The 4-Mile DePauw Creekside Trail Might Just Be The Most Enchanting Hike In Indiana
By Tori Jane|Published August 30, 2023
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Tori Jane
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Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
Secretly tucked within the grounds of DePauw University in Greencastle is the DePauw Nature Park, a 520-acre wonderland for anyone with a love of the outdoors. With eight and a half miles of awesome hiking trails, it’s not difficult to simply get lost here in the best of ways. It’s calming for the soul to wander through the woods, into ravines, and along shorelines, and lucky for us, DePauw Nature Park has plenty of all of this. Embark upon the delightful DePauw Creekside Trail, an amalgamation of all the best trails in the whole park. If you’re like me, you’ll always be on the lookout for the best hikes in Indiana – and this one might just turn into a favorite.
It's pretty tough to understate the beauty of this particular trail.
You'll find yourself fully immersed in a beautiful paradise you didn't think you could find in Indiana, complete with water, cliffs, trees, and all sorts of other flora and fauna that are sure to charm and intrigue.
The DePauw Creekside Trail is actually a mash-up of a few of the shorter trails in the park.
The cliffs you'll encounter along the way are amazingly, tall and usually green with life (unless it's winter, in which case it's white with snow... or autumn, then it's yellow and red, but I think you get the idea). Wildlife spotting is a popular pastime here as well.
The geology of the park is fascinating and not quite like any others in the Hoosier State.
Every park, of course, has its pros (and cons), and this one is no different. It does, however, definitely have more pros than cons, which makes for several reasons I love it so much.
Given its spellbinding beauty, it's a fairly popular place for hikers and birdwatching, though if you show up during the week or early in the morning you could maybe get it to yourself.
For more information about the DePauw Creekside, Rim, and Quarry Trail, be sure to visit our friends at AllTrails. And while you’re here, be sure to explore the rest of the nature park – it’s a delight!
If you find you need more ideas for your next hiking adventure, no worries; check out some of our favorite easy hikes in Indiana.
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