Turkey Run State Park in Marshall, Indiana is known for its sandstone cliffs, rugged ravines, suspension bridges, and hiking trails that wind through rocky hollows carved by centuries of flowing water. One of the most memorable sections of the park is the hike through Crevice Rock along Trail 10.
During a road trip south, we decided to stop and explore a small portion of the park. Even with limited time, it quickly became clear why Turkey Run State Park is considered one of the most scenic natural areas in Indiana.
General Info
| General: | Turkey Run State Park is known for its sandstone canyons, suspension bridge, and scenic hiking trails. Trail 10 takes visitors through Crevice Rock and Rocky Hollow, where towering cliffs and moss covered boulders line the trail. |
| Hours: | Open daily. Park hours may vary seasonally. |
| State: | Indiana |
| County: | Parke County |
| Google Map Location: | Turkey Run State Park |
| Cost: | Indiana State Park entrance fee required. |
Exploring Crevice Rock
The first part of this hike follows a moderate 1.4-mile trail that offers beautiful views of the stone cliffs and wooded ravines that make Turkey Run State Park so unique. Trail 10 winds through the Crevice Rock area before eventually leading hikers toward Rocky Hollow and Sugar Creek.
The towering sandstone formations surrounding the trail create a landscape that feels more like a canyon hike than a typical Midwestern forest walk.
A Recommendation Worth Following
This park was recommended to us by one of my husband’s coworkers while we were planning our drive south toward Tennessee. He mentioned that the rocky landscape and canyon style trails were something I would really enjoy exploring.
He was absolutely right. Between the massive rock formations, winding trails, and moss covered boulders, Turkey Run quickly became one of those places I wished we had planned more time to explore.
Suspended Over Sugar Creek
One of the most recognizable features in the park is the suspension bridge crossing Sugar Creek. The bridge stretches nearly 200 feet across the water and connects hikers to multiple trail systems throughout the park.
Standing on the bridge provides a beautiful view of the creek flowing below and the surrounding forested canyon walls.
Rocky Hollow
Beyond the suspension bridge, the trail continues into Rocky Hollow, where moss-covered rocks and sandstone cliffs line the pathway. The combination of trees, plants, and rock formations creates some incredible scenery along the trail.
A Little Muddy
After rain, the trails can become muddy and extremely slippery. At times, it felt like my shoes were turning into cross-country skis as I slid along the trail trying to keep my footing.
Even with the mud, the scenery made every step worthwhile.
Wildflowers Along the Trail
Some plants manage to thrive even in the rocky canyon environment. One of the wildflowers spotted along the trail was the Mayapple plant. These woodland wildflowers emerge in early spring with umbrella-like leaves that spread across the forest floor, often forming small colonies in shaded areas beneath the trees.
Although the leaves appear first, a single white flower develops beneath the leaf canopy and later forms a small apple-like fruit by early summer. Mayapples are a common spring wildflower throughout Midwestern forests and are often found in moist woodland soils along ravines and shaded trails.
A Park Worth Returning To
Unfortunately, we only had about an hour and a half to explore before continuing our trip south. Even in that short amount of time, it was obvious we had only seen a small portion of what Turkey Run State Park has to offer.
This is definitely one of those parks where it would be easy to spend an entire day hiking through the sandstone ravines and wooded valleys.
If you enjoy nature and hiking, Turkey Run State Park is absolutely worth visiting.