It doesn’t matter if you live in the city or a small town – sometimes you’ve just got to get away. Luckily, Indiana has a ton of amazing spots you can escape to if you need some peace and quiet. Check out these 10 hidden oases in Indiana for some of the most beautiful, tranquil spots in the Hoosier state.
- Shades State Park
Kelly F./TripAdivsor This breathtaking state park is a quiet, peaceful place to escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. You’ll find gorgeous sandstone cliffs, incredible canyons, and mile of breathtaking hiking trails here. Visit at 7751 S 890 W, Waveland, IN 47989.
- Hoosier National Forest
looking_for_stuff/TripAdvisor This picture perfect forest is an incredible spot to explore any time of year. Take a weekend camping trip or day long hike to get away from the stress of daily life in one of the prettiest forests around. Find it at 811 Constitution Ave, Bedford, IN 47421.
- Yellowwood National Forest
Taurun M./Yelp We all know how popular and crowded Brown County State Park can get, but the nearby Yellowwood National Forest is every bit as beautiful and much more peaceful. Relax away from the crowds at this stunning oasis. Find it at 772 Yellowwood Lake Rd, Nashville, IN 47448.
- Coffee Creek Watershed Conservancy Preserve
Joe S./Trip Advisor When most people think of Chesterton, they think of the Dunes National Lakeshore Park. However, ths incredible nature preserve offers incredible trails and scenery, without huge crowds of vistors. Visit at 2401 Village Point, Chesterton, IN 46304.
- Krider World’s Fair Garden Park
Brian Hubbard/Flickr If you love the beauty of nature, but aren’t completely up for roughing it in the wilderness, this stunning park is the place for you. There are tons of sculptures to explore, a reflecting pool to help you relax, and plenty of natural sights to help soothe your mind. Find it at 302 Bristol Ave, Middlebury, IN 46540.
- The Gardens at T.C. Steele State Historic Site
Holly Higgins/Flickr Another amazing, secluded spot to escape to, especially if you’re an artist, are the gardens at T.C. Steele State Historic Site. These colorful, tranquil gardens offer incredible views of nature and can help you unwind. Visit at 4220 T C Steele Rd in Nashville, IN 47448.
- Knobstone Trail
Erezeth/Fliickr An escape to this remote trail will showcase some of the best beauty in southern Indiana. This hilly, forested terrain is a great hiking spot and also a fantastic, secluded campsite. Take a day or two away from it all at the longest trail in Indiana (49 miles!). Find it at 1278 E. S.R. 250, Brownstown, IN 47220.
- Kesling Wetland
David Cornwell/Flickr This unbelievable nature preserve is located near Wolf Lake, about 10 miles out from Albion. If you’re looking for absolute beauty, this is the spot for you. You can find exact directions to this reserve at the Merry Lea Learning Center at 2388 S 500 W, Albion, IN 46701.
- Rose Island
Alexis B./TripAdvisor If seclusion is what you seek, you can’t get much farther away from it all than Rose Island. This little peninsula can be found just outside of Charleston and was once home to an amusement park. Explore the ruins and see how nature is reclaiming this spot. Find it at 12500 Highway 62, Charlestown, IN 47111.
- Mounds State Park
Mounds State Park/Facebook This quiet, local park found in Anderson, Indiana is a lesser known state park with amazing wildlife and natural sights to explore. This park provides a great place to get away for the day or an afternoon, when you need to find a peaceful, quiet setting. Visit at 4306 Mounds Rd, Anderson, IN 46017.
Which one of these natural oases seems perfect for you? For another incredible natural oasis in Indiana, check out this little known park.
Kelly F./TripAdivsor
This breathtaking state park is a quiet, peaceful place to escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. You’ll find gorgeous sandstone cliffs, incredible canyons, and mile of breathtaking hiking trails here. Visit at 7751 S 890 W, Waveland, IN 47989.
looking_for_stuff/TripAdvisor
This picture perfect forest is an incredible spot to explore any time of year. Take a weekend camping trip or day long hike to get away from the stress of daily life in one of the prettiest forests around. Find it at 811 Constitution Ave, Bedford, IN 47421.
Taurun M./Yelp
We all know how popular and crowded Brown County State Park can get, but the nearby Yellowwood National Forest is every bit as beautiful and much more peaceful. Relax away from the crowds at this stunning oasis. Find it at 772 Yellowwood Lake Rd, Nashville, IN 47448.
Joe S./Trip Advisor
When most people think of Chesterton, they think of the Dunes National Lakeshore Park. However, ths incredible nature preserve offers incredible trails and scenery, without huge crowds of vistors. Visit at 2401 Village Point, Chesterton, IN 46304.
Brian Hubbard/Flickr
If you love the beauty of nature, but aren’t completely up for roughing it in the wilderness, this stunning park is the place for you. There are tons of sculptures to explore, a reflecting pool to help you relax, and plenty of natural sights to help soothe your mind. Find it at 302 Bristol Ave, Middlebury, IN 46540.
Holly Higgins/Flickr
Another amazing, secluded spot to escape to, especially if you’re an artist, are the gardens at T.C. Steele State Historic Site. These colorful, tranquil gardens offer incredible views of nature and can help you unwind. Visit at 4220 T C Steele Rd in Nashville, IN 47448.
Erezeth/Fliickr
An escape to this remote trail will showcase some of the best beauty in southern Indiana. This hilly, forested terrain is a great hiking spot and also a fantastic, secluded campsite. Take a day or two away from it all at the longest trail in Indiana (49 miles!). Find it at 1278 E. S.R. 250, Brownstown, IN 47220.
David Cornwell/Flickr
This unbelievable nature preserve is located near Wolf Lake, about 10 miles out from Albion. If you’re looking for absolute beauty, this is the spot for you. You can find exact directions to this reserve at the Merry Lea Learning Center at 2388 S 500 W, Albion, IN 46701.
Alexis B./TripAdvisor
If seclusion is what you seek, you can’t get much farther away from it all than Rose Island. This little peninsula can be found just outside of Charleston and was once home to an amusement park. Explore the ruins and see how nature is reclaiming this spot. Find it at 12500 Highway 62, Charlestown, IN 47111.
Mounds State Park/Facebook
This quiet, local park found in Anderson, Indiana is a lesser known state park with amazing wildlife and natural sights to explore. This park provides a great place to get away for the day or an afternoon, when you need to find a peaceful, quiet setting. Visit at 4306 Mounds Rd, Anderson, IN 46017.
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