Reviews of Shades State Park. (Campground) in Indianapolis (Indiana).

Shades State Park

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396 Comments

Campground

Park

7751 S 890 W, Waveland, IN 47989, United States

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Information of Shades State Park, Campground in Indianapolis (Indiana)

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Reviews of Shades State Park

Jared Solomon

Trails are marked extremely well! Great terrain for hiking and not as much traffic as nearby parks. Great for a family outing or just when you need a day away from your hectic schedule! Can't wait to go back, really enjoyed our visit!! Make sure you dress for the occasion, the trails can become very rugged!

Wilson Reyes

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!!! We are so blessed in Indiana to have these gorgeous State Parks. Shades is special. Some of the very best natural rock formations I have seen. My son and I had such a great time here. Mostly, the staff here were the best! They helped us at the beginning and helped us get back to our car. Highly recommended!!!

Melissa Miller

This is my favorite state park in the area. Any level of hiker can find something to do here. We used some of the trails a few years ago to break in some backpacking equipment for a bigger trip to Canada. I just recently went back for some solo hiking and it’s still awesome! Like its larger brother down the street, Shades does have some trails that require the use of a ladder due to cliffs. These are really easy to avoid if you’re willing to look at the map provided, though. There’s also some great camping as well as a backpackers’ walk up area. If you pay for entrance to the park you’ll also gain entrance to the Pine Hills Nature Preserve. This is a great loop to go through to see some unique geological sites. There are A LOT of stairs so if that’s going to be an issue for you just remember that what goes down must come back up.

TerriJG

Shades was a great day trip hiking adventure! We hiked part of #2, all of #4, #5, #7, #8. We will go back another time for the rest of #2 plus #1, #6. The back side of #8 was our favorite but the signage needs updating. It's very easy to miss the back side and just return to #7 almost immediately. The backside of #8 made our day. You literally scramble op a Boulder river bed. So fun! We keep dry feet but in normal rain amounts you would get your feet wet.

Brandy Hoff

We spend about 4-5 hours hiking and absolutely loved it. I got some beautiful pictures and a picture of my little dog as a leaf flew into her face. She's a good sport and I'd like to think she was laughing with us 🤣. …

I am Steve

Just 20 minutes or so from the better known Turkey Run State Park, Shades offers the same kind of trails (walking on the riverbed, not beside it, climbing up and down small waterfalls etc.) The "plus factor" with Shades is far less people. Don't visit this area without a trip to Shades. It's worth it!

Daniel Puckett

TLDR; Bring bug repellent, bring water, be ready to get your feet wet, and have some fun!!! Trail 7 is my favorite. One of my favorite places on earth. I’d have to say, If you are spending a week or two in the summer nearby, or live in Indiana and want to go camping. You should explore Shades State Park and her sister trail Turkey run. These trails are expansive and diverse. The grading ranges from easy to hard and can require hand work at times. I give this 4 stars because of some of the safety concerns at various points that have not been sufficiently marked by Indiana DNR. The devils backbone in particular is not for children. It is a 200 ft shear drop on either side with no guide railings and is only a few feet wide at it’s narrowest point. IMPORTANT: DO NOT BRING YOUNG CHILDREN TO DEVILS BACKBONE. I am a wildlife photographer and am used to keeping my eyes and ears alert so snakes are a normal part of the job, but be aware that between 1 pm and 5 pm during the summer and 2-3pm during winter, snakes like to bask by the water. So don’t go swimming in the streams carelessly.

Bo Medsker

This is my favorite place to camp, most camp sites here are surrounded with woods and lots of shade, versus turkey run which your in an open field. Mostly quiet, and the trails are nicely marked and the scenery is amazing. Turkey run SP is in close proximity to this park as well

Lyndi H

Beautiful state park with gorgeous ravines you can hike up and down. Ladders on some trails, steep spots, just a lovely time!

Jezebelle DeWitt

The devil's punch bowl is a relatively easy hike and very beautiful. There is a small playground, definitely different from most playgrounds.

Blaine Bugaski

The rugged description of the trails here at Shades State Park are definitely not a joke! This state park offers a variety of challenging trails throughout the various flowing creeks. The landscape is also very similar to Turkey Run State Park, however, being less popular, Shades State Park definitely provides a more intimate and private hiking experience! Make sure not to ignore this park!

Matthew Row

Had a great time on the trails. The biggest challenge in some areas though, was just getting on or off the steps. All around though, it was peaceful and relaxing. The scenery was wonderful.

Shawn Blazier

Great state parks. Lots to see and do. Completed the 6 ravine challenge. Had to double up a trail as we did not notice a trailhead as workers were working around it. Great views. Lots of challenging trails.

Emily Montgomery

Lesser known State Park. Trails either on top of ridges between ravines or through the ravines. A flatter out-and-back backpacking trail is also nice that goes through the woods.

Pam Berwanger

Beautiful, lesser traveled, State Park. Visited on a Monday and there were only 3 other groups of hikers. Clean trails shaded by tall trees adds to a positive experience.

Alyssa Crowder

Lots of stuff to do. The creeks are very good for wading through. It's typically not very busy. But, make sure you know what you're getting into BEFORE you start the trail. Some of them are very rugged and may be more difficult than you thought. The Devil's Backbone and Turkey's Backbone are both very dangerous and may not be good for children under the age of 10. I would highly recommend visiting the Honeycomb Formations. They're very unique and cool to look at. I would also recommend going to the Devil's Punchbowl. It's very beautiful. Some things you should bring: an extra pair of shoes (your feet will probably get wet), water, bug spray (there are SO many gnats), some food for fuel because you may be walking awhile.

Jenny Sherrill

Shades has great trails and fewer crowds than other, better-known, parks. There's a lot of variety in the trails from easy to rugged and no bad choices of where to hike.

Kelly Cummings

Different levels of hiking trails for everyone! Devils punchbowl area was awesome! Even a pond where you fish or sit and admire the scenery!

Catherine White

Beautiful place to spend the day! They keep the trails nice and clean, the staff is very knowledgeable and friendly

Big Boneded

Definitely recommend! I had never been before, it's not terribly far to drive, the trail we did was very hikeable in my (not really a hiker and it shows) sneakers. There were a couple tricky spots- I opted to cross over a stream by walking the log that seemed to have been felled over it- which concerned my mates a bit. As we were hiking in, my shoes are breathable mesh, and my dry socks were in the car, it still seems the prudent choice 😅. Also there was a stairway along the path that was missing one step entirely, and as I stood on it to take some pictures, the one under me wobbled... so it may be missing more on my return 😳. The weather was amazing and we saw quite a few leashed dogs walking the paths with their people in tow. Parked near the picnic area, there's a modern restroom there. The pit toilets at the backpack camp were clean and supplied also. It was FULL for camping, probably because the weather was good. And also probably because of these reviews 🤣, I think I'm supposed to write- don't waste your time, it's just a mudpuddle, stay home- to keep the traffic down 🤣.

Sailor Traub

An amazing smaller park. Great for day hikes. Most trails are 1 mile or less round trip parking lot to river. Great for smaller kids bc you’re almost always abooot 1 mile or less from your car.

Caroline Bauserman

We took a beautiful day hike here with friends and it was so beautiful as you can see! We saw a lot of beautiful and diverse views, enjoyed exploring the river and had a great picnic for lunch. We will be going back! It's a short trip from Indianapolis as well..

Anastasia Cole

It was a nice secluded park and very close to Turkey Run, which is nice. The site we stayed at did have quite a bit of garbage in it, which was disappointing to see. Only one shower house but many vault toilets throughout. All the sites are non electric, so bring your portable chargers! Would return back for sure!

Cori Camp

This is an absolutely gorgeous gem in central Indiana. I ended up going here in accident when Turkey Run was closed for the day, and am so happy I did! Absolutely worth the trip!

Sagar Regmi

I loved camping here .What a perfect location! Also, there are a lot of hiking trails, which is good if you are planning to spend a couple of days in the park

Caitie Bolich

Beautiful state park! My daughter loved the 6 Ravine Challenge! A must go to park

Shanon FitzGerald

Shades State Park is a historic and beautiful public property with well-maintained hiking trails, significant elevation changes, fascinating rock formations, unusual waterfalls, old-growth forests and Sugar Creek, a wide and pleasant stream to dip your feet in on a hot day. Some of the "rugged" trails through the ravines can feature slippery wet rocks, moss, decaying logs, and mud, so be sure to bring sturdy footwear if you'll be doing those. Also note that those same rugged trails feature wooden ladders, making them impassable for those hiking with canine companions.

Bll Cain

There are almost no picnic tables. Fortunately I brought Little folding table stand and folding chair. Maps are not very descriptive, especially not showing differences in elevation. The trail down to the creek really is Rugged. Better to take stairs trail. Beautiful wading creek with people fishing and wading around. Lots of nice scenery Good program about history of Shades. Some trail stairs are closed and cause backtracking. Modern restrooms are too far from picnic area. This is a less visited park than Turkey Run so you won't see so many people. Some trails are steep. Inspiration Point is worth seeing. The park is out of the way and hard to access from southern cities. At entrance rangers stayed in their little shack and didn't engage much for greeting. All this reminded me why I never liked going there. Some signs are worth out and need replacing. I don't plan to go back anytime soon.

Smilinbluheart

We hiked the devils punch bowl area. There were a lot of steps up and down if you wanted to get to the bottom. The regular trail was a nice walk with a couple of great viewpoints. The park was not crowded when we were there.

Bryan Cole

Had a good first experience visiting shades upon arrival the first thing you notice is all the trees whiles driving towards the camping spots the spots are nice and shady there is only 1 shower house in the camp ground not very clean showers were kind of of nasty the camping spot we stayed at 13 was nice and big and also lots of trash left behind and other camping spots we walked around and looked at also had trash in them so anyways nice trails nice place to camp but dirty so if you go to shades state park do like we did leave your spot better then you found it happy camping...... PS raccoons are bad there

Cheryl Shore

Wonderful vistas on a sunny fall day. Few other visitors this Friday. A serene and sunny day to hike.

Corbin Prows

Great hike. We loved completing the 6 Ravine Challenge. Another state park challenge down. It was challenging but not impossible. After a big rain there were some downed trees and plenty of mud but if prepared you will be fine. Much easier during dry seasons.

Jenifer Stacy

Shades state park was so beautiful. My fiance and I enjoyed walking the trails and watching the little waterfall. I have to stay the people that was there hiking also was very polite. There was no trash that I seen anywhere and if there was, hikers would pick it up and put it in their bags. This is definitely a park i would go back to for sure.

brandon stockton

Shades offers many trails. Anywhere from easy walking to what I would say is moderately rugged. Some trails go through creeks too! They do have camping and firewood available on site. This isn't far from Turkey Run State Park. Maybe a 15 minute drive? This was basically a backyard for me and have grown up going there. One of my favorite spots in indiana.

H. Anne Weiss

Shades SP came recommended from a friend and I am so glad we went. The kids (7 and 9 at the time) loved the rugged trails (#4 and #5) plus the natural beauties that are the Devil's Punchbowl and other topography and creeks in the park. Will be going back to do some fishing and more hiking for sure.

Becky Thacker

Even in a drought year with creek low and leaves dry, this is still a good place for a trek. We must get an earlier start next time so we can do some longer trails. "Lover's Leap" is shivery high and a fine view across Sugar Creek.

Prithvi Patel

I loved this state park. It was very peaceful, not crowded like Turkey Tun. We were able to hike trails 4,5,7, and 8 in 3 hours.

Vipul Patel

Shades state park is obscured due to its vicinity to its more popular sister state park, Turkey run. But still Shades state park boasts some of the best rugged trails which are chock full of beautiful vistas and views. It's must for all hikers and those who love nature in its most original forms.

Ashley Marzolf

Even on the nicest day of the year, it was not too busy! It has incredible views and a good mix or rugged and moderate trails. I would highly reccomend it. We saw lots of dogs there as well, but some trails did have ladders so not all would be suitable for them.

Jim Lahr

This is one of my favorite state parks! The geological formations are phenomenal. My favorite times to hike here are in the fall with full colors and in the winter after a snowfall. They have trails for any skill level from easy to rugged and it only takes an hour or two to do any one trail.

Amanda Monahan

Amazing less traveled state park. We love hiking here.

Josh

Went to shades for the day. I did the back packing /canoe camp trail. It was not busy at all and I think I only came across a few people along the whole trail. The trail was nicely maintained, and had a few small water crossings and a few wooden staircases. Devil's backbone trail is another great one. A little more rugged but has some great views and features.

Charlie Michalski

80% of campsite spot 40 in the family campgrounds was paved. There was hardly enough “dirt” to put our 5 person tent on and just behind the dirt along the tree line was riddled with thorns. The restrooms are right behind this campsite and there were a lot of people trying to walk through our campsite only because the paved path from the restrooms leads directly to the backside of spot 40. Raccoons run pretty rampant through the campgrounds at night, so be weary of leaving your cooler or food in reach of critters. The campgrounds were pretty clean but the restrooms on site were pretty gross also with no soap in the dispensers at the faucets. Other than that, the park was great, very pretty views, trails were a lot of fun, super shady, and nice and cool down in the ravine.

Stephanie Rose

I enjoy frequent hikes at Shades with family & friends. This place is a hidden gem. I feel like I have been transported from the prairies and cornfields to a rugged fairy land. Our favorite trail is the Devil's Punchbowl (Trail 1). A close second is Trail 4. Check out Shades! You will not be disappointed.

Ki Ki

We camped here for 2 nights and everything and everyone was nice. On our first day we went kayaking which was fun and our second day we went hiking. The hikes here are great and so beautiful. Surprisingly even though we were here in may there weren’t that many people around on the trails. I definitely recommend trail 2 as it is super beautiful but the terrain is more challenging. But no to worry as there are many trails, long and short. I would come back here again 5/5

mandy dale

What is there not to enjoy about Shades? Quieter, less crowded, fantastic trails, scenic, clean.

Justin Park

The trails and ravines were beautiful and peaceful and a bit more challenging than the trails at turkey run but in the best ways. At less than 15 minutes away from turkey run state park, it's definitely worth checking out. Plus, you can take advantage of the same day entry and only have to pay one entry fee to access both parks!

Christopher Braun

Very interesting trails and lack of service make it much easier to understand stand the beauty of nature, also lots of cool spiders.

Demetrio Olivares

Nice place to walk around, and hike with your family or friends.

Jessie Toepp

Clean, friendly, beautiful, so many unique features you can't find at other parks. Youth camp grounds were super spacious for our girl scouts!

Taylor Lewis

Very cool place to hike! Great weather today (sunny and cool), with fall leaves still on the trees. Wish we were there longer to hike all the trails... so I guess this means we'll just have to come back again!

Jenn S

My fave state park ❤️ although there were several stairs out and in need of repair - Nov 2022

Nicole Wisniewski

Nice camp sites. Bathrooms could use some love. No shower curtains or hand soap.

Christina Demoret

Beautiful, serene park with a great variety of trails. Our local Scouts love coming here to either the Youth tent campgrounds or Backpackers camping. Plenty of Restrooms, Shelters, outdoor grills, picnic tables, and playgrounds throughout the park. And don't forget to make the trip to Pine Hills!

Mariano

This was a great state park that is right next to Turkey Run, not also a little less busy. There is a wide variety of trails to choose from for ever type of hiker that comes through. The landscape is also very unique and is fun to hike through.

Artie McFly

Awesome trails at Shades especially #4 & #5 which have rugged ravines to hike through. Trail 10 takes you to Pine Hills nature preserve which had amazing views. Get the map for the Nature Preserve when you arrive because its not on the main one.

J M

great trails. One of Indiana's best parks. July 2022. Major raccoon over population problem in the campground. Every campsite got harassed most of the evenings we were there

Emil Fournier

Great hiking trails.beautiful nature.

Alison McCune

My favorite local park. Awesome trails, and great camping spots for tent campers. Paved level lots are also great for shorter length, low hight trailers. Perfect park for pop-up campers. No electric but there are water faucets, dump station, and a shower house. Devil's backbone is a must see.

Elijah Wasson

The campsites are too close and open to each other and need some maintenance, but overall, we had a pretty nice time. The hiking trails are especially nice. We always have fun walking up and down the creek beds looking for geodes.

Tyson Kunz

This is our second time visiting. The park is well taken care of and the trails are clearly marked. Our family loved it.

Madeline Roberts

One of my favorite IN state parks! It’s not as busy as Turkey Run and has a lot of amazing geology and rugged trails.

Tucker

One of the better state parks for Indiana if you like hiking in tough cool places! Trail 2 here at shades is especially neat. It’s a good hike on a creek bed leading to Sugar Creek. Lots of stairs though. Totally with the visit!

jw hibner

This little gem is tucked away close to the more popular Turkey Run. Its quiet ravines and babbling springs make it my favorite state park in Indiana. Always clean and rarely crowded, it has a handful of moderate to rough tails that provide a restful but tiring day in the beautiful Hoosier outdoors.

Cat

Love the backpack camp!! It has picnic tables, pit toilets, running water, and firewood brought daily. Just a short walk down to Sugar Creek and you can watch the sunset from the canoe camp.

Amilee Fugate

An amazing and beautiful place for hiking we did see 1 snake so just keep your eyes open of course but that's with any outdoors hiking really. The bathroom facilities were clean and stocked while we were there I can't wait to go back and camp

Lyne Budny

The trails were absolutely beautiful! We hiked about 1/2 mile on trail 2 to get to Sugar Creek for some fishing...bring the right kind of bait though...there were so many fish but we only caught 1 catfish.

Ben Smith

Such a great place to spend the day. Most trails are moderate, but rugged. Camping is primitive only, and the sites are very small.

Alisha Hanner

Hands down one of my favorite places to camp and hike! The stars at night were so visible and the trails were amazing to hike!

Josh Lunsford

We had a great time camping and hiking. Some of the trails were a bit challenging at times and we had to carry our 2 year old over a few obstacles. My kids loved walking the stream beds and climbing ladders into "caves".

Shawn Gerbers

A terrific place to hike and camp. Several of the trails have stairs or ladders which might make them difficult for some. There is a lot to see at Shades and nearby Pine Hill Nature Preserve. The views are stunning and unexpected in Indiana. The campground is nice and offers a good place to stay. If you can get a site in one of the loops instead of on the main road, you will be better off.

Alexandra Sanserino

Beautiful, quiet state park with gorgeous trails not far from Indy. We can't wait to get back!

Mark Williams

Excellent day hike. Logged 8 miles on the trails & loved it! Haven't been there in over two decades. Attempted the 6 Ravine Challenge, and came up short. I must of blew by the Frisz Ravine, and couldn't find the Red Fox Ravine sign to save me. I'll be back!

Ashley Wenzel

Went camping here over the summer and once again in the fall. I love this park! It’s peaceful and the campsites are nice. The hiking trails are a lot quieter and more private than Turkey Run. Love it.

Scott W.

Shades is not too far away from Turkey run state park. It has a lot of really nice trails and some beautiful landscape some very good roads to drive-through and if you take the Canoe trip or kayak trip dumb Sugar Creek you can see some of the beautiful bluffs. In the late summer/ early fall there are a lot of mushrooms growing all over the place.

Amie Schneider

A beautiful State Park. While Starved Rock is more well know, it's also more crowded. This is a great hidden gem! Be ready for a LOT of stairs and if willing some rugged trails with ladders and hiking stream beds. I highly recommend!

Matthew Watkins

It's amazing that we have a park like this so close to where I live. I'll have to come here more often. Beautiful trails, well maintained, good signage. I didn't see trash on the trails.

Sam

Great place to hike in Indiana! Great views... even in fall! Can't wait for next spring and then fall before all the leaves fall!

Isaac Peterson

Awesome!! First time there and hiked just about all the trails there! A little slick in spots. Check out my instagram @isaacpetersonstudio

Alex Tijunin

Beautiful park that's not too busy even on a holiday weekend. Camping was nice, there are quiet spots and some noisier ones but not like some of the busier parks. The trails are awesome, lots of time waking up and down creeks. Definitely recommend decent hiking boots, makes most trails pretty straightforward.

Jenni Hecht

Super fun park with rugged trails! A must do for your family!

Sarah G.

Awesome natural wonder, it had a great history. Hidden gem. You could do all the trails in one day if you plan it right<3

Josh Andrews

The 6 ravine challenge was a great hike - plus a few spectacular views. We will be back.

Braiden “Pulser” Smith

Always have a blast here. Grounds are well kept and the trails are great. Pay attention to your map. Its easy to get lost.

Maggi Simpson

Beautiful park. Well worth the annual membership to see the natural beauty of Indiana.

F. Shen

Great place for a weekend wind-down hike. The trails wasn’t crowded which is good for a quiet experience. Be careful the trails that goes through the hollows can get soggy and make your shoes wet during the summer seasons!

Michelle Stark

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 two trails were closed due to flooding but overall 5 stars for me and personally thought the trails we're great! …

Nakul Valsangkar

Great place to camp. The campgrounds are far apart from each other and have adequate separation. The hiking nearby is top class. I would read this is one of the best camping areas close to Indianapolis.

Rexford Ward

Amazing views of different rock formations, great hiking trails, and awesome camping spots. All that being said I have a couple of things. One, watch out when you are coming in to the park, and follow all speed limits, because when we visited, I saw multiple and various animals crossing during the day and at night. Please always be respectful of nature. Second, make sure to pack up everything tight, or even out of being in the open when you camp at night, due to the many smart and semi domesticated racoons that will roam around your campsite, if your camping that is. Third, I wouldn't advise camping during months of extreme heat, due to the amount of sweat you will shed, and everything will seem droll. The hiking trails are crazy awesome and long, so make sure you bring tons of water. It's a great experience mostly, when visiting during the right time of the year.

Jessica Groce

We visited Shade State Park and the Devil's Punch Bowl. We enjoyed our time here a lot

katie stemply

Beautiful scenery! Although, the trails are not for the weak! Seriously, use caution because most trails are very rugged & slick, but amazing views!

Derek Dailey

Best kept secret in Indiana. The trails are awesome and the crowds are sparse. It's a great place to get away for some scenic hiking.

Fred Welden

Take the stairs down into the gorge and hike along the bottom. The scenery is delightful.

Karen Brierley

Beautiful views of Indiana's unique landscape with rolling hills and standing timbers.

Robert Crabtree

Great park highly underated. Boon dock camping at it's finest. Beware of the raccoons they like food. Not u just your food

Guy Gresser

Shades of Death State Park is nice. The trails are shady, and not crowded. Low water levels now (June 18, 2020) and the creeks and waterfalls are sparse. Lots of stairs in trails, and some ladders. Visit Turkey Run Nature Center for map info for Shades

David Henk

Beautiful trails! We hiked through Devil's Punch bowl and up a creek to see falls. A little muddy since it rained, but made everything more beautiful!

Tina S

We were driving through Indiana from out of state and needed a place for the night. We were so lucky to stumble into Shades! Beautiful campsites, showers and nicely wooded, cool area all with NO bugs. (Racoons yes, bugs, no!!). It's a bit off the beaten path but most good things in life are! And did I mention the OUT of STATE cost was 17.00/night?! Nicely done Indiana! Thank you for the hospitality!

Christina Coon

Where are awesome place to stay and go hiking in the deep woods so many different ravines that go through and so many trails to hit. But so much fun to have at a place like this in Indiana

Melissa Akers

Love this place more than words can say. It was one of me and my husbands favorite places to go hiking and fossil hunting. I still come here to feel close to him since losing him to cancer in March of this year.

Robbie Bell

Hiked here with the Sloth Adventure Team from Atlanta, IL. It was BEAUTIFUL! The tougher trails we're just challenging enough to keep it interesting and the easy ones were a welcome relief afterwards.

Alex

In comparison to Turkey run - TR is better, in my opinion. Shades SP also has some nice trails with waterfalls and beautiful rugged terrain, but TR is like twice as impressive (and more crowded). I also recommend the Pine Hills Nature Preserve nearby!

Josh Fitzwater

Always a great time to get out in the wilderness and it's like a place was a bunch of hidden little treats

Eli Cantu

It was an amazing experience. There was a lot of breathtaking views small waterfalls. I recommend trails four and 5

Wendy Duggan

What an Incredible day of hiking here. Enjoy the moderate to harder trails. Lots of stairs and creek bed hiking.

Bruce Willis

Park map isn't detailed enough - had a bit of trouble finding the trails we wanted. We did trails 1, 6, & 2. You need to do trail 2 clockwise to avoid going UP a LOT of stairs. No one at the entry shack - just left our money in the door.

Scott Graf

Its gorgeous here. The trails offer a wide variety of difficulties so there is something for everyone. The punchbowl and the hike to maidenhair falls are not to be missed

Jim Duncan

Good camping,great hiking in many ravines that are beautiful in all 4 season.The best hike is in the nature preserve devil's backbone.lovers leap is the easiest trail with good view of sugar creek lots of picnic tables and shelter.(Campground closes in the winter)A lot of people camp here and canoe in sugar creek ..Drive back roads to turkey run state park see many Amish farmers.

GinaSueWho

The Shades is one of my happy places. It's gorgeous and peaceful. My dad took us as children and now we are taking ours to see the natural beauty Indiana has to offer in the gems that are our state parks. When you go, respect not only nature but your fellow hikers and campers. It's a more enjoyable experience for all.

Andrew Axsom

One of the most beautiful parks I've been to anywhere in the country. The trails could be marked better but you won't be disappointed with a day spent here.

Alex

We loved trail 4 & 5! We hiked it with a 4 and 7 year old and wife is 22 weeks pregnant and they did fine! Definitely a rugged trail though...

BRAD AUSTIN

Great place to hike. Just make sure you take the correct trails based on your abilities!

Brandee Beikman

Campground was family friendly. Scenery was amazing. Saw DNR several times as they checked on things.

Eric Turner

Beautiful hiking trails, ranging form easy to very rugged. Great family experience.

Mark Rodes

Nice trails. Place appears to lack Maintenance staff, broken things like bathroom faucet and wooden walk/stairs, however clean, no trashlaying around.

Karen Boruff

We loved our visit to Shades State Park, we highly recommend it!! The trails were beautiful, rugged but awesome!!

Bee Esch

The stairs to get to the reservation are killer but it's well worth it. One of my favorite places to go creekin! Trash is rarely seen and wildlife is abundant. Love Shades!! Although we passed by their horses last summer and they looked miserable, but hopefully we were just there at the wrong time and they're properly cared for!

Brian Hammett

Great hiking with a good mixture of easy and difficult trails for all hikers.

Welby Cox

Shades State Park Trail #2 Is A Challenging Hike In Indiana That Will Make Your Stomach Drop It’s no secret that Indiana is a beautiful state, but this gorgeous and moderately challenging trail takes the natural beauty to a whole new level. Shades State Park Trail #2 is a short but tough trek which will leave you breathless in the best possible way. Here’s what you need to know to tackle this stunning hike. Hiding in Shades State Park near Waveland, there’s a beautiful hiking trail that looks like something out of a storybook. Shades State Park Trail #2 is a charmingly challenging trail that strikes the perfect balance between effort and payoff. It’s only about two miles long, but requires some scrambling and careful footwork. The trail will guide you though jaw-dropping natural canyons and along trickling creek beds. You’ll want to wear sturdy shoes and prepare to get a bit damp. There are multiple flights of stairs and scrambling over wet rocks is unavoidable, but you’ll be rewarded with views of unique natural rock formations and fascinating plant life. When you reach the top of the ravine, you’ll be able to soak up views of the river below. There is a spot called Lovers Leap, and it’s well-worth photographing. Feel free to spread a picnic blanket and give your legs some needed rest. Some trails are best suited to adults, but kids can definitely enjoy much of the lower areas and will love crawling over the rocky terrain. Shades State Park Trail #2 is one of the prettiest and most satisfyingly challenging hikes in Indiana. To learn more about Shades State Park Trail #2, including more detailed hiking directions and a map of the trail route, take a look at the hike’s official All Trails listing. For more amazing hiking in Indiana, check out this article full of awesome trails that the whole family will love. This word of caution...this is really a work out and anyone with a serious health condition should consult a physician before tackling it. Address: 7751 S 890 W, Waveland, IN 47989, USA

Tricie

Beautiful camping and hiking is great and rugged! Saw huge, beautiful fungi growing on a log.

Mark Slone

Indiana's hidden gem, best state park for rugged trail hiking and the state's first nature preserve.

Dolly Llama

We enjoyed our camping experience. We enjoyed salmon and butternut squash on the grill our first night. Trails are phenomenal! Love trail 4 and 5!

Adelai Neal

Best state park in Indiana. It is beautiful during all seasons and the trails are well maintained

Donald Mansmann

Absolutely beautiful park. We went in November and the leaves were still very pretty. We hiked trails 1 and 2. They are rated as moderate to very rugged, I think. They proved very challenging. I believe they are both under 2 miles so they are each very doable in less than 2 hours. They both follow creek beds. Expect to get your shoes a little muddy. But, it is not too bad. There were a lot of steps on trail 2's boardwalk.

Don Michel Fall

Great place to hike, some areas might be too ragged to small children! But great fun adventures!

David Ernst

A very special place with some very special (and not very long) trails. The ravine trails are really fun, especially for any kids who are up for climbing ladders. The pine hills nature preserve has a lovely creek and some very striking rock formations formed by it over the centuries. The campground is great for tents (RVs will likely prefer nearby Turkey Run SP), facilities are well maintained. Remember to protect your food from raccoons!

Fritz Graf

Great place for hiking and camping. Tends to be less crowded than Turkey Run next door so its a little quieter. Great park!

Jones's Outdoor Adventures

Been going here since I was a young kid with my family its basically in r backyard! Made a bunch of memories. Beautiful!!! God's Beauty!!! The devils punchbowl and backbone r cool should of named them different though. Whoever named them were so immature and should of known better. Don't ever include the devil even in a name!

Tatyana Fedorikhina

Really beautiful nature trails, which are well marked. Lots of mosquitos, so come prepared.

Beth McCreary

Shades State Park is a wonderful place to visit for lower crowds. It's a rugged experience where you can feel like you are truly a part of nature. I highly recommend it for long hikes and communing with nature.

Kevin Rossie

Very similar to turkey run without the crowds

Gwen Stocker

Great trails and scenic views.

Andrea Joyner

Beautiful, great atmosphere. Restrooms are well interspersed but not everywhere.

Janelle Reese

Every bit as beautiful as Turkey Run State Park, but less known and therefore less traveled. I had no idea that places like this existed in Indiana, well worth the 2.5 hour drive for my family to spend the day hiking and picknicing. Just make sure you bring good walking shoes and a pack to carry water with you. All of our "short" hikes ended up taking hours because we just couldn't get enough of the scenery.

Brad Spayd

Beautiful scenery. Bring some good boots for the water trail but it is definitely worth it.

Tom Kixmiller

Turkey Run and Shades are excellent State Parks! Last night we went to the Star Party which just happened to coincide with the Perseids Meteor Shower and the Chinese Valentines. Aaron the Naturalist is the best! Knowledgeable about so many cool things and happy to teach. Trails at Shades a a good mix of easy to very rugged and the woods is full and beautiful.

Steve Van Beck

Nice place to hike both for beginners and the experienced trail master also good for groups. Trails can be a little confusing so be sure to take your compass or smart phone!

Paul Fiscus

Great place to camp hike and morel hunt

Justin Miceli

I always love coming here, it's such a beautiful place and it's an awesome hiking spot.

Jed Fuller

This is truly a gem in Indiana. People should come from all over the country to attend shades State Park. The devil's punchbowl is a really amazing natural feature. It's extremely friendly park for families and daytime outings.

Johnny Smith

Nice little park with challenging trails. Very clean and animal friendly.

toozinger

Great place for a walk in the woods. Restrooms open as of 5/24/2020. Many trails were muddy after the recent rains.

Kevin Vanosdol

Love Shades and the trails.

Rj

A very clean and serene place to hike and enjoy yourself! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 …

Thomas Black

This is a really nice park with a lot to see. I only stayed overnight so I didn't see all of it. I will definitely go back

D

Great place other than so many bugs which are flying into your face. Get prepared and guess that will help? Perspective point has a good vision and it has many ravines to travel into!

Ambyr Brosmer

Just as stunningly beautiful as Turkey Run! Very nice, well marked hiking trails. We very much enjoyed our day here.

Ziyad SM

Amazing park with beautiful hikes.

Chris Kerns

Perfect get away for a dad and daughter camp session. Felt a bit cramped and that's the only reason I gave it a 4 star. Enjoyed it!

Emily Creech

Very nice state park! Be ready for a LOT of stairs on at least one of the trails. I've been fairly inactive for several months, so the stairs about killed me lol. Other than that, it was great!

Tony

Our family (with dogs) enjoyed the trails here. Everything was clean and the trails were clear. Scenery is great, entering was fast and easy as expected. We hit some of the harder trails (number one & two) with our 4 year old son and 2 dogs. They seemed just about the right level of difficulty for us.

Kyle Cyr

Very beautiful park with amazing trails.

Cheryl Leimeister

The trails were well marked, the scenery beautiful, and the park/trails were maintained. I thoroughly enjoyed my walk at Shades and definitely will be back soon. I imagine it is an amazing place to enjoy a crisp fall walk and take in the foliage.

Jeanne Payton

This is a very pretty place. The camp sites are rather close. There isn't any electricity in the camp sites. The bathroom was decent. I was told it was the better of the options. I don't know what the others were like. The trails were the best. They have put a lot of work in building steps to get you to the scenic area. The trails are rated, from easy to very rugged. There isn't much else to do, so if you like hiking, its a great place to just hangout and relax.

Quincy Williams

There's cell phone service at the top of the staircase that leads down to trail 8 from the backpack camp east of the campground trail loop. Weather might affect this, as it was a clear day. Safe travels.

Traci West

Beautiful trails, not very many people even on a holiday weekend!

Nick Corduan

Beautiful park with some wonderful trails and a fantastic picnic area in the woods. The signs are good and pretty consistent, even deep on the trails. Do take care that you believe the rugged trails are going to be rugged, and some of the trail maintenance was a little behind on our recent visit, adding to the challenge. Not as crowded as nearby Turkey Run, but with plenty to enjoy.

Bob Richards

Great state park that is less crowded than Turkey Run. Trails 2 (very rugged) and 5 (rugged) are the best. Fine for kids. If you hike them clockwise, your return trip on each will be through a wet ravine, so wear boots/shoes you won't mind getting wet. Unless it rained the night before, nothing over ankle deep. No trash cans anywhere on site, so be prepared to carry your trash out. Bathrooms on site. Sufficient parking.

Kathi Davidson

What a great park! Since it's bit out of the way, it's less crowded, but just as fun as Turkey Run. We so enjoyed the Devil's Bowl and digging around for stacking rocks. Plenty of well maintained trails and a neat little campground. Sugar Creek was fun to wade in!

David Morgan

I love Shades SP. Streams, woods, and rock combine in ways here rarely seen anywhere in the world.

Greg Hayes

Never even knew about this place. Loved it. Great hiking and nice campground.

Jessica Velasquez

Great weekend get away even when raining

Trevor Dick

Really nice trails and pretty cool scenery. Definitely plan to come back when the weather cooperates.

Mike Keil

Great obstacle course style hikes!

Cynthia Wirick

Beautiful park, never heard of it, just stumbled across it and decided to check it out. Glad we did!

byron mccoy

If you like turkey run you will like shades. Just smaller with less crowd's

Jacob Payne

If you want peace and quiet in nature, it'll be perfect. Little to no phone service, rugged trails, minimal campsites. Tons of natural weathering

Larry Coleman

Nice place to take a hike. Easy to rugged trails.

Doug DeBarba jr

Amazing beautiful place a few people out but not to crowded.

Drew Nicholas

This is one of the best hiking spots and most beautiful parks I have found yet in Indiana. The trails are relatively short but have a great combination of scenic vantage points and the most rewarding rugged hiking up gorges in the stream beds. I highly recommend a pair of sturdy hiking boots or hiking sandals as there is plenty of mud and water on the fun, rugged portions of the trails. Their waterfalls and everything are spectacular, extremely well-built ladders to scale right alongside some of them and an abundance of breathtaking views. There is a wonderful little playground for children and plenty of spots to refill water bottles. The public restrooms were extremely well taken care of and all the facilities looked quite nice. I will certainly be visiting here again whenever I can! Update: winter is an amazing time to visit Shades! It'll take some equipment to be prepared but well worth it for the spectacular views and technical tracks.

Dan Jackson

Best state park in Indiana. No crowds. Clean. Spectacular.

Hannah Rose

Gorgeous, especially for an early morning hike

Erin Izzle

Love shades! Great hiking, fishing and camping! Never disappointed when I come here!!

Robert Wallace

We had a good time other than finding items that were put in our vehicles the evening before we were leaving outside of our vehicles and out of our camp alongside the main road by the dump station for RVs. How they got out of our vehicles when they were locked is beyond us. Paranormal?🤷‍♂️

Kristen Rew

Love this place more than Turkey Run, despite being smaller it is so much more intimate. And, in my opinion, the trails are so much more interesting. The rock and water features alone are so much fun and fascinating to hike. Went during Black Friday for #Optoutside with a bag for picking up trash along the way. But I was impressed to find the property was immaculate! Guests are courteous and staff are very attentive! Beautiful park and very well maintained.

Holly Faust

A lot less crowded than Turkey Run. Still has fun easy and fun challenging trails. Beautiful flora, fauna, geology and hydrology. Nice shelters. Access to Pine Hills NP. Clean and beautiful!!

Scott Sorrell

Great place to hike....has a few rugged trails

Casey Vlha

One of our favorite State Parks. The campground is super nice too!

Zach Baker

A beautiful place to hike. Leashed dogs are allowed.

Max Rheuble

Walking is fun, but when I go to a State Park or Forest, I want to run, jump, climb, and crawl. Shades has all of that and so much more. From climbing ladders to hopping down staggered shale creek beds, this park feels like an ADVENTURE. I was only able to hike half today, but I left feeling satisfied and sufficiently exhausted! I came on a cloudy Monday, and encountered very few other people, which for me is a big plus as I love to be alone with nature, and nearby Turkey Run can feel almost like Disneyland at times. Speaking of Turkey Run, admission to one park gets you into the other, too! Unfortunately, the general store was closed meaning there was nowhere to buy extra bottled water, so bring plenty!

Unksee

Really good state park and had a good time hiking (trail 5)

Matt Krack

Surprisingly rugged area tucked into west-central Indiana. Well worth the journey to check out and be ready to get a little wet along the trails!

Kevan Arden

Best State Park for hiking I've been to.

Tony DeAngelis

Great place! Friendly people and staff. Everything camping cam offer. The canoeing and Kayaking was a 12 mile blast! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Mike Bristol

If you've never been to Devil's Backbone, it's worth the hike! I'm not easily impressed and this took my breath away!

Samantha Welborn

Beautiful trails and rustic campsites. This is where we come for special occasions. It's gotten a little busier over the last couple years I assume bc Turkey Run is probably full but still our favorite.

Brian Getts

Beautiful trails! Couldn't cover it all in on day!

Nicholas John

Good place. If you are into backpacking and need a shakedown route, checkout the backpacking campground.

Josh's World

Wish we could've stayed longer to explore more. Beautiful park.

Phillip Hogan

The park is very cool, however people leave litter everywhere which really detracts from our visit. We would love to come again though.

Debora Swinford

Beautiful, and challenging trails, peaceful, and quiet. Visit this place if you want to find your center.

YURI PUERTO

Love this park. It is less busy than Turkey Run Park and trails are similar.

good fun

Great place to hike rugged trails through ravines and streams

Alan Young

Shades is on top of the list for Indiana State Park hiking!

Michael Lacey

The trails are fantastic. Plenty of family activities that are accessible for the little ones. The creek is gorgeous. The campgrounds are wonderful.

Gregg M (Nomad travel)

Camped here a few days in the truck camper, campsite was good bathroom,showers and water available, great hiking trails rated from easy to rugged or difficult , overall pretty decent Park

Bethany Hale

This park is beautiful! We have done trails 1,4,5 with our 4 kids ages 10mo-6yrs. The first half of the trails were basically just walking down a creek, so definitely wear appropriate shoes for that. The ladders were pretty cool to experience. Overall it is a nice place for some quick hiking.

Jason Kruse

Beautiful park, plenty of trails, each campsite felt spacious and separated. Tough not having a dumpster for trash, but we made it work. I wish the cutoff time for generators was earlier than 11pm, but far outweighed by all the positives.

Tabitha

Visited Shades State park in early spring. The trails were excellent, even our 6 and 8 year old were able to easily keep up. We completed trails 1,2, and 5. Played at a couple of playgrounds located throughout the park. Modern restrooms & picnic tables were also available. Lots of parking. Friendly park staff. $7 gate fee for Indiana residents cash or card accepted.

joshua dillard

Loved the trails clean lots of people were there and enjoying the outdoors have a lot of trails to follow through. Have grills all state parks do and restrooms are a toilet with hole in the ground so a little different for people that would be there first maybe experiencing that. But was very fun for me and the family.

Tiffony Sturgeon

It was beautiful, a little muddy today. But you'll have that with all the rain we've been getting. Will definitely be going back!

Micollette D

Very nice park. We only wish we had more time!

Anthony Sahm

Wonderful park with nice facilities. Took a few trails, eager to try fishing.

Gabe Vogelsong

Love camping here and then exploring the area. Not as busy as other parks in the area. Had most of the campground to ourselves during the week.

Diana Rutkowski

We visited during the first week of June 2020 and stayed 2 nights. The trails are wide and well-marked, and we only ran into a couple other people while hiking. Everything was very clean; we only saw a couple soda bottles (which we packed out). The ravines are beautiful, and my kiddos really enjoyed scrambling on the rocks. The campground has a LOT of raccoons, so be prepared to see them. You should also keep EVERYTHING except your sleeping gear in your car. I woke up several times to other campers yelling at the raccoons, but any issues could be easily avoided with proper precautions. It would probably have helped if the park staff had warned people upon check in, but aside from a faded sign posted near the bathroom, no mention was made of how to help avoid raccoon conflicts. The shower house wasn't the best... The drain in the women's shower was clogged, and the walls had quite a bit of mildew. Otherwise, everything was great. The pit toilets were remarkably clean and well-stocked with paper, and the campground itself was spotless. We had a great visit and will definitely be back!

Rachel B

We love Shades! My husband and I have been camping there for quite a while and love the better seclusion of the camp sites. The hiking is great! (Trails aren't always marked very clear though). This was our first time taking our kids with us and they loved it!

Susan Calow

This is a great hiking place. You will need nonslip water shoes for part of it.

Daniel Garrett

Love this park.. always have to do the challenge

Genevieve Deis

This place is gorgeous and a great place to camp.We will definitely go back soon and hike more trails!

Deborah Major

The hiking was wonderful and the greens of the plants and mosses was ethereal.

Janet Gruwell

This park is beautiful. We took four different trails (1, 4, 5, & 6) and each one was spectacular in its own way. I hope that anyone who visits it appreciates it and respects it so that it remains this beautiful.

David Boyd

A nice park to spend the day. Nice trails

David Estes

Kids loved the playground! Was not too busy and is very pretty

Monica Williams

The one and only reason I give 4 instead of 5 stars is because of the bathhouse. It really needed some attention other then that this is an awesome state park. I felt like a kid again playing in the ravines. Climbing over the rocks and fallen trees made hiking more challenging for me. I did the 6 ravine challenge and for me that was a major accomplishment. Can’t wait to go back and do it again.

Pam Stuck

Beautiful here. The grandkids did great on the rugged trails and the views were amazing. We felt like we were the only ones out hiking most of the time. Far less visitors than Turkey Run SP. Most of the campsites are surrounded by trees and brush which gives a feeling of seclusion. Very clean park as well. A great park if you truly want to get away from it all and take in pure nature. We love this place.

Antoinette Bankhead

Went camping here. It was fun! Bring OFF bug spray.

Patrick McCarel

Okay, it was hot as hell this weekend. Third time hiking this park though, and it is fantastic. Campsites are secluded and private, but keep in mind it is all primitive. There are modern restrooms and showers, and there is a small campstore with basic necessities. The trails are awesome if you are a hiker. Besides the 112 degree heat index this weekend, it was a great camping trip. Hiked to Sugar Creek and cooked off!

Annie M

My husband and I went here today our first time. We went to the devils punch bowl..... It's so beautiful!! God sure gave us a beautiful world and Shades has a lot to offer!! It costs $9 for out of state guests but that goes to keeping the park up etc which they sure do! The man working inside the building at the entrance was very knowledgeable and kind.

Sara Berghoff

Excellent hiking with a variety of difficulty. The campground is nice and shady with some space between sites. Shades is less crowded than its sister park, Turkey Run, but offers similar hiking experiences.

Ben Browning

Shades is amazing. Camped in early August 2019. Other campers were respectful. The campground is all non-electric but there are quite a few sites, the paved parking pads are nice, they strictly allow only 1 vehicle per campsite which keeps the campground from turning into a parking lot and they make it easy to park additional vehicles at the visitor parking lot, the shower house is very nice. The hiking was great and not crowded. I see why I have heard people say they like this park better than Turkey Run because the scenery and trails are just as good if not better and there are fewer people. It was sad to hear from a ranger that they are limited on funding - I wish they could get more to maintain the great features of this park!

Jim Johnson

Beautiful park with trails for every ability level.

Mike Condon

We had a great time today! Fun for the whole family!

Joel F

This is probably my new favorite State Park in Indiana! I had no idea this place even existed until one of my employees went hiking with their boyfriend. She showed me some pictures and talked about how nice it was. So it was a nice day so we headed the 1.25 hours west to Shades. When we arrived it literally is in the middle of nowhere. Not being there before we just followed the road until we found a good place to park with access to some of the trails. What I liked is this park is small enough that you can access every trail in the park from any place that you park. The trails here are rugged. Even the "easy" trail has some obstacles that you'll have to climb over. Trail 2 and trail 7 will have you walking through a creek. We hiked for 2.5 hours and only were able to complete trails 1, 2, 6, & 7 with partial completion of 9, & 10. A lot of the hills have stairs with places to sit along the way in case its a bit much for you. There are also picnic areas at the start of trails 2, 6, 9, & 10 as well as an area just before you begin all the other trails (1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & backpack). It is not as busy as nearby Turkey Run (which is amazing) and the trails and views are just as amazing. I want to go back very soon and complete all the trails that we didn't get a chance to this past visit. GO! HIKE! You won't be sad that you chose Shades State Park!

Garrett Veurink

Great spot for friends and some decent hiking!

Madison Carbray

The hiking trails are pretty cool here! I camped for 2 nights. The raccoons are pretty fearless here. Make sure to put your food and trash away before the sun goes down.

Ethan Fletcher

This is an awesome state park. I would assume that it's often overlooked due to how treacherous and yet short some of the trails are. Many of the most beautiful and scenic trails can be walked within a day however there are rugged. I don't think I would spend a weekend hiking here but it definitely would be a good day trip.

Karen Brierley

We had a good time walking the Pine Hill Nature Preserve Trail. There are places that need repair however the environment is delightful.

Meghna Roy Chowdhury

Nice getaway for a hike.

Kelli Velasquez

Had a wonderful time camping here over the weekend, and I already can't wait to go again! We hiked mostly moderate/ easy trails this time and went through the nearby nature preserve, but I am eager to head back and try the more rugged trails! A must-see for anyone in the Midwest who likes hiking and outdoor adventure.

Howdy Doody

Absolutely a beautiful place to hike!!

jeramie hardin

Maybe my favorite State Park in Indiana. Beautiful forests. Wonderful ravines. Never very crowded. We like to camp at the backpack camp. Short 2.5 mile hike and rarely full. Pine Hills Nature Preserve is a must if you visit Shades.

Brad Irvin

Beautiful park for hiking and the camp sites are much more wooded than most. Great if you have a hammock. The trails are beautiful and very easy, nothing too "technical" makes for nice relaxing day hikes.

Andrew Innes

A hidden gem near the more well known and popular Turkey Run. Shades has better camping for tenters with most spots nestled amongst large shade trees. There is no electric for RVs. The hiking is very scenic with many rugged trails leading through winding, narrow canyons and ravines. Easy access to nearby canoeing and tubing options.

Jim Boyd

Best of Indiana. Cool trails like Turkey Run. But a lot less crowded. Our 20 something loved it, being there for the first time. Very nice "tent camping" campgrounds. No electricity. But very well layed out campsites. Easy to get to and everything well marked. Has everything but a lake for boating.

Josh Brown

Beautiful little park.

Samantha Sparks

A hidden gem, and way less crowded than Turkey Run.

Usman Butt

My roommate and I went to Shades park for the camping and hiking experience and it was wonderful! Since we arrived without having made a reservation, There were a limited amount of camping spots available, but we still managed to find a decent spot. The other spots were also not bad, but a few were too conspicuously placed on the road whereas others were better shielded by brush and greenery. As for the trails, they were quite enjoyable. There were a handful to choose from and 2 or 3 of them were rated as "very rugged" and we enjoyed the challenges (descending/climbing ladders, jumping across stones to avoid water/mud, walking across logs, descending high ground, etc.) of these trails. We also visited the Pine Hills Preserve which had even more to offer with a different diversity of trees, trails, and scenic views. Overall, we'd highly recommend this place. The campgrounds are non-electric, but we saw that as a positive. It was an opportunity for us to disconnect from technology and soak in the greenery and night sky, which was full of stars!

Eileen Price

All non electric, small campsites. They are all about the same dize and all pretty much level. Its a tent type campground. Only saw 1 rv about 30 ft. Its nice and quiet due to the lack of rvs and generators. The trails are rugged and very beautiful. Most dipping and following small riverbeds. Lots of stairs on all trails. 4 stars because the sites are small and they are horribly marked.

Lawrence Dwyer

We camp here once a year with our big group of family and friends. We go with a group of 20+ and every kid and adult looks forward to this trip. We take trips every other weekend during the warmer months (April to September) to various parks across Indiana and Michigan, this one is always a group favorite with the hiking trails and the River. Highly recommended

Madison McConnell

Shades is great because it has some of the same terrain as Turkey Run but less busy which is nice. The trails were gorgeous and took you through rivers, some streams, and some mud - definitely wear the right shoes! Lots of lookout points which is great if you want some photos. A gorgeous park overall, I'm excited to go again! There is not a lot of bathrooms available in the park though near the parking lots so keep that in mind before a trip

D Sellers

Hidden gem. Great trails and surprising terrain

Beth Haven

We walked trail 1 and it was short but nice just wish it was marked better with more markers, kinda felt lost a lot.

Michelle Sweeny

Terrifying experience on the steep stairs with my one year old!!!. Grateful for a friend who helped me get safely to the bottom. There are not rails on some of the sides of the stairs which leaves it open with nothing for the little people to hold onto and nothing to prevent them from falling down a very steep hill. Was great for older kids though and the hike and the views were incredible

Rofaxen Egilson

This is my favorite park. You can camp here and they have great trails. A lot of them are pretty rugged too which I enjoy. It's a great place to take your family with great scenery and some cool gorges, waterfalls, and ravines. And the best part is it's less busy than other parks, so if you're trying to get away from everything and back to nature it's a good pick.

Tim Blackwell

It's like you're exploring Jurassic park... Without the dinosaurs, or other threats. And no scientists saying that you shouldn't be here... Unless of course you're doing something vial or not appropriate for your adventure.

Brian Libby

Amazing trails. Beautiful vistas.

Marty McMann

Extremely peaceful and has trails for all styles of hikers.

Daniel Cloninger

Great place for a relaxing day of hiking!

Kenneth McDaniel

It is a nice park but somebody needs to spend some money on the trails. It is bad that it costs $7.00 to get in the place and yet the trails are not maintained. For being "the state that works", the state sure isn't willing to hire anyone to work.

Brian Mikulski

I love this park! The trails are very unique some can be challenging for young kids but an awesome experience for sure. The campground is very private but make sure you keep your food locked up. The raccoons are pretty intense and will come right up and steal food without fear

Jerry Meyers

I think most people camp here and then go to turkey run. Shades is a great park on it's own. The campgrounds are maintained well. The whole park is.

Amanda Jarvis

Site 22 flooded around the firepit, and there's really no good place for a tent... Luckily, we had site 21 as well and put both tents on that site. It rained for about 18 hours straight one day we were there and site 21 held up really well.

Carol Thompson

Amazing park and not as crowded as Turkey Run

James Eaton

Very laid back and every time I’ve gone there hasn’t been a lot of people. Most of the trails are rather short so you can definitely bust the park out in a day but the trails are pleasant and somewhat challenging in a few spots. Definitely worth visiting if you’re within a few hour drive.

David Sudhop

Always well maintained. A great place to hike and enjoy nature.

Lee Powell

Always a good place to camp and walk trails.

Jingjing Liang

One of the most underappreciated state parks in IN. We love it!

Robert Schaper

Nice camping! Awesome place with great trails.

Carl Goff

Very beautiful and wonderful trails to hike.

Shari Burger

Beautiful Park! We hiked trail 7 and 8. Both trails gave a views of Sugar Creek. Park is two hours from us but already planning a trip back either in a few weeks or next Spring.

Math Jackson

Best State Park in Indiana!! I highly recommend

Dave Dufeau

peaceful and serene. zero cell phone reception..a nice off-grid getaway! the ranger and staff were very friendly and helpful.

Lila Kirkman

I've hiked a lot with my family but this one is quite unique. It has the best views and stories to be told here. Theres a canyon and it shocked us you could walk right in it no matter how scary it looked but taking a trip down that canyon means seeing waterfalls and even more beautiful things. There is too many things to look at on 1 trail we didnt even get to see everything! It was the toughest trip and those stairs did get us exhausted, especially with carrying a baby. I really wanted to go on trail 2 but its apparently too hard and contains a lot of climbing. So I wish they could do something to make it easier to go on that trail, I really wanted to see lovers leap but didnt. But we are for sure coming back. I want to get to see the full park and is a small challenge that dares you to walk over scary things that trigger you if afraid of Heights. But trust me if you did take those scary paths on the trail it's worth it, trust me. 😋

Kassidy Stewart

Always one of my favorite places to relax in nature and hike without a care in the world. I personally enjoy taking trail 1 barefoot and feeling the water, mud, and sand under my feet. It’s a refreshing change from your day to day life and work to go to Shades and let yourself be one with nature.

Andy Howard (ahow628)

In the half a dozen spots we've camped around Indiana, this is a definite favorite. It is close by Turkey Run, but doesn't have nearly the crowds. It is fairly small and you can easily hike the entire park in a weekend. We enjoyed the programming for the kids which discussed fireflies and plants. We definitely will be back.

Jerri Jabaay

Absolutely beautiful and amazing park!! Some natural formations that truly leave you speechless. Trails range in length and difficulty so there is truly something for everyone. If you haven't been, you should visit- it certainly helps you appreciate some of the beauty in Indiana.

Vincent Schurger

Shades had a lot of hidden gems to find (small falls, walkable creek beds, rock outcroppings, etc. ). All the paths we took (1,2, and 6) were all pretty rugged, but what you could see was worth it. 1 and six were not bad, but they had a lot of stairs. It wasn't a problem, but it was a workout. Our only complaint was that the trails and the map didn't always line up. There was some difficulty to telling which way to go. Some paths were not labeled or not labeled clear to the map. You will not get lost, but it is a tad frustrating. If you want Turkey Run without the larger crowds, this is your excursion. We had lots of good hiking and tired bodies when we finished our day trip.

Michael Lakin

Great park. Beautiful scenery. Good park to take the kids to.

Betsy Blair

The 'backpack trail' is a great 2 to 3 hour hike. If you are counting steps, it is about 17,000 steps out to the canoe campground, and back to the main parking lot. We always see a few wonders of nature along the way!

Brandon Signorino

Camping here is always great. The campsites are nice and relatively private, and the hiking is always beautiful. You have to seek out the Devil's Punchbowl on one of the trails! The one criticism I would offer is that the modern restrooms are not maintained very well... the toilets are always very dirty and the showers usually are too. The toilet seats are always about to fall off as well.

Elizabeth Chappell

Fun to hike! Huge trees, clean surroundings. Was my first time there. Alot of shade on the trails so wear light clothes in the summer. Wear adequate shoes as some trails have water running thru them. Bring a camera!

Brad Knutti

One of the most beautiful and scenic State Parks in Indiana. Great place to spend a day!

kyleitis

The best in indiana. Yes, Ciffty falls etc... might have deeper canyons and landscape l, but Shades really has it all and it's not crazy crowded. Lots of room to explore. An amazing pines nature preserve and a backpacking trail which is hard to come by in Indiana now days

myron nolt

Rugged trails. Remote. A great variation to Indiana state park terrain.

Lance L.

Although not the biggest park, it is very pretty. Some of the trails are tough hikes with solid footing necessary because of the climbing needed up ladders or stairs.

Jeremy Swinford

Good rustic camping spot. But, compared to other Indiana State Parks very small and for being so small, not very well maintained. Bath house was very rough, not well stocked, and/or monitored. Trails were great, but not enough to make up for overall facilities. While we like feeling safe DNR were over patrolling the campgrounds. Not our favorite spot.

Kenneth Spivey

Very clean and beautiful park. We utilized a shelter for a family reunion and took all of the children on 2 different trails. Wonderful park to create lasting memories.

Jake Crippin

Shades is one of our area's best kept secrets. I kind of hate to give it the review it deserves for fear that it may become too popular and possibly ruin some of the awesomeness that my family has enjoyed for many years, but here it goes: One of the best things about Shades is its usual quietness. For most of the year there are relatively few visitors from day to day. During the Winter the park is free to enter. During the Summer the traffic does pick up, but most people come for the amazing campgrounds. I believe that most people are unaware of the complete natural beauty of the park. Shades is like a smaller version of the nearby Turkey Run State Park, but it has some of its own unique natural secrets. There are 9 trails that range from super-easy to very-difficult. No matter which one(s) you pick, you won't be disappointed. From its scenic overlooks to its deep gorges, any trail you pick will a good one. My top picks are: > Devil's Punch Bowl > Prospect Point > Devil's Backbone > Lovers' Leap > Honeycomb Rock

Matt Nielson

Fun state park. The ridge we went down was amazing.

Jason Hoggatt

Very pretty in late winter with some snow still on the ground. Good trails

Faisal

One of best parks in Indiana! It’s a great place to hike too.

Joshua Kelly

Great hikes, mostly moderate. Campgrounds arnt much to rave about, need some upkeep. No electrical/water hookups so no big campers just popups etc. Bugs were 5/10 not many skeeters

Troy Kennedy

Fun, small state park. Stopped here on a road trip, it was an interesting and beautiful place to find out in rural Indiana.

Aaron Scott

The camping was great because the areas are spread out enough that you get trees and bushes between sites. My one complaint is that the raccoons are so dependent on food scraps here, they boldly walked up to our campfire in broad daylight all day long. It was extremely unsettling having to deal with the raccoons constantly.

Brian C

One of my favorite parks in the state. Despite being in central Indiana, the scenery is varied and surprisingly not flat at parts. Super healthy park during the summer months, and pretty leaves once October hits. Be sure to check out the nearby but technically separate Pine Hill Nature Preserve that includes the Devil's Backbone.

Nina Herald

Beautiful place the trails are the best

Matthew Long (Ryan Bayless)

Shades State Park was a wonderful experience. We made the 3 hour drive to Shades State Park on the first Snow of 2019 about 8 inches or so. We got the pleasure of being the first hikers on the trails. The Snowy untouched trails where beautiful nothing like it. Our 13 year old that was with us had a blast running down the untouched snowy trails. When we got to Sugar Creek we encountered 2 bald eagles one with a white head another youngster. The 3 of us walked up and down Sugar Creek looking for Indian beads. We found enough to make a good neckle for our 13 year old. Trail 2 was down from a tree that took out some steps it that was ok. Plenty of other good trails to take like 4 and trail 5. The roads and parking lots where cleared of snow for easy safe traveling around the park even with the government shutdown. The bathrooms where clean and had toilet paper. Maps of the park where located at the front entrance at the guard shack also had maps for the.reserve next to Shades State Park. My family for years put Shades State Park in the top 3 BEST parks in Indiana. Hope you get a chance to see some of Indianas best landscapes. If you are not sure Shades is for you it it's just come see for yourself.

Luke Austin Daugherty

Great variety of trails, camp sites with good fire rings with swivel grate, any wasn't crowded when we went. Waveland isn't far away of you need to hit a gas station, etc. It's also a fun place to go bikepacking to!

Ray FIZZLE

Beautiful quiet state park. Turkey Run may get all the action but we had a great time on the hiking trails and the kids had a ton of fun exploring the running creek and all the wildlife in it.

mike snyder

Great park. We went to Pine Hills Nature Preserve as well. It is connected to the state park.

Aubrey Sherman

My mom and I went for a nice Sunday hike with my puppy. I don't remember exactly what trails we hiked, but the map was fairly accurate as far as the types of obstacles you would come across/difficulty level. Some of the staircases were in bad shape or under construction which called for extra caution. I was glad to see the water was running through the creek bed of the trails that we were on. The mosquitos were a little heavy, but the shade from the trees was nice. As the name suggests, yes, it is very shady :)

David LaMere

Trails could be marked a little better. But overall a great hike. Can't wait to go again

Jeffery Nielsen

Great state park that is just as beautiful as turkey run. The devil's bowl is just as pretty and way less busy.

Sidney Thompson

This place is severely under rated. We camped here, and hiked a few of the trails. It's absolutely beautiful, quite, and not that many people on the trails.

L Harris

Quiet, dog-friendly campsites and trails. Lots of tent-campers. Clean restrooms and showers.

Kris Pickelheimer

This is a great little state park just a few miles away from Turkey Run. The scenery along the trails here has been my favorite of the few state parks I've hiked through this year. Some of the trails are shorter but several of them are interconnected if you want to cover more ground.

QingYing Zheng

First time I went alone, didn't explore much trails so I thought this park is alright. Went there the second time with friends and have to say this park is awesome, especially trail 4 "Rugged Section", it is super great! Recommended if you like beautiful landscapes and cool trails!

brent ford

I love Shades SP, but as we're getting older, it's getting a bit tougher to get back up some of the trails. A simple suggestion to keep some of us hiking a bit longer... Place some cut tree stumps at intervals here and there to let folks sit down and catch a breather. I grew up frequenting this park and want to be able keep going. Lol Great park folks 😀

Indy Whitings

We have been camping at several parks in Indiana and Shades is definitely top three for sure. (We also love Clifty Falls and Yellowwood State forest.) We prefer the non-electric and camping where it isn't all rv's and shades is perfect for this. Several of the hikes are great even for little kids or strollers. Wonderful views and amazing rock formations. If you haven't been to Turkey Run, you should definitely go hiking there too as it is very close and the hiking there is also spectacular, but I would definitely stay and camp at shades. The campsites are much more private and nicer than at Turkey Run. Overall wonderful state park.

Jael Osorio

Great place to hike. There is great views , the kids loved and they were able to go into the water. The park was not so busy wich is another huge plus!!!

Kurt Beard

Took trail 4 backwards to start with the rugged and then return in the moderate. The rugged straight down a ravine with ladders and steps. Most of the hike was in shake water and mud which made it tough on my young kids. We then hiked the Devil's Punch Bowl to the waterfall. This was a much easier rugged hike. The descent into the ravine was by stair and the ravine much wider. Shades State Park is the rugged version of Turkey Run and should be a must do for anyone who likes adventure.

Adam

Get away from it all 1800s Indiana style. This is a fun place to visit and hike around the trails. Lots of wood steps in the really tricky areas make it accessable. See the devil's punchbowl and multiple ravines and imagine what it would be like to find these places 200 years ago when there weren't steps parking lots roads or even trails. It's rugged and beautiful. They even have displays that state that Indiana was mostly forests and prairies until the early 1800s when settlers rapidly cleared and drained the land for farming. Also you probably won't have ANY cell service. Internet or phone calls. It's weird these days but you get used to it and you can still take pictures.

Matt LeClaire

Best trails near Indianapolis, along with Turkey Run!

Sean McNemar

Great camping spot with excellent hiking trails. The cicadas were present and, for me at least, were a great unique ambience unique to regional North America.

Lucinda Dunbar

Great hiking. Shorter trails than Turkey Run if you want shorter hikes but just as fun, adventurous, and beautiful.

Drîp_Ghøst

This place was sooo amazing! I will definetely come here again. We are gonna stay here for another night (when I said this). It was hot, but shady at spots. On our 3rd day(today for me), we were almost the only ones here! I love how Turkey Run is nearby, so we went to their pool. But when we came back, there was no one at the check-in/check-out, so we just passed by. We were in Raccoon Run, and we would always see raccoons. I would really recommend this camping place!

Matt Fowler

Beautiful park, trails are pretty well marked and maintained, and not overly crowded at any time!

Becky Hibbard

Shades is a beautiful park with really nice trails..be prepared when they say difficult your gonna get dirty and climb through creek beds etc but very worth it! One of the less visited patks.so never overly crowded definatley very overlooked by the public!

Tyrants ForGITMO

I've been going to this campground for 20+ years and every year I'm faced with a new reason why I love coming. My aunts and uncles ashes are both dumped here on trail 2, otherwise known as lovers leap. The park in general is primitive so if you're not one that likes nature and believes in the true meaning of camping, then this place is probably not for you.

Josh Blankenship

I'm not going to lie, this is where I go to find myself. It frees my mind, and is one of my absolute favorite places to visit. I bring my boy (dog) down here almost every weekend.

john shields

This park is awesome! Turkey Run gets all the press, but this park is just as amazing. The Devil's Punch Bowl canyon along Trail 1 is amazing!

Chad Cluver

Beautiful trails and sights to see.

Jenny Rae Redd

So clean and beautiful.

Shorty L Estrada

Somewhat private camp sites, but really nice trails and hiking areas. They didn't have firewood this trip, but small ice bags yes. so plan accordingly.

Anthony Wilson

Nice trails, some are longer then others. Some are more beaten and visible then others. Trails can you some adventure between trail marker on a casual brisk hike. I would recommend for the casual hiker.

Stacy Corwin

This is one of my family's favorite places to hike. With trails ranging from easy to rugged, it's perfect. The scenery is beautiful and the park is filled with points of interest that are breath-taking.

Zac Hawkins

Updates on conditions of trails are accurate. There were signs posted that certain trails were closed, we ignored them, and ended up wading through water and climbing over fallen trees.

Jay Young

Not bad. The camping sites are shaded with plenty of room there are no electric sights so it cuts down on heavy noise and it's nice to get people back to talking and playing games not sitting on a phone or t.v. the only reason I didnt give this place 5 stars is the bathrooms the floors were flooded the toilets were gross and the shower had 2 inches of standing water in it. Other than that. Good place to camp.

Sean's Stuff

Great place to camp and go hiking. Very close to Turkey Run state park, which is also nice to hike. Shades is a lot less busy, which is why I enjoy it more.

Brooke Woody

Great for the whole family. Variety of trails.

Brandi Ireland

Great trails and views. Wish it was closer to where I live.

William Templeton

This is an excellent place for a hike, picnic, camping or other outdoor activity. There is a wide variety of trails, some more challenging than others. The primitive camping section offers great star gazing.

Andrea Fee

I loved my camping in Shades! Not busy, easy to get to, very clean, lots of nice and clean facilities and AMAZING hiking. I will definitely be back. Was definitely a little gem I did not expect to find

EZ Milton

Very nice campground and hiking. But not sure why people bring their RVs to primitive campsites and run their generators all weekend. Hmmmm

None None

Give it a 4 as one that have been the most fun in indiana. I've done 80% of the trails in the Smokey mountains and most of the Hoosier national parks. Shades is one of those few that people don't go to. Turkey run is more popular, but Shades is more fun to me. I've also done all of the Pinhoti in Alabama.

Habib Alavi

Great place to visit and hike and enjoy

Cody Thrasher

What a great hike. Very secluded and beautiful

Anthony Louk

Probably the most underrated State Park in Indiana. Great for hiking, biking, backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, camping, ect. My favorite all round State Park in the state of Indiana

James Sanders

Two hours walk in the woods the weather was perfect

T.J. berchtold

My family and I camp at the shades about 8 to 12 times per season! usually starting in april and camping into september. We are tent campers and prefer the shades due to the non-electric only sites! this is real camping not bringing your house with you. the campsites are second to none as far as cleanliness and privacy! most are surrounded by trees and bushes and there are only a few sites where you dont have almost total privacy! "as far as camping privacy goes anyway" the park is amazing! great scenery and 90% of the trails are amazingly groomed! we have taken a stroller on probably 75% of them with no problem. sugar creek is a great swim hole in the summertime "take trail 4 straight to the creek" just dont be boisterous about it the map actually says swimming is off limits but it really isnt! weve been given the ok from a local game warden more than once as they sometimes patrol the trails. the park in recent years has gotten a regular patrol from wardens that has helped keep the "riff-raff" out and it has turned back into an amazing family camping park!

Chris Curiel

First time to Shades. I camped at the hike in camp sites. Took us about an hour to get there and could not have been happier with the experience. Great opportunity to shakedown new gear.

Cindi Hagan

Been hiking here for many years. Just a beautiful area to get away even if you're camping and hiking or canoeing.

Spencer

The backbones are by far the most scenic spots and are in the pine hills nature preserve. Be sure to look up maps before you go because there are none given in the park or at the trail head of that part of the park.

Chris Cronk

Went early in the season. Had no troubke finding parking close to all the trails. Only draw back was that the modern bathrooms weren't open yet. No sign of outhouse bathrooms either. Trails are beautiful but some structures are in need of repair.

Eryn Ramey

Great little escape for a day trip! Very pretty park with a nice little fishing pond and lots of picnic spots with very close parking. It is a small park, but beautiful!

Shawn Sullivan

Very nice and clean and pretty park, the camp sites look like they're great for primitive, tent camping or small RVing. I haven't hiked it yet but I hope to soon

David Riggleman

Amazing beauty without the crowds of nearby Turkey Run State Park. Make sure to check out the Pine Hills Nature Preserve as it is definitely a less visited hidden gem with unique rock features.

Olivia Lindsey

There are some pretty fun hiking trails but they can all be done in about 5 hours. Campsite were a bit small but we're clean. Bathrooms were really unkept.

Justin Conner

Great camping and great hiking

Tim

Great scenery! Good mix of trail difficulty. Trails are good for novice hikers as well as experienced. Great place for a family outing and picnic.

Fred Carl Mindach II

Shades State Park is so beautiful, it is breathtaking. As a boy, my dad, brother and I fished in Sugar Creek. I love this creek. I was the first person, at age 8, to catch a Northern Pike out of Sugar Creek. I thought it was a monster of some sort.

Jeremy Prewitt

Shades State Park is an Indiana treasure and one of my favorite places to camp and hike. But all of the camp sites are primitive so if you need electricity go to Turkey Run down the road.

Jared Wuerzburger

One of the largest State Parks in the state of Indiana. The hikes are filled with luscious greenery, and well-kept trails. Don't forget to canoe down Sugar Creek!

nightdemon_gaming 1

We love hiking at shades! There are trails for all levels of hiker. This particular trip we did their first ever moonlight hike. It was fantastic!!

sergio sanchez

God's creation is always a beauty 👍👍👍👍 …

Val Vincent

Great hiking trails. Does get a bit slippery on rainy days. Make sure your shoes have traction.

Kyle Doles

Such an underrated park. It's like Turkey Run, but with no crowds. Beautiful canyons, waterfall, and creek. We love it here and come back as often as we can.

Justin Long

Great park! The hiking can be ruff with small kiddos but well worth the trip. Lots of natural water features and rock quarrys to boot!

Chris Bailey

This park is beautiful with a river next door.

Deeanna Harris

Definitely worth going to, but what I really didn’t find on the internet was the stories/legend of the park. It says that a few murders happened at this park around the 1800s and it has several beliefs of superstitious activity. We went to the lovers leap, where it is a legend of lovers had jumped to thier death, while it was a beautiful spot on a nice drop off, it got scary real quick. I would recommend being in that area in daylight. It was near dark when we were there and on our way back to the car from the lovers leap we heard a loud deep mans growl. We left as soon as that happened. It’s a beautiful area, but I believe in the paranormal activity that they claim now.

milo

Girl. Yo shoes raggedy. A great place, beautiful trails and wonderful views. A few stairs were broken, but, thats bound to happen on occasion.

Jenny Blocker

Favorite state park so far. Trails are beautiful and challenging at times! The nature preserve is full of beautiful things to photograph.

John Ooley

Went to Shades and took trail number 2. A very beautiful hike with a lot of stairs in parts. A very underrated park.

Todd Anderson

Love the creek hikes here

Bradley “Jack Jackson” Holmes

I've never been to Shades prior to this visit and had mostly visited neighboring Turkey Run and predominantly, I would have to say that I enjoyed Shades much better as the scenery is actually quite a bit more breathtaking and secluded.

Jerremy Jarvis

Great park, not tooo crowded. Trailmarkers and maps make it a little difficult to get around for a first timer.

Matt Britton

Great natural rock formations in the Pine Hills Nature Preserve. Can be busy on a Saturday with nice weather but is a little more off the beaten path than Turkey Run and just as great to explore.

Joe Kline

Great place for a family hike. Make sure to take extra shoes for the trip home if it has rained

Matt Green

Really enjoyed camping here. Everything was just as expected and the hiking was fun. Not too difficult, but a good easy relaxing weekend trip

Rachel Hunter

Favorite place to hike in Indiana.

Leslie Reeder III

Sister park to turkey run it provides beautiful views, waterfalls, canyons and multiple eye catching scenes!

Shirley Holycross

Awesome place! I did 2 trails, and came upon many beautiful views and waterfalls. I will return to check out the rest of the trails.

Dirk Tomandl

This park is a lesser known jewel close by the popular Turkey Run State Park. It is not overrun by visitors and wilder and more natural. I love it!

Baked Reef Aquaculture

One of the most beautiful places ive ever gone hiking, my wife, and I brought our 5 year old dog with us (they are welcome on a leash :) ) we had a wonderful time

Chelsea H

We loved hiking down into the ravines. Our kids did fine, but if someone can’t handle stairs, be careful.

Sayali Phatak

Trail 4!!! I covered only one trail..It's full of fun!!! Great get away place. I would recommend not to miss on this trail as it takes you to the most beautiful area at Sugar Creek!!!! :)

Susan Jordan

Good hiking trails.

Joey Repasky

Been going for 30+years. Great trails, some second to none. Great camping, even creekside canoe/backpack accessible camping. Excellent facilities. Will be going until I die 😀

Edi McGee

Great day hiking! Would recommend trails 2 and 10 if you're looking for something a bit more rugged.

Evan Munden

Trails were not marked the best, but it was beautiful and the campground amenities were nice. Smaller sites but friendly staff.

Grasshopper jumpalot

Please update Shades State Park info. If you camp here there is no showers but the site says there is so please be aware before you rent a camp site.

K N

We sat in salon but ordered off Hog pit menu. Due to food allergies my friend requested Cole slaw instead of chips. It was $2 for a small plastic container, my meal i had to ask for chips as they forgot them and just have me meat. Service was ok, food was unimpressive

Ryan Laughlin

Excellent hiking. May be the best hiking in the state. Beautiful Park that emerges spontaneously out of the surrounding corn fields. Hidden treasure of Indiana.

Flo G

Silver Falls, Devil's Punch Bowl, Prospectors Point. Great views and wonderful hikes. Beautiful scenery

Stan Kim

Great park, tough trails through ravines. Even saw a snake on the road that faculty was cleaning up. Beautiful nature.

Debra Champ

Wonderful park, all primitive sites! But watch the raccoons!

Barry Faust (BCFirestar)

Shades is great for an afternoon hike, or an all day adventure! Bring shoes for mud and a bottle for water. Better than Turkey Run!

Nancy Murphy

Beautiful park with great hikes. Close to Turkey Run with all the fun but not as crowded. A hidden gem!

Autumn Kelly

Very beautiful. Short but quite difficult hikes. I suggest it for anyone who wants more challenging hikes rather than someone starting out hiking.

Krista Larson

The trails are well kept and clear with the signs. It's a beautiful park.

Live Jay

I'd rather not comment on what a gem this place is, but I guess other citizens have a right to know. Strange rock canyons ✓ Amazing, wadable streams and rivers ✓ Beautiful forests ✓ Challenging hikes✓ Quiet(unless it does get found out)✓ Nicely kept✓ Just awesome✓

McComBees Apiaries

Tent campers paradise. Great trails with ladders.

Carrie Lape

Fun family weekend..did some of the trails... Beautiful scenery, relaxing..good accommodations at the campground too!

AJ S

Amazing place.

Green Giant

Winter hiking is dangerous, but beautiful. Fishing is also nice when its warm. We saw a huge gar in the creek.

Brian Bibb

I love hiking at this park. Trails 4 and 5 go up and down a few ravines which is rocky and wet. Both pluses for me when it comes to hiking!

Kristopher Barringer

Great trails to explore throughout. Awesome spot to utilize that state park pass at.

Ben Biddle

Not much to do besides camp and hike, my two favorite things! A couple of the trails are rugged, complete with ladders and creek walking. Go on a weekday for fewer crowds.

Brian McKee

I was blown away by the backbones, surprised this place is unheard of compared to Turkey Run.

Augustus Cooley

Loved it. Were a lot of other hickers but park didn't feel overcrowded. A lot of trail options and difficulties to satisfy your group.

Talia Stevens

Wonderful wooded camping area, a decent shower house, and some really neat hiking trails. Shades is our go-to state park for camping and hiking.

Rachel Rivera-Heckman

Beautiful trails.

Jennifer L. W. Fink

Excellent camping and hiking

David Perez

Very nice park. Not as many people compared to turkey run. Good for the whole family. Dog friendly , nice picnic area's.

Michelle

Great trails. Great scenery. It doesn't get enough recognition for how beautiful it is.

marcia fortune

A lot of rugged & beautiful trails. Bathrooms & running water available. Not as crowded as Turkey Run.

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