My Top Spring Spots in Indiana
(Where wildflowers, waterfalls, and adventure wake back up)
If you think spring in Indiana is just rain and mud puddles, you’re missing the good stuff. More than a pit stop between winter gloom and summer heat, this season is full-on reawakening. Waterfalls roar, trails come alive, and the forests feel like they are shaking off winter’s dust.
Here are three of my favorite spots to watch Indiana wake up.
Brown County State Park: Spring’s Grand Entrance
If Indiana had a front porch to show off for springtime visitors, Brown County State Park would be it. Pink eastern redbuds glow in the woods like neon signs, dogwood blossoms flicker along the ridges, and hills roll out in green and pastel waves. You can almost hear the forest waking up.
Why I Keep Coming Back:
Trail 8 is one of my all-time favorites. It is a ridge-hopping, rocky, scenic loop that feels like it was made for spring mornings.
Morel mushrooms start popping up after warm rains – finding one feels like winning the lottery. (Bring a local if you can, Hoosiers guard their mushroom spots like state secrets.)
Mountain biking through blooming forests is one of the best places to kick up mud and not care.
Nashville, Indiana, is five minutes away. Grab coffee or ice cream at Chocolate Moose, or stroll through the Brown County Antique Mall for a blast from the past.
Random Spring Fact: This spring, Claire, I learned that redbuds are related to peas—and yes, their flowers are edible. We tried a few straight off the branch; they taste like sweet, tart sugar snap peas—basically nature’s sour patch kids.
(If you love spotting wildflowers and native plants while hiking, I post what I find on my Instagram stories @drewmeek during spring hikes.)
Pro Tips:
Morning chill fades fast – layer up but don’t overdress.
Watch for wildflowers along lower ridges and rocky edges
Trail 8 is about 4 miles – bring good shoes, water, and a camera.
Hemlock Cliffs: A Storybook Come to Life
You want waterfalls?
Hemlock Cliffs throws them at you like it’s auditioning for a fantasy movie. The short loop here packs in massive sandstone walls, mossy overhangs, and waterfalls pouring over cliff faces like something straight out of a storybook. Every corner looks like something you should frame and hang in your living room.
Why It’s Worth the Drive:
· Only about 1.2 miles — but you'll feel like you covered a national park's worth of scenery.
· Biodiversity explosion — trilliums, wild geraniums, and ferns bigger than your dog.
· Nearby Marengo Cave offers underground tours if you’re still craving adventure after your hike.
Personal Moment:
Last month, Claire and I hiked Hemlock Cliffs after a big rain, and the waterfalls were so loud we had to shout to hear each other. It felt like standing next to a freight train — in the best way. I remember thinking, "This is what spring should sound like."
(If you’re into the sounds of waterfalls, birds, and forest trails, I recorded a few spring nature soundscapes — perfect for reading, relaxing, or background noise. You can check them out on my YouTube channel.)
Pro Tips:
Trails can get slick — grippy hiking shoes are a must.
The waterfalls are at their biggest in April and May — don’t wait till summer.
Afterward, find a local diner and order whatever sounds fried — you earned it.
Clifty Falls State Park: A Waterfall Wonderland
If you like options (and lots of them), then Clifty Falls is your jam. Pick your trail, pick your waterfall, choose your vibe: rugged hike, leisurely stroll, picnic by a creek, fossil hunt in an ancient riverbed. It’s somehow wild and family-friendly all at once.
Why Clifty Shines in Spring:
Waterfalls are firing on all cylinders after spring rains — from thundering Clifty Falls to the quieter charm of Hoffman Falls.
Fossil beds — keep an eye on the rocks while you wade creeks; you’re walking through a 425-million-year-old ocean floor.
Wildflowers light up the trails — bluebells, shooting stars, columbine.
Tiny Personal Moment:
The first time I visited, I stepped on what I thought was a normal rock—it turned out to be a fossilized chunk of ancient sea life. Indiana was underwater once, and Clifty’s creek beds still tell the story.
Pro Tips:
Trail 2 and Trail 5 deliver the biggest views and best waterfalls.
Waterproof boots = smart. Wading into the river after a hot hike = even smarter.
Pack a picnic — there's no better feeling than sitting on warm stone with cold water swirling around your ankles.
Final Thoughts
Spring in Indiana isn’t something you wait through — it’s something you chase.
These parks prove it: wildflowers flashing from the forest floor, waterfalls pounding through canyons, trails buzzing back to life.
You don’t need a plane ticket or months of planning. You just need a Saturday, a good pair of shoes, and a little curiosity.
Adventure is way closer — and way wilder — than you think.
Want more hidden adventures?
Follow on Instagram @drewmeek for more Indiana gems, travel tips, and trail moments.
Dive deeper into more stories and guides right here on the blog.
And if you’re loving these kinds of explorations, you can buy me a coffee to help fuel the next trail run.
Thanks for reading. See you out there.
