Indiana · best-of list
The 6 Best Outdoor Spots in Indiana
All 6 outdoor spots our route editors picked in Indiana, across 2 destinations, gathered in one list. 4 come with an insider tip, and 5 cost nothing to visit.
Our curated picks
6 outdoor spots in Indiana, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Broad Ripple 3 picks
Broad Ripple Park
Broad Ripple · On our Indianapolis New Year's Eve route
City park on the north bank of the White River with riverside paths and a view back toward the village.
Tip: Combine it with the Monon Trail for a loop of about two miles.
Holcomb Gardens
Broad Ripple · On our Indianapolis New Year's Eve route
Formal gardens and a canal-side lawn on the Butler University campus, a short drive south of the village.
Tip: Pair it with the towpath along the Central Canal, which runs right past the gardens.
Monon Trail
Broad Ripple · On our Indianapolis New Year's Eve route
Paved rail trail running through the middle of Broad Ripple, busy with walkers and runners on Jan 1.
Tip: Walk north from Broad Ripple Avenue over the White River for an easy out-and-back.
Indiana Dunes 3 picks
Dune Succession Trail
Indiana Dunes · On our Indiana & Ohio City-Nature Loop route
Boardwalk and stair climb showing beach-to-forest dune stages, starting at West Beach.
Photo: Marianne C · Google
Great Marsh Trail
Indiana Dunes · On our Indiana & Ohio City-Nature Loop route
Flat loop through restored wetlands, good for birding.
Photo: Harriet Neubert (Harriet Glenn Elea) · Google
West Beach
Indiana Dunes · On our Indiana & Ohio City-Nature Loop route
Lifeguarded national park beach with views of the Chicago skyline across Lake Michigan.
Tip: Parking fee in summer; arrive early on hot weekends.
Photo: Caroline Halliday · Google
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the outdoor spots in Indiana?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 6 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Indiana has the most outdoor spots on this list?
Broad Ripple and Indiana Dunes lead with 3 each; the other picks are spread across 0 more destinations.
Are any of these free?
5 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: Broad Ripple Park, Holcomb Gardens, Monon Trail, Dune Succession Trail and Great Marsh Trail. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for Indiana
Best outdoor spots nearby
Destinations on this list
- Broad Ripple 3 on this list
- Indiana Dunes 3 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.