Autumn in Indiana is just not complete without a ride to
Southern Indiana’s Brown County State Park. Just 60 miles south of Indianapolis
on IN 135, and 22miles east of Bloomington on highway 46, these 15,766 acres are
a destination for thousands, including plenty of bikers. You can log onto
http://www.browncounty.com/leaf-cam
before you go to check and see how the colors are turning on their leaf cam (no
joke!). You could spend the day here, with picnic tables ready for you, two
small lakes, and hiking trails. But you also could easily combine your trip to the
park with other nearby bike-friendly places: Nashville, IN only a mile to the
west on 46/135, Gnaw Bone (see Oct. 27th post) 4 miles to the East,
Columbus 18 miles to the East on 46 or Story,
IN (see post April 18, 2012- Southern Indiana Loop ) 6 miles to the South on
135. There is the Abe Martin Lodge right in the park, where you can eat and
stay, open year round. The nearly 20 miles of roads in the park often follow
the hills peaks, making views stretching out for miles on both sides. There are
plenty of places to stop and put your kickstand down, and a few towers from
which to take pictures, not that you can’t get plenty of scenic shots without
climbing them. One suggestion, during peak fall colors, go during the week,
since weekends will often end up in miles of vehicles waiting to get in the
gate. There are fees, but reasonable, $5.00 for an instate vehicle (car or
motorcycle) and $7.00 for an out-of-state vehicle. It’s a small price for the
experience.
This destination will not disappoint
any time of year, but the fall colors are the gem that bring people from great
distances to see the spectacular panoramas.
Autumn in Indiana is just not complete without a ride to
Southern Indiana’s Brown County State Park. Just 60 miles south of Indianapolis
on IN 135, and 22miles east of Bloomington on highway 46, these 15,766 acres are
a destination for thousands, including plenty of bikers. You can log onto http://www.browncounty.com/leaf-cam
before you go to check and see how the colors are turning on their leaf cam (no
joke!). You could spend the day here, with picnic tables ready for you, two
small lakes, and hiking trails. But you also could easily combine your trip to the
park with other nearby bike-friendly places: Nashville, IN only a mile to the
west on 46/135, Gnaw Bone (see Oct. 27th post) 4 miles to the East, Columbus 18 miles to the East on 46 or Story,
IN (see post April 18, 2012- Southern Indiana Loop ) 6 miles to the South on
135. There is the Abe Martin Lodge right in the park, where you can eat and
stay, open year round. The nearly 20 miles of roads in the park often follow
the hills peaks, making views stretching out for miles on both sides. There are
plenty of places to stop and put your kickstand down, and a few towers from
which to take pictures, not that you can’t get plenty of scenic shots without
climbing them. One suggestion, during peak fall colors, go during the week,
since weekends will often end up in miles of vehicles waiting to get in the
gate. There are fees, but reasonable, $5.00 for an instate vehicle (car or
motorcycle) and $7.00 for an out-of-state vehicle. It’s a small price for the
experience. This destination will not disappoint
any time of year, but the fall colors are the gem that bring people from great
distances to see the spectacular panoramas.
