Indiana hides a verdant paradise just west of Indianapolis that feels like stepping into another world. Shades State Park in Waveland isn’t just another patch of trees – it’s 3,000 acres of nature’s finest work, where sandstone ravines, gurgling streams, and towering hardwoods create a wilderness playground that makes you forget your phone exists (until you need it for that perfect Instagram moment, of course).
Let me tell you about the time I nearly lost my dignity – and almost a shoe – on a slippery rock formation while a family of squirrels judged me from the safety of their oak tree perch.
That’s the magic of Shades State Park – it humbles you, thrills you, and occasionally makes you question your hiking footwear choices.
When people talk about Indiana’s natural wonders, Turkey Run State Park often steals the spotlight…