Holiday Gift Packs are Back!
Exciting news, explorers! The 2026 Holiday Gift Packs are here, and they're the ultimate present for adventure lovers.
Get a 2026 Indiana State Park entrance pass, an Indiana Inns or Camping gift card, and an Outdoor Indiana magazine subscription starting at $102.99. Enjoy Indiana State Parks and Inns all year long.
Grab yours now at shopINstateparks.com and let the adventures begin! Available until sold out or Dec. 31, 2025, so get yours today!
#OptOutsideIN2025
Skip the shopping lines and #OptOutsideIN2025 on Friday, Nov. 28. Join the Indiana DNR for a refreshing day outdoors this Black Friday, and enter to win exciting prizes while you're at it. Celebrate nature, adventure, and community with #OptOutsideIN2025.
Honoring Veteran’s Day
All veterans and active-duty military personnel, and everyone in their vehicle, will be admitted free to DNR-managed state parks, reservoir properties, state forest recreation areas, and off-road state recreation areas on Veterans Day, Tuesday, Nov. 11.
Science behind Indiana’s vibrant fall colors
How do Indiana’s trees put on such a fantastic display of color each year? The brilliant reds, fiery oranges, and bright yellows we see in the fall are present in leaves all the time, but are hidden by the green pigmented chlorophyll all summer. Chlorophyll is important in making food for plants, but as the days shorten and temperatures cool, it fades and allows other pigments in leaves to be seen.
Like chlorophyll, each pigment has a purpose. The bright yellow and orange carotenoids protect the leaves from too much light. The rich red and purple anthocyanins protect leaves from the cold and sun while also helping the tree recover nutrients before winter sets in. The brown tannins will linger through the winter and are what’s left after the other pigments fade.
Why are certain years better for viewing fall colors than others? The brightest colors happen when the weather stays sunny, prompting the plant to produce more sun-protectant carotenoids and anthocyanins. Cool, frost-free nights help too, as too much rain or early frost can dull the colors or make leaves drop early. Dry weather at the end of summer (like we’ve had this year) can bring especially bright fall colors.
Native American Heritage Month
November is Native American Heritage Month, and during this month in particular, we honor the Indigenous people who are part of the history and present-day use of our Indiana state parks. Learn more about the Native American history of Indiana state parks.
Register for the 2026 Happy Little 5K!
Complete your 5K anywhere outdoors – on foot, by bike, skate, paddle, or using a mobility device – anytime between April 18-26 to support Indiana State Park forests!
For $36 per person, each participant will receive a keepsake Happy Little T-shirt, a commemorative bib number, and a finisher’s medal.
In 2025, the virtual run raised more than $41,000 for tree plantings and healthy forest initiatives in Indiana State Parks, with more than 2,300 participants.
Experience Falls of the Ohio State Park
Join long-time interpretive naturalist Alan Goldstein on a captivating journey through Falls of the Ohio State Park in the video above. After 31 years of inspiring visitors and sharing the park’s natural wonders, Alan is retiring. Congratulations on an incredible career, and best wishes as you begin your next adventure!
Upcoming Events
Nov. 8 - Robert Cooper Audubon Society Monthly Bird Hike, Mounds State Park
Nov. 8 - Women's Hiking Group Meet-Up, Clifty Falls State Park
Nov. 8 - An Afternoon with a Naturalist, Falls of the Ohio State Park
Nov. 8 - November Full Moon Hike, Charlestown State Park
Nov. 15 - Saturday Bird Hike, Pokagon State Park
Nov. 16 - Identitree, McCormick's Creek State Park
Nov. 22 - Campfire Building 101, McCormick's Creek State Park
Nov. 22 - A Day in a One-Room Schoolhouse, Chain O'Lakes State Park
Nov. 28 - Opening Day of Pokagon State Park’s Toboggan Run
Nov. 29 - Wolf Cave Hike, McCormick's Creek State Park
Nov. 29 - Opening Day of Friends of Mounds State Park's Nights of Lights, Mounds State Park
Nov. 30 - Thanksgiving Bird Hike, Pokagon State Park
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