Turkey Run State Park

Turkey Run State Park is located along State Road 47 southwest of Crawfordsville, Indiana.

The first parcel of Turkey Run’s 2,382 acres was purchased during the state’s centennial in 1916 when the state park system was established in Indiana.  The origin of the name “Turkey Run” is unknown, but the most accepted theory is that wild turkeys would congregate for warmth in the gorges or “runs”, where early settlers could easily trap and hunt them.

History of the Turkey Run

The geology of the area offers a unique view into the past. A walk into one of the ravines takes the visitor on a trip through time where sandstone gorges represent 600 million years of nature’s handiwork.

Glacial ice once covered the park. As the ice melted debris was deposited. Stones of many shapes and sizes were ground against the soft sandstone by the current of the rushing meltwater. This grinding action helped carve the Sugar Creek stream bed as well as the many canyons within the park.

Site Review:

The first Turkey Run campsites were developed in 1964 and now there are a total of 213 campsites situated in two campground areas. Six of the sites have large cement pads and are wheelchair accessible. All of the sites include:

• electric hook-up
• picnic table
• fire rings
• paved parking pad
• proximity to drinking water

Some of the sites are wide open. Some sites are more sheltered and are in a forest setting. All of the sites are spacious but many lack visual privacy between them. A ravine and a steep hill separate the two campground areas but there is a paved road that is navigable even for the larger rigs so access is not a problem.

There is no discernable difference between the quality of the sites in the 2 campground areas.

Each campground area has a playground.

Dump Station and Potable Water

There is a sanitation dump station near the entrance of the campground area.And there is another dump station at the far end of the lower main campground area. I am not sure if this is primarily for the dumping of the RV  honey wagons or as a full RV dumping station. 

Note: There is no potable water at the dump stations instead you will find a water fill station across from site #124 in the lower campground section.

There are numerous water spigots throughout the park that you could attach your hose to for a fill. The campground has a small store with some basic forgotten items.

Connecting the 2 Sections of the Park

The campground is nicely appointed, however, it is in an area separate from the rest of the park. Access to the trails, the swimming pool, the Visitor Center, the horses etc. is a couple of km (about a mile) from the campground on  State Road 47. It is not far but you will need to drive from the campground. I rode my bike, but it is a busy road used by all types of vehicles including large transport trucks and construction vehicles. There is very little shoulder. Biking could be hazardous, especially for children.

There is a hiking trail from the campground that connects to the other section of the park (what I like to refer to as the “activities section”). You should note that this trail has a lot of stairs. You go right down into the ravine and then back up. At one point you are crossing a stream using stepping stones. The trail emerges at the Turkey Run Inn.

Access to the trail is near site #60. There is a map with all the trails and their descriptions. The trail that is near the campground is Trail#7. Stay to the right and this trail will join with Trail#6 which will eventually bring you to the Inn.

Activities:

Hiking:

There are over 14 miles of hiking trails at Turkey Run State Park.  You must cross the suspension bridge over Sugar Creek to get to many of the trails. There are 70 steps down to the suspension bridge. Upon crossing the bridge you will be in the Rocky Hollow-Falls Canyon Nature Preserve, containing deep sandstone canyons and one of the last remnants of the forest that originally covered most of Indiana. All the trails except Trail#11 have a moderate to very rugged degree of difficulty. Note: Ladders are part of Trail 3 and can be hazardous for visitors with some medical conditions or disabilities. Hikers with small children and pets should use alternate trails.

The trails provide for some beautiful hikes. Some features you will see on the trails include: The Leiber Memorial. A coal mine,A log churchand a covered bridge

The trails become very congested during busy times. There are often long lines of people waiting to cross the suspension bridge as many attempt to access the trailheads. 

Turkey Run Inn:

Turkey Run Inn was established in 1916. It is beautiful and well-appointed within walking distance of all the activities offered at the park. Guests can rent rooms or cabins and can enjoy a restaurant and an indoor pool.

Over the years, it has undergone changes, additions, and modifications, but the allure of this beautiful facility continues as strong as ever.

Swimming:

Sugar Creek runs through Turkey Run State Park. There is a decent current and swimming or wading is NOT allowed. Many signs along the trails and at the bridges warn you not to swim in the creek. In fact, Turkey Run State Park and nearby Shades State Park have outlawed swimming within its boundaries. 

Olympic-Size Pool

Turkey Run State Park is home to an Olympic-size outdoor swimming pool with a bathhouse and wading pool. The bathhouse has showers and changing areas, but no lockers.

The swimming pool is generally open from the Saturday before Memorial Day to Labor Day. 

Note: The pool may close or reduce hours near the beginning or end of summer when lifeguards are unavailable. Please call the park directly to confirm that the pool is open if you plan to use it. Admission is $3 per person/day. There is a check-in desk. The hours are from 11 am to 8 pm. 

There is an indoor swimming pool at the Turkey Run Inn if you are a guest.

Floating on Sugar Creek:

Any time you look down Sugar Creek either from the trails or from the bridges you will see people (and in the summer, MANY people) floating with the creek’s current in inner tubes, kayaks and canoes. This is not an activity that Turkey Run State Park sponsors. People either have brought their equipment or have booked through an outfitter in the area.

The main outfitter is Sugar Valley Canoes. It is located on State Road 47 about a mile past the campground entrance. There are various rates and tour options. The company shuttles you to the put-in spot; for most tours, this is just past the Narrows covered bridge. You float down the creek at your leisure until you get to the pull-out spot. Shuttles (white school buses) will pick you up and return to the outfitter location. This is a popular activity and during the summer and on weekends, the creek can become ridiculously congested.

Canoeing/Kayaking:

For enthusiasts, you can use your equipment in one of the public access put-in spots. I was intrigued by this tour offered by Sugar Valley Canoes. I have my own equipment and my husband was able to act as my shuttle for drop off and pick up. While 15 miles is a long paddle, the swiftness of the current made the paddling less strenuous. 

I put in near Deers Mill Bridge just past Shades State Park and pulled out at the Cox Ford covered bridge (there is a canoe ramp there) located just past the campground at Turkey Run.

About the paddle

This is a challenging paddle. Many areas are very shallow. You will have to get out and drag your kayak in some spots. There are also numerous areas of swift water with dozens and dozens of rocks to navigate. So as you are zipping along you have to be steering constantly. I had one incident where a rock turned me sideways, the current carried me into another rock and I flipped. Most of the creek is only about knee-deep so I could easily walk my kayak to shore, dump the water out, and quickly resume my trek.

If you put in where I did the next take-out spot is not until Narrows Covered Bridge. This is approximately 12 miles down the creek. You’re committed to the route at this point.

The creek is too low for canoes and honestly, you would have to be a pretty experienced canoeist even to attempt this section of the creek. I managed with my kayak. Once you get to Narrows Bridge, the creek gets deeper and there are virtually no obstructions. The last 3 miles of this route were the easiest.

If I were to do a paddle on Sugar Creek again I would put in at the Narrows Bridge launch spot and take out at Jackson Bridge which would be a 10-mile paddle on the lower section of the creek.

Nature Centre/ Amphitheatre

There is a Nature Center. The staff can answer any questions you might have about the area. 

Horseback Riding:

There is a small stable with horses where you can arrange a trail ride.

Biking:

You can ride your bike on the campground roads. None of the trails are suitable for biking at all due to all the stairs

Shades State Park

Turkey Run’s sister park is Shades State Park located 20 minutes away. Shades is often overlooked and gets only about 10% of the visitors that frequent Turkey Run. I asked at the Nature Center if Shades was worth checking out and I was told enthusiastically that it was. So we decided to visit. All I can say is that I think the staff oversold it haha!

• There is a campground with non-electric sites.
• There are no amenities at all. No store, Nature Center, equipment rentals, no swimming.
• Some hiking trails afford a view of Sugar Creek and some are challenging but do not compare to the beauty and diversity of the Turkey Run Trails.

Things to Know:

1. There is a campground store that sells wood, ice and propane.
2. Turkey Run is a busy park with over a million visitors a year, however, once the kids return to school in August then August and September are ideal months to visit especially during the week.
3.  Parke County claims to be the covered bridge capital of the world and touring the routes to discover the bridges during the fall colours is a popular activity.
4. Leashed pets are permitted. If you travel with pets and you set up those little fence areas around your site to contain your pet, you will be asked to take them down. The fenced areas are not permitted and your pet must be leashed at all times while outside your camping unit.

IMO:

Turkey Run State Park is beautifully maintained with top-notch activities and amenities. In a perfect world, it would be nice if the campground was attached to the area where the activities are but overall this is not much of a hardship. If the reviews I have read are true that describe how loud the park is and how congested it becomes during the peak season that would probably put me off visiting during those times. We visited midweek in the second week of August and the noise and the crowds were a non-issue. I would definitely recommend Turkey Run State Park as an RV Place to Go!