If you’re looking around for some easy hikes in Indiana to do, you’ve come to the perfect place. Indiana is a great state with literally hundreds of trails to choose from, all varying in difficulty, length, and interesting natural features. Let’s take a look at some of our all-time favorite easy hiking trails that all have something magical in common: waterfalls! Here are some of our favorite easy hikes in Indiana perfect for beginners:
- Ed Dailey Nature Trail - Spencer
Zuza Anoszczenko/AllTrails
Karen Glicksman/AllTrails The Ed Dailey Nature Trail is a gorgeous 1.7-mile loop trail nestled within Cataract Falls State Recreation Area. It’s open year-round and leads to the breathtaking splendor that is Cataract Falls. Learn more about Cataract Falls here! Cataract Falls State Recreation Area, 2605 N Cataract Rd, Spencer, IN 47460, USA
- Bluffs of Beaver Bend - Shoals
John Gray/AllTrails
Melanie Bailey/AllTrails Bluffs of Beaver Bend is an interesting and easy waterfall trail in Shoals, Indiana. It’s a 2.7-mile loop trail, and it’s dog-friendly, too. While in Shoals, you may also want to check out Jug Rock, which is a strange example of geology at its finest. Take a look at the official AllTrails page for Bluffs of Beaver Bend here. Bluffs of Beaver Bend, Spout Springs Rd, Shoals, IN 47581, USA
- Williamsport Falls Loop - Williamsport
Zuza Anoszczenko/AllTrails
Ed Strubel/AllTrails Williamsport Falls Loop is a 1.6-mile loop trail with an incredibly breathtaking waterfall reward at the end. It’s best used from March to October, and the fall color here is second to none during the latter. See more photos and get a full map of this hike here. 25 N Monroe St, Williamsport, IN 47993, USA
- Cascades Park Trail - Bloomington
Elizabeth Buchanan/AllTrails
Andy Stancombe/AllTrails It sure doesn’t get a whole lot more incredible than the Cascades Park Trail, near Bloomington. It’s a short and sweet out-and-back trail, at just 0.8 miles in length. This one is also best between March and October, and the waterfall tends to be best after heavy rain (as with every waterfall on this list). Get all the details about this hike here. 2851 Old State Rd 37, Bloomington, IN 47404, USA
- Hoffman Falls Loop - Madison
Doug Neidholdt/AllTrails
Amber Cottrell/AllTrails Hoffman Falls Loop is a wonderful and rewarding hike near Madison. It’s just 2 miles in length, and it’s best traversed between April and October. As with a few other trails on this list, this is one that’s just as splendid in autumn as it is in spring and summer. Get all the details about this trail here. Clifty Falls State Park, 2221 Clifty Dr, Madison, IN 47250, USA
- 3 Falls Trail - Lagro
Ashli Spaulding/AllTrails
Missie Ritonya/AllTrails The 3 Falls trail near Lagro is absolutely amazing and woefully underrated. It’s quite short, coming in at under one mile in length, but it’s easy and the reward at the end is a good one. These falls tend to be seasonal and look best after a heavy rain. Find out more about this hidden gem trail here. Salamonie River State Forest, Lagro Township, IN 46941, USA
- Anderson Falls - Hartsville
Zuza Anoszczenko/AllTrails
Kim Winburn/AllTrails Finally, we reach Anderson Falls, a gorgeous waterfall flowing year-round on a nice and simple hiking trail. It’s a 0.8-mile loop trail that will take you to the namesake waterfall, and trust us, you’re going to want to bring a camera for this one. Get ready to get wet, though - you’ll cross a river almost immediately after you begin the hike. Find out more about this hidden gem trail here. 3699 N 1140 County Rd E, Hartsville, IN 47244, USA
What easy hikes in Indiana do you recommend? Let us know using this form and you might just see your picks featured in a future article! Remember, the hikes mentioned in this article are best taken following rain; that way, the falls will all be healthy and hearty. Let us know how your hike goes! We love to hear from you.
Zuza Anoszczenko/AllTrails
Karen Glicksman/AllTrails
The Ed Dailey Nature Trail is a gorgeous 1.7-mile loop trail nestled within Cataract Falls State Recreation Area. It’s open year-round and leads to the breathtaking splendor that is Cataract Falls. Learn more about Cataract Falls here!
Cataract Falls State Recreation Area, 2605 N Cataract Rd, Spencer, IN 47460, USA
John Gray/AllTrails
Melanie Bailey/AllTrails
Bluffs of Beaver Bend is an interesting and easy waterfall trail in Shoals, Indiana. It’s a 2.7-mile loop trail, and it’s dog-friendly, too. While in Shoals, you may also want to check out Jug Rock, which is a strange example of geology at its finest. Take a look at the official AllTrails page for Bluffs of Beaver Bend here.
Bluffs of Beaver Bend, Spout Springs Rd, Shoals, IN 47581, USA
Ed Strubel/AllTrails
Williamsport Falls Loop is a 1.6-mile loop trail with an incredibly breathtaking waterfall reward at the end. It’s best used from March to October, and the fall color here is second to none during the latter. See more photos and get a full map of this hike here.
25 N Monroe St, Williamsport, IN 47993, USA
Elizabeth Buchanan/AllTrails
Andy Stancombe/AllTrails
It sure doesn’t get a whole lot more incredible than the Cascades Park Trail, near Bloomington. It’s a short and sweet out-and-back trail, at just 0.8 miles in length. This one is also best between March and October, and the waterfall tends to be best after heavy rain (as with every waterfall on this list). Get all the details about this hike here.
2851 Old State Rd 37, Bloomington, IN 47404, USA
Doug Neidholdt/AllTrails
Amber Cottrell/AllTrails
Hoffman Falls Loop is a wonderful and rewarding hike near Madison. It’s just 2 miles in length, and it’s best traversed between April and October. As with a few other trails on this list, this is one that’s just as splendid in autumn as it is in spring and summer. Get all the details about this trail here.
Clifty Falls State Park, 2221 Clifty Dr, Madison, IN 47250, USA
Ashli Spaulding/AllTrails
Missie Ritonya/AllTrails
The 3 Falls trail near Lagro is absolutely amazing and woefully underrated. It’s quite short, coming in at under one mile in length, but it’s easy and the reward at the end is a good one. These falls tend to be seasonal and look best after a heavy rain. Find out more about this hidden gem trail here.
Salamonie River State Forest, Lagro Township, IN 46941, USA
Kim Winburn/AllTrails
Finally, we reach Anderson Falls, a gorgeous waterfall flowing year-round on a nice and simple hiking trail. It’s a 0.8-mile loop trail that will take you to the namesake waterfall, and trust us, you’re going to want to bring a camera for this one. Get ready to get wet, though - you’ll cross a river almost immediately after you begin the hike. Find out more about this hidden gem trail here.
3699 N 1140 County Rd E, Hartsville, IN 47244, USA
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
