Indiana is a gorgeous state with plenty of beautiful places to explore and enjoy. Plus, it's that special time of year when everyone seems to get the same idea: time for a road trip. And, as luck would have it, we went through and created one heck of an amazing road trip in Indiana for just such an occasion! This adventure will lead you on a scenic road trip in Indiana through its eight most fascinating natural wonders. Who knew we had so many interesting and unique natural wonders in Indiana? Which one is your favorite? Check them out:
This trip is a total of 473 miles, and we suggest doing it over the course of multiple days.
There are lots of great beds and breakfasts along the way, and you'll also have your pick of any number of awesome hotels and inns. Let's get in the car and head out!
We'll begin our adventure by taking in one of the most incredible natural wonders in the entire Midwest, which just so happens to be here in our own backyards.
Featuring numerous amazing, all-natural sand dunes and packed up along the coast of beautiful Lake Michigan, absolutely no trip through Indiana would be complete without visiting these incredible dunes. Indiana Dunes National Park is one of those places that a nature lover will never forget!
While we're here, we'll also take a moment to explore another highly unique natural wonder: Cowles Bog and Pinhook Bog, which are both nestled within Indiana Dunes National Park.
Anyone hoping to see some ridiculously unique places in Indiana can't afford to miss these little gems. See some amazing flora that doesn't exist anywhere else in the state, including carnivorous plants! A hike along the Cowles Bog Trail is the adventure your heart needs.
Our third stop will take us to Peru, Indiana, where a fascinating geological formation known as The Seven Pillars awaits.
The Seven Pillars of Peru is considered sacred by people of the Miami Nation. It's a strange-looking geological wonder formed over millions of years of erosion, and once you see it, you'll want to learn everything about it (and how it came to be).
Next up, we'll head to Turkey Run State Park, one of Indiana's most beautiful state parks, and check out the Rocky Hollow-Falls Canyon Nature Preserve, an iconic slice of heaven here in the Hoosier State.
It's 1,609 acres of some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, we think! Traverse beautiful ravines, cliffs, waterfalls, and more. This one might just be Indiana's natural beauty at its very best. After all, there's a reason this is one of the most popular state parks in Indiana.
Our next stop is Cataract Falls (one or both of them), the largest waterfall by volume in Indiana.
Upper and Lower Cataract Falls are easily a couple of our favorite waterfalls in Indiana and they're well-deserving of a spot on this list. If you were to ask us what our favorite natural wonder in Indiana is, this gem might be close to the top of the list.
Geology fans will love our next stop: we'll head to Shoals, Indiana, and check out the geological oddity known as Jug Rock.
It's a very odd-looking little rock formation, but it's pretty special: it's the largest free-standing table rock formation east of the Mississippi. Jug Rock is such a beloved part of local lore that it's even the mascot for the local high school.
Second to last (but definitely not least), we'll find ourselves at the amazing Falls of the Ohio State Park, where prehistoric fossil beds are located right at the surface and you can hunt for evidence of ancient life.
Talk about another treat for the geology lovers! For some reason, it's one of Indiana's least-visited state parks, and that bums us out. This park is highly fascinating and jam-packed with educational opportunities and mind-blowing fun facts.
Finally, we finish out our journey at one of Indiana's most incredible caves, Squire Boone Caverns.
If you haven't taken an awesome tour of Indiana's most amazing caves, have you really lived? We think not. Oh, where to begin? Squire Boone Caverns definitely belongs on this list, and the best news of all? You can go on tours (which we definitely recommend). Then, when you're done with your tour, you can also try your hand at ziplining.
What do you think? To follow along (or even alter the route to fit your needs), be sure to check out the official map we put together on Google Maps. What's your favorite stop on this trip? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!
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