Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Sugar Creek Trail

    4.0 (2 reviews)

    Sugar Creek Trail Photos

    You might also consider

    More like Sugar Creek Trail

    Recommended Reviews - Sugar Creek Trail

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    7 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Verify this business for free

    Get access to customer & competitor insights.

    Verify this business

    Sugar Creek Nature Park

    Sugar Creek Nature Park

    4.5(2 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    Very nice nature park. Loop trail is easy walking. Great place to take the kids or the dog for a…read morewalk. Several access points for fishing along the trail and near the bridge.

    Just north of Crawfordsville on US-231 is a nature park with a wooded hike and lots of bench/tables…read morealong the path. The majority of the trail parallels the river, including the bend for the last third of the trail. Near the entrance are several board displays including a map and information about the wildlife in the area. The trail starts on the left of the parking lot and loops around a small pond to cover the majority of the park to the right. Most of the paths are dirt, though parts are sandy (near the bend) and rocky. Decent footing for walking, but not so good for jogging since there can be muddy stretches and uneven surfaces. Near the bend, the trail opens up to a "beach" area across from an old power plant. The river has a small dam that creates a murmuring that is relaxing. Fishing is allowed, but there are signs posted that the fish may not be healthy for eating. Sadly, after the rounding of the bend where the trail passes under US-231, a "camp" for homeless blocked the path. I didn't see anyone there, but felt uncomfortable going beyond that point. On the trail back, I found a bypass along the front of the park where the tall grasses had been cut straight to the parking lot. Overall, the park was a decent hike, but could use some attention. I kept running into cobwebs through the wooded area, so I wonder how much use the trail gets. Also, the trail got hard to follow beyond the bend. I wasn't sure if I was to continue along the river or if there was some woodland path that was obscured from view. Note: Access to the park is only available from the north bound lanes of US-231 near the Elston Park Softball Complex. Review #966

    Photos
    Sugar Creek Nature Park
    Sugar Creek Nature Park
    Sugar Creek Nature Park

    See all

    Shades State Park

    Shades State Park

    4.5(53 reviews)
    11.2 mi

    During a recent trip to Turkey Run State Park for a meeting, I had some extra time to explore a…read morebit. While you might think that's what led me to Shades State Park, to be honest I landed here because I got lost. So, I figured "What the heck?" and decided to snag a second Indiana state park in one day. Located about 17 miles southwest of Crawfordsville off SR 47, Shades State Park is an ideal location for camping, hiking, and canoeing. As Katy E. notes in her review, Shades is less popular than the pretty close by Turkey Run. With sandstone clicks overlooking Sugar Creek, this is the place for those who want more nature and less activity. You can also check out the Pine Hills Nature Preserve while here. Shades is definitely not built necessarily for someone like me (a wheelchair user) precisely because it's not "built." It's a pretty natural setting, though it does have a picnic area with shelters, a 6-ravine hiking challenge, 10 trails (plus a backpacking trail), fishing, interpretive naturalist services (seasonal), and it's a favorite spot for a number of astronomy groups due to its dark skies. While I found the entrance to Turkey Run (which I love) a little too developed, such is not really the case here. There are 105 non-electric camping sites, 7 backpack camping sites, 10 sites for canoe camping, youth tent areas, and a dumping station. For hikers, the trails range from about .5 miles to about 2.5 miles. A couple of these trails are genuinely rugged, and probably not best for beginners. There are a couple shorter trails that are considered easy, though obviously "easy" means different things - especially for wheelchair users. Trail #7 is currently closed due to recent rains/floods. A few fun facts: Shades State Park opened in 1947. It was the state's 15th state park. This area was originally known as "Shades of Death" due to its darkness and deep forest. In the 19th century, there was a mineral springs resort here. Joseph Frisz, the owner, actually sold the land to the state for a park to preserve the area. Shades does not have a hotel or inn, however, you're close to Crawfordsville. Turkey Run Inn is about eight miles away for those not into primitive camping. I'm a big fan of this park. While there are certainly trails here I can't really do in the wheelchair, there's enough places to go that I can easily still spend the day here. Including Pine Hills, Shades covers about 3,000 acres.

    What a serene and beautiful state park! Went during memorial weekend which was the perfect…read moretime/weather. We brought 2 dogs (small and medium size) with us. Recommend bringing plenty of water, bug spray, a packed lunch/snacks, a bag for trash because you must pack in and pack out - leave no trace behind. Wear hiking boots for ample ankle support and when you cross creeks/streams of water. For hiking - we hit up trail 2, then 1 and ended with 9. I'm glad we did it in that order because we did the most challenging trails in the beginning and ended with a nice walk. Easily hiked ~6 miles. We went when it wasn't crowded so we were fully immersed into nature without big groups. This park doesn't have much foot traffic compared to Turkey Run, which is what we enjoyed the most here. We went around noon and left before it got dark. PROS: $7 for Indiana residents, modern restrooms, playground for kids and benches for lunch. CONS: No trash cans

    Photos
    Shades State Park
    Shades State Park
    Shades State Park - Ravine. Very Jurassic park.

    See all

    Ravine. Very Jurassic park.

    Sugar Creek Trail - recreation - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...