No matter the season, IN is full of gorgeous, nature-filled hikes. But, there’s something so special and peaceful about a winter hike through the woods, hearing the sound of the ice and snow under your feet…ahhh just thinking about it makes me so excited to share this guide of “Best Places to Hike in Indiana During the Winter”! It can be so easy to catch cabin fever during the winter here in the Midwest, but with a little bundling up and a thermos full of hot coffee, your perfect Indiana winter day is just around the corner! If you want to learn more about any location included in this list, just click or tap on its image to get all the details. And be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for a google map that includes every location on this list.
Portland Arch Nature Preserve
This 345 acre nature preserve has some pretty awesome rock formations that are well worth the detour of I-74. It is a smaller preserve, but doesn’t lack in beautiful natural features!
Covington, IN
Spring Mill State Park
Spring Mill is home to not only caves, gorgeous hikes, and beautiful picnic spots…it’s home to a pioneer village as well! It truly feels like a step back in time and is a must see for the entire family
Mitchel, IN
Shades State Park
Looking for ravines, stairs, ladders, and sandstone cliffs? Then Shades State Park is definitely for you!
Waveland, IN
Celery Bog Nature Area
Expect to see an abundance of IN wildlife at this frozen wetland during the winter: deer, geese, ducks, eagles, owls, squirrels, woodpeckers, heron, and more.
West Lafayette, IN
Clifty Falls State Park
Just as it’s name promises, the hiking trails at Clifty Falls are perfect for waterfall chasers. Since winter and spring are known to showcase the best of the waterfalls here, there’s no better time to visit!
Madison, IN
Fort Harrison State Park
Winter is the perfect time to visit this park, and not just because it has one of the biggest sledding hills around! Picturesque views for hikers, joggers, and bikers alike, it doesn’t matter the activity you choose because the views are all perfect.
Indianapolis, IN
Friends of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail
This 25 mile, 3 trail hike connects Shipshewana, Elkhart, Goshen, and Middlebury. It is a paved making it perfect for those who want to take in the beautiful winter scene without the worries of uphill/downhill hiking across terrain.
Goshen, IN
Anderson Falls
Another one for my fellow waterfall lovers! Anderson Falls is a 0.8 mile hike loop. Be cautious though, at times it is not very well maintained (high water making the hike impossible, markers falls/missing, etc. (I recommend downloading/ screenshotting a map beforehand just to be safe)), But, the cold, icy falls are worth it if you can swing it!
Hartsville, IN
Portage Lakefront & Riverwalk
Chase those winter blues away with this sunny hike! Not necessarily a hike, but this lakefront walk made the list because of its easy accessibility and unbeatable views of the snowy lakefront landscape.
Portage, IN
Indiana Dunes National Park
Enjoy 15,000 acres of sandy, snowy landscape at this IN national park. This is one of my favorite parks because it is so unique in itself, a mix of what feels like coastal charm with laid back lake life, the winter lake views from the hikes here will have you coming back every chance you get!
Porter, IN
Turkey Run State Park
The suspension bridge that leads to several of the trails is just the beginning to all of the amazing things this park has to offer. Stairs, ladders, ravines, river front walking, gorges, and more are all that much more stunning in the winter.
Marshall, IN
Hoosier National Park
Indiana’s only national forest, Hoosier National Park, is the perfect winter escape for hiking. Be sure to make time to climb up the fire tower for the best panoramic views of the forest!
Bedford, IN
Charlestown State Park
This state park is home to Rose Island, an abandoned amusement park whose remains can still be seen while hiking. These remains stand out even more when snow covers the ground!
Charlestown, IN
Brown County State Park
The winter views are unmatched for the hikes at Brown County State Park. The 7 vista challenge offers the best views of the park that you can drive or hike to!
Nashville, IN
McCormick’s Creek State Park
Bridges, waterfalls, amazing hikes…this park is truly a winter wonderland during the colder months.
Spencer, IN
Pokagon State Park
With some of the most underrated hiking trails, you can almost count on having the whole trail to yourself at Pokagon. You can even rent cross-country skis and view the park that way. Be sure to hop on the toboggan on your way out!
Angola, IN
Happy Hallow Park
Although just steps away from Purdue’s campus, this park feels like it is miles away from the hustle and bustle. You can hike, run, or bike on the paved trail, or take the unpaved ones to view the scenery!
Lafayette, IN
Salamonie River State Forest
The waterfall is one of the biggest highlights of this park. But, be sure to check out the frozen lake before you go, the views are incredible!
Lagro, IN
Tippecanoe River State Park
A climb up the firetower is the best way to see all the snow covered trees. The views from the top are incredible!
Winamac, IN
Muscatatuck State Park
Even though the deeper part of the park closes during the winter, this state park boasts some really cool rock formations and trails! Be sure to make a stop at Hanging Rock Falls on your way.
North Vernon, IN
Please Note: All the images shown in this post, with the exception of my own, are from Instagram/location website and are owned by the photographer of the image. Image credits can be found within the guide on my Instagram.
Indiana Hannah 
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