View source for List of Indiana state parks

{{Short description|None}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{State parks of Indiana map}}
The [[U.S. state]] of [[Indiana]] has 25 [[state park]]s maintained and operated by [[Indiana Department of Natural Resources]] (DNR).<ref name=Statistics /> In addition, a separate state agency operates [[White River State Park]] in downtown [[Indianapolis]].<ref>{{cite web|title=White River State Park|url=http://www.in.gov/mph/kpiwhiteriverstatepark.html|website=in.gov|publisher=State of Indiana|access-date=September 3, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904071353/http://www.in.gov/mph/kpiwhiteriverstatepark.html|archive-date=September 4, 2014}}</ref> [[Marion County, Indiana|Marion]] and [[Clark County, Indiana|Clark]] are the only counties to have two parks. [[Brown County State Park|Brown County]], the largest state park, has the greatest number of visitors, followed by [[Indiana Dunes State Park]].<ref name="Statistics">{{cite web|title=DNR: State Parks: Find a Park|url=https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/parks-lakes/|access-date=March 28, 2010|publisher=Indiana Department of Natural Resources}}</ref>

[[Richard Lieber]] was instrumental in the foundation of the Indiana State Park system. The first state park in Indiana was [[McCormick's Creek State Park]], in [[Owen County, Indiana|Owen County]] in 1916, followed in the same year by [[Turkey Run State Park]] in [[Parke County, Indiana|Parke County]]. The number of state parks rose steadily in the 1920s, mostly by donations of land from local authorities to the state government. Of the initial twelve parks, only [[Muscatatuck County Park|Muscatatuck State Park]] is no longer a state park, having been given back to [[Jennings County, Indiana|Jennings County]] in 1968.<ref>[http://www.muscatatuckpark.com/history.htm History<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509163501/http://www.muscatatuckpark.com/history.htm |date=2008-05-09 }}</ref> It was during the [[Great Depression]] of the 1930s that much infrastructure was built within the parks, constructed by [[New Deal]] agencies such as the [[Civilian Conservation Corps]] and the [[Works Progress Administration]], with the majority of this Depression-era construction still in use in the 21st century. This delay in infrastructure was due in part to Richard Lieber's belief that the parks should be kept as natural as possible.<ref>Ralston, Patrick. {{NRHP url|id=64500215|title=New Deal Resources in Indiana State Parks MPS}}</ref>

Initially, the state parks were intended to feature natural environments in Indiana. The establishment of [[Mounds State Park]] for its historical nature and [[Shakamak State Park]] (an abandoned strip mine) purely for recreational purposes represented changes from the initial purposes of the Indiana state park system.<ref>Ralston</ref>

While Indiana does not have as many state parks as some other states, it has avoided obtaining too many smaller properties that would be hard to manage. A goal of having at least one state park within an hour's drive for every Hoosier was met when [[Prophetstown State Park]] was established in 2004.<ref>[https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2444.htm DNR - State Parks & Reservoirs: History & Culture]</ref>

It is possible to view the Milky Way at 3 of the 25 Indiana State Parks,<ref>{{Cite web|last=R|first=Mike|date=2021-08-13|title=State Parks Light Pollution Map And Statistics|url=https://cosmospnw.com/state-parks-light-pollution-map-and-statistics/|access-date=2022-01-16|website=CosmosPNW|language=en-US}}</ref> which are Shades State Park, Tippecanoe River State Park, and Turkey Run State Park.

==State parks==
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="width:98%"
!Park Name
!class="unsortable"|Image
!City
!County or Counties
!Year Established
!Size<ref name=Guide>{{cite web|url=http://www.in.gov/dnr/files/RecreationGuide2010-hi.pdf|title=Indiana Recreation Guide 2010|publisher=Indiana Department of Natural Resources|access-date=31 March 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100217083007/http://www.in.gov/dnr/files/RecreationGuide2010-hi.pdf|archive-date=17 February 2010}}</ref>
!class="unsortable"|Remarks<ref name="Guide" />
|-
|[[Brown County State Park|Brown County]]
|[[File:Brown-County-Szmurlo.jpg|150px]]
|[[Nashville, Indiana|Nashville]]<br/><small>{{coord|39.11|-86.26|region:US-IN|name=Brown County}}</small>
|[[Brown County, Indiana|Brown]]
|1929
|{{convert|15776|acre|km2|sortable=on}}
|Largest State Park in Indiana<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2988.htm|title=Brown County|publisher=Indiana Department of Natural Resources|access-date=28 March 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[Chain O'Lakes State Park (Indiana)|Chain O' Lakes]]
|[[File:Stanley_School_at_Chain_O'Lakes.jpg|150px]]
|[[Albion, Indiana|Albion]]<br/><small>{{coord|41.33|-85.38|region:US-IN|name=Chain O'Lakes}}</small>
|[[Noble County, Indiana|Noble]]
|1960
|{{convert|2718|acre|km2|sortable=on}}
|Features eight connected [[Kettle (landform)|kettle]] lakes<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2987.htm|title=Chain O' Lakes|publisher=Indiana Department of Natural Resources|access-date=28 March 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[Charlestown State Park|Charlestown]]
|[[File:Fourteen Mile Creek waterfront.jpg|150px]]
|[[Charlestown, Indiana|Charlestown]]<br/><small>{{coord|38.43|-85.63|region:US-IN|name=Charlestown}}</small>
|[[Clark County, Indiana|Clark]]
|1996
|{{convert|5100|acre|km2|sortable=on}}
|Built on the grounds of the old [[Indiana Army Ammunition Plant]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2986.htm|title=Charlestown|publisher=Indiana Department of Natural Resources|access-date=28 March 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[Clifty Falls State Park|Clifty Falls]]
|[[File:Clifty Falls at Clifty Falls State Park.JPG|150px]]
|[[Madison, Indiana|Madison]]<br/><small>{{coord|38.76|-85.42|region:US-IN|name=Clifty Falls}}</small>
|[[Jefferson County, Indiana|Jefferson]]
|1920
|{{convert|1416|acre|km2|sortable=on}}
|Features a canyon that has daylight only at midday<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2985.htm|title=Clifty Falls|publisher=Indiana Department of Natural Resources|access-date=28 March 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[Falls of the Ohio State Park|Falls of the Ohio]]
|[[File:Fossil_beds_on_the_Ohio_River.JPG|150px]]
|[[Clarksville, Indiana|Clarksville]]<br/><small>{{coord|38.277|-85.763|region:US-IN|name=Falls of the Ohio}}</small>
|[[Clark County, Indiana|Clark]]
|1990
|{{convert|165|acre|km2|sortable=on}}
|Offers views of the [[Falls of the Ohio]] and [[Louisville, Kentucky]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2984.htm|title=Falls of the Ohio|publisher=Indiana Department of Natural Resources|access-date=28 March 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[Fort Harrison State Park|Fort Harrison]]
|[[File:Fort Ben - Fall Creek Boardwalk.jpg|150px]]
|[[Indianapolis, Indiana|Indianapolis]]<br/><small>{{coord|39.87|-86.01|region:US-IN|name=Fort Harrison}}</small>
|[[Marion County, Indiana|Marion]]
|1996
|{{convert|1700|acre|km2|sortable=on}}
|Built on the site of old [[Fort Benjamin Harrison]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2982.htm|title=Fort Harrison|publisher=Indiana Department of Natural Resources|access-date=28 March 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[Harmonie State Park|Harmonie]]
|{{center|&mdash;}}
|[[New Harmony, Indiana|New Harmony]]<br/><small>{{coord|38.06|N|87.95|W|region:US-IN|name=Harmonie}}</small>
|[[Posey County, Indiana|Posey]]
|1966
|{{convert|3465|acre|km2|sortable=on}}
|Near historic Rappite and Owenite villages<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2981.htm|title=Harmonie|publisher=Indiana Department of Natural Resources|access-date=28 March 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[Indiana Dunes State Park|Indiana Dunes]]
|[[File:Indiana Dunes-State-Park-02.jpg|150px]]
|[[Porter, Indiana|Porter]]<br/><small>{{coord|41.66|N|87.04|W|region:US-IN|name=Indiana Dunes}}</small>
|[[Porter County, Indiana|Porter]]
|1925
|{{convert|2182|acre|km2|sortable=on}}
|Attached to [[Indiana Dunes National Park]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2980.htm|title=Indiana Dunes|publisher=Indiana Department of Natural Resources|access-date=28 March 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[Lincoln State Park|Lincoln]]
|[[File:Lincoln state part1.jpg|150px]]
|[[Lincoln City, Indiana|Lincoln City]]<br/><small>{{coord|38.10|-87.00|region:US-IN|name=Lincoln}}</small>
|[[Spencer County, Indiana|Spencer]]
|1932
|{{convert|1847|acre|km2|sortable=on}}
|Across from [[Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial]], it was the last state park established by [[Richard Lieber]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2979.htm|title=Lincoln|publisher=Indiana Department of Natural Resources|access-date=28 March 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[McCormick's Creek State Park|McCormick's Creek]]
|[[File:McCormicks Creek falls Indiana.JPG|150px]]
|[[Spencer, Indiana|Spencer]]<br/><small>{{coord|39.29|-86.73|region:US-IN|name=McCormick's Creek}}</small>
|[[Owen County, Indiana|Owen]]
|1916
|{{convert|1924|acre|km2|sortable=on}}
|First state park in Indiana<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2978.htm|title=McCormick's Creek|publisher=Indiana Department of Natural Resources|access-date=28 March 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[Mounds State Park|Mounds]]
|[[File:MoundsHouse.jpg|150px]]
|[[Anderson, Indiana|Anderson]]<br/><small>{{coord|40.10|-85.62|region:US-IN|name=Mounds}}</small>
|[[Madison County, Indiana|Madison]]
|1930
|{{convert|290|acre|km2|sortable=on}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2977.htm|title=Mounds|publisher=Indiana Department of Natural Resources|access-date=28 March 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[O'Bannon Woods State Park|O'Bannon Woods]]
|[[File:O'Bannon Woods Entrance.jpg|150px]]
|[[Corydon, Indiana|Corydon]]<br/><small>{{coord|38.18|-86.29|region:US-IN|name=O'Bannon Woods}}</small>
|[[Harrison County, Indiana|Harrison]]
|2004
|{{convert|2000|acre|km2|sortable=on}}
|Formerly the Wyandotte SRA, renamed in honor of the late Indiana governor [[Frank O'Bannon]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2976.htm|title=O'Bannon Woods|publisher=Indiana Department of Natural Resources|access-date=28 March 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[Ouabache State Park|Ouabache]]
|{{center|&mdash;}}
|[[Bluffton, Indiana|Bluffton]]<br/><small>{{coord|40.72|N|85.11|W|region:US-IN|name=Ouabache}}</small>
|[[Wells County, Indiana|Wells]]
|1962
|{{convert|1104|acre|km2|sortable=on}}
|Name comes from the French spelling of "Wabash"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2975.htm|title=Ouabache|publisher=Indiana Department of Natural Resources|access-date=28 March 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[Pokagon State Park|Pokagon]]
|[[File:Potawatomi Inn Pokagon State Park.jpg|150px]]
|[[Angola, Indiana|Angola]]<br/><small>{{coord|41.71|-85.02|region:US-IN|name=Pokagon}}</small>
|[[Steuben County, Indiana|Steuben]]
|1925
|{{convert|1260|acre|km2|sortable=on}}
|Well known for its [[toboggan]] run<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2973.htm|title=Pokagon|publisher=Indiana Department of Natural Resources|access-date=28 March 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[Potato Creek State Park|Potato Creek]]
|{{center|&mdash;}}
|[[North Liberty, Indiana|North Liberty]]<br/><small>{{coord|41.55|-86.34|region:US-IN|name=Potato Creek}}</small>
|[[St. Joseph County, Indiana|St. Joseph]]
|1969
|{{convert|3840|acre|km2|sortable=on}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2972.htm|title=Potato Creek|publisher=Indiana Department of Natural Resources|access-date=28 March 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[Prophetstown State Park|Prophetstown]]
|[[File:Prophetstown State Park.jpg|150px]]
|[[West Lafayette, Indiana|West Lafayette]]<br/><small>{{coord|40.50|-86.83|region:US-IN|name=Prophetstown}}</small>
|[[Tippecanoe County, Indiana|Tippecanoe]]
|2004
|{{convert|2000|acre|km2|sortable=on}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2971.htm|title=Prophetstown|publisher=Indiana Department of Natural Resources|access-date=28 March 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[Shades State Park|Shades]]
|[[File:Deer_Mill_Covered_Bridge_Indiana_4.jpg|150px]]
|[[Waveland, Indiana|Waveland]]<br/><small>{{coord|39.93|-87.08|region:US-IN|name=Shades}}</small>
|[[Montgomery County, Indiana|Montgomery]]
|1947
|{{convert|3082|acre|km2|sortable=on}}
|Only state park to ever have its own airstrip<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2970.htm|title=Shades|publisher=Indiana Department of Natural Resources|access-date=28 March 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[Shakamak State Park|Shakamak]]
|[[File:Shakamak Nature Center 181.jpg|150px]]
|[[Jasonville, Indiana|Jasonville]]<br/><small>{{coord|39.17|-87.24|region:US-IN|name=Shakamak}}</small>
|[[Clay County, Indiana|Clay]], [[Greene County, Indiana|Greene]] and [[Sullivan County, Indiana|Sullivan]]
|1929
|{{convert|1766|acre|km2|sortable=on}}
|Used to be a [[strip mine]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2969.htm|title=Shakamak|publisher=Indiana Department of Natural Resources|access-date=28 March 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[Spring Mill State Park|Spring Mill]]
|[[File:Spring Mill Gristmill.jpg|150px]]
|[[Mitchell, Indiana|Mitchell]]<br/><small>{{coord|38.73|-86.42|region:US-IN|name=Spring Mill}}</small>
|[[Lawrence County, Indiana|Lawrence]]
|1927
|{{convert|1358|acre|km2|sortable=on}}
|Featured a pioneer village, numerous caves, and a memorial to [[Gus Grissom]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2968.htm|title=Spring Mill|publisher=Indiana Department of Natural Resources|access-date=28 March 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[Summit Lake State Park|Summit Lake]]
|[[File:SummitLakeStatePark.jpg|150px]]
|[[New Castle, Indiana|New Castle]]<br/><small>{{coord|40.03|-85.30|region:US-IN|name=Summit Lake}}</small>
|[[Henry County, Indiana|Henry]]
|1988
|{{convert|2680|acre|km2|sortable=on}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2967.htm|title=Summit Lake|publisher=Indiana Department of Natural Resources|access-date=28 March 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[Tippecanoe River State Park|Tippecanoe River]]
|[[File:Tippecanoe R SP Indiana TheRiver P1300080.jpg|150px]]
|[[Winamac, Indiana|Winamac]]<br/><small>{{coord|41.15|-86.60|region:US-IN|name=Tippecanoe River}}</small>
|[[Pulaski County, Indiana|Pulaski]]
|1943
|{{convert|2761|acre|km2|sortable=on}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2965.htm|title=Tippecanoe River|publisher=Indiana Department of Natural Resources|access-date=28 March 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[Turkey Run State Park|Turkey Run]]
|[[File:Turkey Run SP, IN 4.jpg|150px]]
|[[Marshall, Indiana|Marshall]]<br/><small>{{coord|39.88|-87.21|region:US-IN|name=Turkey Run}}</small>
|[[Parke County, Indiana|Parke]]
|1916
|{{convert|2382|acre|km2|sortable=on}}
|Famous for its sandstone gorges and unique terrain<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2964.htm|title=Turkey Run|publisher=Indiana Department of Natural Resources|access-date=28 March 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[Versailles State Park|Versailles]]
|[[File:036 34A Busching, Versailles SP, Versailles Cty.jpg|150px]]
|[[Versailles, Indiana|Versailles]]<br/><small>{{coord|39.08|-85.23|region:US-IN|name=Versailles}}</small>
|[[Ripley County, Indiana|Ripley]]
|1943
|{{convert|5988|acre|km2|sortable=on}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2963.htm|title=Versailles|publisher=Indiana Department of Natural Resources|access-date=28 March 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[White River State Park|White River]]
|[[File:C4241-Indianapolis-Canal.jpg|150px]]
|[[Indianapolis, Indiana|Indianapolis]]<br/><small>{{coord|39.77|-86.17|region:US-IN|name=White River}}</small>
|[[Marion County, Indiana|Marion]]
|1979
|{{convert|250|acre|km2|sortable=on}}
|An urban park in downtown Indianapolis<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.in.gov/whiteriver/|title=White River|publisher=White River State Park|access-date=March 28, 2010|archive-date=November 23, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123144607/http://www.in.gov/whiteriver/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|[[Whitewater Memorial State Park|Whitewater Memorial]]
|[[File:Whitewatersign.jpg|150px]]
|[[Liberty, Indiana|Liberty]]<br/><small>{{coord|39.61|-84.97|region:US-IN|name=Whitewater Memorial}}</small>
|[[Union County, Indiana|Union]]
|1949
|{{convert|1710|acre|km2|sortable=on}}
|Built on land donated by four counties<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2962.htm|title=Whitewater Memorial|publisher=Indiana Department of Natural Resources|access-date=28 March 2010}}</ref>
|-
|}

==See also==
*[[List of Indiana state forests]]
*[[List of national parks of the United States]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|State parks of Indiana}}
{{geoGroup}}
*[http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/ Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of State Parks and Reservoirs]

{{Indiana}}
{{Protected Areas of Indiana}}
{{Lists of state parks by U.S. state}}

[[Category:State parks of Indiana| ]]
[[Category:Lists of state parks of the United States|Indiana state parks]]
[[Category:Indiana geography-related lists|State parks]]