Outdoors: Shades State Park

Ladder Click to Enlarge Outcrop Click to Enlarge Silver Cascades Click to Enlarge Sugar Creek Click to Enlarge Trail Click to Enlarge Trillium Click to Enlarge Introduction Shades State Park is a relatively undeveloped park that includes more than three thousand acres of woods and ravines along the banks of Sugar Creek. Unlike nearby Turkey Run, there is no swimming pool, no nature center, and no inn. Probably as a consequence, Shades receives far fewer visitors than its neighbor. For seekers of solitude, or at least relative solitude, this is a good thing. Shades lacks the spectacular rock formations of Turkey Run or Pine Hills, but the low visitor count is a strong point in its favor. Trails There are ten trails, all south of Sugar Creek. Many follow the same basic pattern – you’ll start by heading north on top of a ridge line toward Sugar Creek, then return along the bottom of a ravine. Some of these return legs are a real scramble over pools, mud, loose rock, and vegetation. Many will be unsafe during high water. Trail 1 is something like a squashed figure eight. It offers overlooks of Sugar Creek at Inspiration Point (observation platform) and Prospect Point. The eastern leg of the trail includes a long, steep staircase to Silver Cascade Falls, remarkable for the convex shape of the underlying rock. The return is through an impressive canyon reminiscent of Turkey Run; it ends at the Devil’s Punchbowl. Trail 2 is a lollipop that heads to the creek, then returns via Pearl Ravine, passing interesting rock formations and Maidenhair Falls en route. Trails 4 and 5 are notable for their ladders; #4 passes through a narrow canyon. Trails 7 and 8 are more subtle but nonetheless interesting, particularly the ravine bottoms. Trail 10 connects Shades to the adjacent must-see Pine Hills Nature Preserve. Finally, Shades offers a short (2 ˝ mile) backpacking trail that leads to a separate hike-in only campground along Sugar Creek; I tried this trail on my first backpacking trip and recommend it. Facilities Campgrounds, pit toilets, modern restroom. Directions View Larger Map Montgomery and Parke counties. From the intersection of IN 47 and IN 234, west 4.9 miles on IN 234, then left 0.8 miles on 800 S to the entrance. There is usually an entrance fee. North 39 55.519 West 87 04.306 DeLorme 37:F8/9 Nearby Natural Areas Pine Hills Nature Preserve Turkey Run State Park References Bloom: Hiking Indiana; Page 99, 104 Goll: Indiana State Parks; Page 188 Habeck: Wild Indiana; Page 76 Indiana Department of Natural Resources McPherson: Indiana Best Hikes; Page 266