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GENERAL TOPICS => Adventure => Topic started by: Flyin6 on April 15, 2023, 08:48:08 PM

Title: Clifty Falls State Park
Post by: Flyin6 on April 15, 2023, 08:48:08 PM
Today we were in Indiana, near a really cool town of Madison. It is a picturesque mid-west old town frozen in time. I didn't see one fast food restaurant anywhere! The downtown district is fully restored 1930s-40's buildings, most sporting boutiques and restaurants. We sampled a couple.

The objective of this trip was to visit the expansive Clifty Falls. There is a "Big Clifty, a Small Clifty, " and a "Tunnel " along with dozens of other features and miles and miles of trails.

https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/parks-lakes/clifty-falls-state-park/
Title: Re: Clifty Falls State Park
Post by: Flyin6 on April 15, 2023, 08:50:59 PM
As usual we departed home in our Jeep and took the scenic drive which took us down the Ohio river, often right at river's edge. It is a fun drive, although not very fast. Picture a "Good country road."

The town was just so cool, so we hung around there for a couple of hours first.
Title: Re: Clifty Falls State Park
Post by: Flyin6 on April 15, 2023, 08:51:51 PM
The locals raved over this corner pizza place, so we selected it for lunch
Title: Re: Clifty Falls State Park
Post by: Flyin6 on April 15, 2023, 08:55:48 PM
Then we drove over to the park at near river level, then climbed hundreds of feet up into the overlooking hills. The park is formed where a couple of streams plummeting from maybe 400+ feet above the river, cut away the limestone forming narrow, very deep valleys. A complex trail system wanders all over the ridgeline and is borderline dangerous. Seriously, should you slip, you could free-fall for quite a distance.

Pictures just do not do justice to the scope and depth of the drop-offs
Title: Re: Clifty Falls State Park
Post by: Flyin6 on April 15, 2023, 08:57:42 PM
We did some poser shots...
Title: Re: Clifty Falls State Park
Post by: Flyin6 on April 15, 2023, 09:00:03 PM
Darn, a new camera and the same portrait/landscape problem.
Grrrrr....
Anyway, like I said cool trails were everywhere.
Title: Re: Clifty Falls State Park
Post by: Flyin6 on April 15, 2023, 09:00:43 PM
And then, there was this "Cake rock."
Title: Re: Clifty Falls State Park
Post by: Flyin6 on April 15, 2023, 09:02:21 PM
The trails went all over. We ended up doing 5.5 miles of up and down. My legs were burning! It was a great workout and perfect weather
Title: Re: Clifty Falls State Park
Post by: Flyin6 on April 15, 2023, 09:04:04 PM
Kathy had to negotiate a difficult 1/2" deep slow-moving stream.

I literally walked across it without getting wet. She is terrified by such things ;-)
Title: Re: Clifty Falls State Park
Post by: Flyin6 on April 15, 2023, 09:08:22 PM
The area of tunnel falls was equally impressive. So much exposed limestone!

We spent all day either hiking/ exploring/ looking and just having fun, including a late afternoon ice cream before departing.

On the drive home, we crossed over the Ohio river back into Kentucky and drove up along a lazy winding river road for miles. Our timing was perfect as the sun just ducked below the horizon as we pulled into the driveway.

I highly recommend this state park for a 1-2 day hiking adventure.
Title: Re: Clifty Falls State Park
Post by: stlaser on April 15, 2023, 09:09:45 PM
Being a former Hoosier of 37 years I have to say Indiana has some of the nicest state parks.
Title: Re: Clifty Falls State Park
Post by: Flyin6 on April 16, 2023, 01:09:57 PM
Being a former Hoosier of 37 years I have to say Indiana has some of the nicest state parks.
No argument from me!

Sean, have you visited Clifty Falls?
Title: Re: Clifty Falls State Park
Post by: oklawall on April 16, 2023, 02:28:50 PM
Being a former Hoosier of 37 years I have to say Indiana has some of the nicest state parks.
Also a Hoosier I will 2nd that and yes have been to thebtown and the state park

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