Indiana's Natural Landscape
Indiana's landscape is far more varied than its flat-state reputation suggests. The northern third was sculpted by glaciers, leaving behind rolling moraines, kettle lakes, and sandy dunes along Lake Michigan. The central plain — the Tipton Till Plain — is indeed flat, but its deep, rich soil makes it some of the most productive farmland on Earth. Southern Indiana is where the surprises live: unglaciated hill country with deep gorges, caves, waterfalls, and rugged forests that feel more like Appalachia than the Midwest.
Geological Regions
All 24 State Parks
| Park | Location | Acres | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown County State Park | Nashville (Brown Co.) | 15,776 | Largest state park in Indiana; stunning fall foliage |
| Indiana Dunes State Park | Chesterton (Porter Co.) | 2,182 | Lake Michigan shoreline and towering sand dunes |
| Turkey Run State Park | Marshall (Parke Co.) | 2,382 | Deep sandstone gorges and old-growth forest |
| McCormick's Creek State Park | Spencer (Owen Co.) | 1,833 | Indiana's first state park (1916); waterfalls and limestone canyon |
| Pokagon State Park | Angola (Steuben Co.) | 1,260 | Lake James and a 1,780-foot refrigerated toboggan run |
| Clifty Falls State Park | Madison (Jefferson Co.) | 1,416 | Four waterfalls and dramatic canyon overlooks |
| Spring Mill State Park | Mitchell (Lawrence Co.) | 1,319 | Pioneer village, caves, and Gus Grissom memorial |
| Shades State Park | Waveland (Montgomery Co.) | 3,082 | Deep ravines, sandstone cliffs, and Sugar Creek canoeing |
| Chain O'Lakes State Park | Albion (Noble Co.) | 2,678 | Nine connected kettle lakes from glacial activity |
| Ouabache State Park | Bluffton (Wells Co.) | 1,104 | Bison enclosure and CCC-era architecture |
| Harmonie State Park | New Harmony (Posey Co.) | 3,465 | Wabash River bluffs near utopian historic community |
| Lincoln State Park | Lincoln City (Spencer Co.) | 1,747 | Where Abraham Lincoln spent his formative years (ages 7-21) |
| Mounds State Park | Anderson (Madison Co.) | 290 | Ancient Adena-Hopewell earthworks dating to 160 BCE |
| Potato Creek State Park | North Liberty (St. Joseph Co.) | 3,840 | Worster Lake and exceptional mountain biking trails |
| Versailles State Park | Versailles (Ripley Co.) | 5,988 | Second-largest state park; 230-acre lake |
| Whitewater Memorial State Park | Liberty (Union Co.) | 1,710 | Brookville Lake and excellent horseback riding |
| Shakamak State Park | Jasonville (Greene Co.) | 1,766 | Three lakes built by CCC in the 1930s |
| Summit Lake State Park | New Castle (Henry Co.) | 2,680 | 800-acre reservoir popular for fishing and boating |
| Fort Harrison State Park | Indianapolis (Marion Co.) | 1,700 | Former military post; best state park near a major city |
| O'Bannon Woods State Park | Corydon (Harrison Co.) | 2,000 | Ohio River bluffs and pioneer farmstead |
| Prophetstown State Park | Battle Ground (Tippecanoe Co.) | 2,993 | Living history farm near Tippecanoe Battlefield |
| Charlestown State Park | Charlestown (Clark Co.) | 5,100 | Rose Island ruins and Fourteen Mile Creek |
| Falls of the Ohio State Park | Clarksville (Clark Co.) | 68 | 390-million-year-old Devonian fossil beds |
| White River State Park | Indianapolis (Marion Co.) | 250 | Urban park with museums, gardens, and canal walk |
Largest State Parks by Acreage
Natural Attractions
Indiana Dunes National Park
National Park Porter/LaPorte County15 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline with towering sand dunes reaching 200 feet. One of the most biodiverse national parks in the system with over 1,100 plant species.
Hoosier National Forest
National Forest Multiple (south-central) CountyOver 200,000 acres of rugged hill country in south-central Indiana with caves, rock shelters, and old-growth hardwood forests.
Marengo Cave
Cave Crawford CountyU.S. National Natural Landmark. Discovered in 1883 by two children. Features massive columns, drapery formations, and crystal-lined passages.
Bluespring Caverns
Cave Lawrence CountyHome to the longest underground river in the United States at over 20 miles. Boat tours through subterranean waterways past blind cavefish and crayfish.
Wyandotte Caves
Cave Crawford CountyOne of the largest caves in Indiana with passages reaching 185 feet underground. Contains Monument Mountain, one of the largest underground mountains.
Cataract Falls
Waterfall Owen CountyLargest waterfall in Indiana by volume. Actually two waterfalls — Upper (45 ft) and Lower (18 ft) — connected by a scenic gorge trail.
Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge
Wildlife Refuge Jackson/Jennings County7,724-acre refuge supporting over 280 species of birds. A major stopover for migratory waterfowl on the Mississippi Flyway.
Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge
Wildlife Refuge Jefferson/Ripley CountyFormer Jefferson Proving Ground, now 50,000 acres of restored grassland and forest — one of the largest remnant grasslands in the eastern U.S.
Knobstone Trail
Trail Clark to Jackson CountyIndiana's longest footpath at 58 miles, sometimes called the "Little Appalachian Trail." Stretches from Clark to Jackson county through rugged hill country.
Clifty Canyon Nature Preserve
Nature Preserve Jefferson CountyDeep canyon with 60-foot waterfalls, ancient rock formations, and rare wildflower species found nowhere else in Indiana.
Covered Bridges
Indiana has 91 covered bridges — one of the highest concentrations in the country. Parke County alone has 31, earning it the title "Covered Bridge Capital of the World." Most were built between the 1850s and 1920s using the Burr arch-truss design. The annual Covered Bridge Festival in October draws over 2 million visitors.
Major Rivers
The Wabash River — Indiana's state river — is the longest free-flowing river east of the Mississippi at 475 miles. The Ohio River forms the state's entire southern border.
Elevation & Water
| Highest Point | Hoosier Hill (1,257 ft) |
| Lowest Point | Ohio River (at Posey County) (320 ft) |
| Largest Lake | Lake Wawasee (2,618 acres) |
| Longest River | Wabash River (475 miles) |
| Natural Lakes | Over 900 |
| Borders | Michigan (north), Ohio (east), Kentucky (south), Illinois (west) |