Ring in the New Year with a Hike!
Start 2026 fresh with other outdoor adventurers at one of the many First Day Hikes offered Jan. 1 at Indiana’s state parks and lakes. First Day Hikes are a healthy way to start the new year. They offer a chance to get outside, exercise, enjoy nature, and connect with friends.
New Year Resolutions: Park Style!
The start of the year is an ideal time for reflection and setting resolutions. Whether you start a healthy habit, visit a new place, or spend more time with friends and family, Indiana State Parks are a great place to commit to new goals!
• Visit an Indiana State Park you’ve never visited before!
• Conquer one of our park challenges!
• Make memories naturally outdoors!
Happy Little 5K: Helping Restore McCormick’s Creek
The 2023 tornado that tore through McCormick’s Creek State Park left trees uprooted and habitats heavily damaged, which forced trails to close. Park staff is diligently working to restore the property’s ecosystems, and generous support from the participants of the Happy Little 5K is helping them do so, providing the park with new resources that will help manage invasive species in its Wolf Cave Nature Preserve.
It’s common for invasives to attempt to take over an area after a heavy disturbance, and at McCormick’s Creek, tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is attempting just that. A rapidly growing tree native to China, it is an aggressive and quickly reproducing species.
Tree of heaven requires focused management practices because of its aggressive root system. With the ability to spread its roots hundreds of feet, sprout a seemingly unlimited number of new shoots, and alter the soil's acidity, it must be managed using both cutting and herbicides.
Using a portion of the Happy Little 5K funds, McCormick’s Creek hired seasonal staff specifically trained to take on the tree of heaven. In 2025, they treated 66.5 acres, spraying and cutting hundreds of invasive trees. The work supported the restoration of Wolf Cave’s forest, giving native trees the time and space they need to grow.
Read the full story in the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation’s fall newsletter.
Winter and spring IMN classes open for registration
The Indiana Master Naturalist (IMN) program provides you with hands-on opportunities to learn about Indiana natural resources and then to share that knowledge through volunteer service.
2 for 1 winter special at State Park Inns
Escape to the serene beauty of Indiana State Parks this winter and experience nature at its finest. From snow-draped trails to cozy fireplaces, our parks and inns offer the perfect retreat. Don’t miss our inn's exclusive winter 2 for 1 special. Stay any night at our inns, Sunday through Wednesday, and enjoy a second consecutive night free from now until Feb. 26, 2026.
Martin Luther King Day of Service
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, join us for a day of volunteering. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, discover new things, and do something good for Indiana's natural and cultural resources.
Winter Eagle Watches
Long views around lakes are the perfect place to eagle watch, and DNR has plenty of areas like that. Join a group event this winter at Mississinewa, Monroe, and Salamonie lakes and Turkey Run State Park.
Upcoming January Events:
• Jan. 3 - Full Moon Hike, Indiana Dunes State Park
• Jan. 10 - Winter Hike Series: Valley Ruins at Brown County State Park
• Jan. 10, 17, 24 - Devil's Backbone Saturday Morning Guided Hike Series at Charlestown State Park
• Jan. 16-18 - Winter Weekend Getaway at Clifty Falls State Park
• Jan. 17 - Sandhill Saturday at Whitewater Memorial State Park
• Jan. 24 - Sunrise Eagle Watch, Mississinewa Lake
• Jan. 31 - Historical Winter Wander at McCormick's Creek State Park