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Hiking Indiana State Parks - Central Plain - Mounds State park
by Michael Doyle

Indiana is state filled with hills, flat spaces, lakes, 
streams, rivers and the setting of Hoosier dreams within 
woodland borders. The human eye can easily determine 
these aspects.  But what takes a little research to find 
out is that the naturalist John Muir had his beginnings 
in this state.  Therein is just another tie in as to what 
brought me to this interesting state.  John Muir began 
his journey on foot to California following an accident 
in Indianapolis, Indiana.  I began my journey from 
California in an SUV in 2004 and have remained here 
despite setbacks to be remain with my daughters as they 
lived their childhoods and now live their teen years and 
more rapidly than I'd like are becoming adults about to 
live their own sets of adventures.

Beyond the steel mills, Indianapolis 500, and farmland, 
are Indiana's natural treasures remaining to be known 
and explored. The state's borders have literally been shaped 
by nature from Lake Michigan to the North and west, to 
being bottomed out by the Ohio River, to the Wabash River 
firming up the lower western border, all of Indiana is 
marked by a blend of nature and civilization in every 
section. Throughout all of this are a myriad of trails to 
be walked and from which much can be learned. From these 
trails much can be learned about ecology, geology, and 
human history calls out to be learned from and embraced.

The Central Plain Region:  

This Sunday after church, we began our exploration in the 
area we live in, the Central Plain. This is the largest 
region within Indiana. It is the area of rolling plains 
and farmland that gives the world the wrong impression 
that Indiana is a featureless state filled with flatlands. 
Three distinct areas belie this misconception by being 
filled with deep ravines, canyons, flowing waters, and 
the lush vegetation that still lingers on in such areas 
as Shades State Park, Turkey Run State Park, and the 
Pine Hills Nature Preserve. Even Indianapolis has its 
share of scenic beauty along Fall Creek and Eagle Creek 
Park. The sandstone deposits that remain as canyons 
and ravines are the remnant of the ancient Michigan 
River that has long faded before human history. 

Mounds State Park: 

Had we taken the originally planned easy loop 
hike of 1.5 miles, our hike would have lasted 
approximately an hour. Though I cannot speak for 
any other families, mine is not one that often 
ignores the impulse to explore and stretch 
beyond such plans. We arrived at the Visitor Center 
parking lot and immediately found the center was 
not open.  This is one of the smallest state parks 
at approximately 280 acres.  It is one of the most 
popular, too, possibly because of the ease of urge 
to ramble along the paths and trails and make 
one's own way. 




The extensive earthworks and ceremonial mounds 
dedicated to the Sun God and the Earth Mother, 
beckon the foot traveler onward and backward 
into the past. These mounds were built between 
160 BC and 50 AD by the Adena and Hopewell
peoples. The 120 feet around Great Mound has 
been subjected to archeological digs in the 
1960s that found home awls, ceremonial stone 
pipes, pottery shards, spear and arrow points, 
and a log tomb. None of which has revealed a 
great deal about these peoples who had once 
built a great and widespread culture across 
what is now the Midwest and Southern regions 
of the United States. 



Once the visitor center is left, an old settler 
home dating from 1819 is found and an easy path 
downward is found that leads down to the White 
River. 



From there easy trails lead to the Great Mound, 
and the Fiddleback, Woodland, and Formalhault 
Mounds. Although there is no evidence 
discovered yet of astronomical activity, 
the Fiddleback Mound, marks the spot where the 
sun sets on the Summer Solstice. 
















There is a winding walk along the bluff that 
overlooks the river. Further down the trail is 
a boardwalk.  We, of course, walked the wrong 
direction and combined Trail 1 with Trail 5 
and then cut across.  My guesstimate is that 
we walked approximately 3.5 miles instead of 
the 1.5 intended. 






There is a curious legend regarding little blue 
people.  As I recall, the visitor center had 
information about this legend.  However, the 
center was closed.  With the picnic tables 
there, and historical vantage point, I would 
recommend this as a worthwhile stop onward 
to other explorations.  Or as a way of 
killing time on a Sunday afternoon. 

(c) February 13, 2024   Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved