver, Colorado and living in multiple states all over the US, so I'm always a bit surprised when I find parks like ShadySide. There is a 2.25mile paved trail that wraps around a lake that offers visitors glimpses of giant herons and flocks of ducks and geese. I heard owls hooting in the trees and I swear I saw a bald eagle swoop overhead. I've heard there are also tons of songbirds that make this area home. There are several play areas for the littles and picnic tables and benches for us older folk. If you are nearby or just looking for a different place for a social distance hike I recommend you check it out!

Sargent Road Nature Park is one of Indy's newest nature parks and was the first acquisition of land…read moreby Indy non-profit Mud Creek Conservancy. Located on the Southeast corner of 82nd and Sargent Road, Sargent Road Nature Park was established with a mission of preservation, recreation, and education. In 2018, this 26-acre area was up for sale. Concerned about how such a sale might impact the area's nature, Mud Creek Conservancy worked with Sargent Road Association and in 2019 completed a purchase agreement. This fledgling non-profit with a small budget had two years to raise $500,000 to complete the purchase. Thanks to donations by 600 donors/families, they completed the task in 18 months and set out to honor one of their promises - the nature park. This nature park opened in June 2024 and includes a total trail system of just over a mile. It's a dirt trail, though relatively accessible for more active folks. The main trail is .46 miles long. There is signage indicating that the natural trails are NOT fully accessible and can become muddy depending on weather. There's definitely times I wouldn't try the trail, though on a good weather day I actually had very little difficulty. It should be noted that "recreation" in this case means hiking, jogging, bird-watching, wildlife viewing, and nature photography. There's no question this park is about nature preservation. Dogs are allowed here with an important disclaimer - The conservancy requires all canine visitors become Conservancy Canine Club members at a cost of $20/year per dog. The link is on the website - a membership includes three simple pledges: 1. Dogs will be controlled/leashed. 2. Dog waste will be cleaned up and removed from the park. 3. Dogs will not be allowed to harass other wildlife or trail users. Conservancy Canine Club fees cover MCC's habitat stewardship fund. Per their website, MCC notes "Even with the proper rules in place and adherence to them, having dogs on-site comes with ecological impacts. CCC funds will help us mitigate those impacts (traces of urine, feces, wildlife impacts, etc) by restoring native habitat on site to provide shelter for wildlife and improved water quality protection." CCC fees will cover some membership events/perks/swag. All CCC members will get a dog tag/leash medallion. This is a really cool nature park and indicates a wonderful non-profit/community partnership to make it all happen. Mud Creek Conservancy continues to be a relatively small non-profit, however, this park is a tremendously cool endeavor and I look forward to watching how it develops and is cared for moving forward.