Chasing Waterfalls at McCormick’s Creek State Park

The weather in Indiana has warmed up, and it’s an ideal time for hiking!

I am working my way through the 12 amazing hikes recommended by Only in Indiana throughout 2021, and May took me to Spencer, Indiana. Hiking at McCormick’s Creek State Park is quite a treat, especially when the payoff at the end of the trail is a spectacular waterfall!

Fond Memories

Having lived in Indiana most of my life, this was not my first trip to this well-known state park.

One of the highlights of my elementary school career was a class field trip to McCormick’s Creek in 5th grade. I almost missed the much-anticipated field trip when a bout of chickenpox took me out of school for several days.

Luckily, I was deemed no longer contagious just in time to join my classmates for this memorable outing. Even the lingering scabs were not enough to keep me home for this epic field trip! (No photos from that hiking adventure!)

The highlight of the field trip was Wolf Cave and seeing who was brave enough to make it all the way through. As I recall the cave is very tight, not good for my claustrophobia! And the cave is completely pitch dark in the middle with no light coming from either end. So you have to feel your way through…and watch out for bats!

At least this is what my tween self recalls of Wolf Cave. If you are brave enough, you should go to McCormick’s Creek and experience it for yourself!

I’ve also had the pleasure of staying at the park’s Inn a few times for work retreats and once for a romantic Valentine’s getaway. My brother is a fan of this state park, and I can recall navigating the trails a few times with him in recent years as well.

For this trip, I decided to go solo.

It was just me and mother nature!

Falls Canyon Trail

The trail recommended by Only in Indiana was the Falls Canyon Trail. When doing my pre-hike research, I found it a bit difficult to decipher exactly which trail to complete as the official state map simply lists the trails by numbers. Trail 3 includes a waterfall, so that one was sure to win out.

Upon arriving at the park, I inquired at the entrance gate about the Falls Canyon Trail. I was told that combining Trail 10 and 3 makes up the Falls Canyon Trail.

If you start Trail 3 near the Canyon Inn, you can follow it and then connect to Trail 10. But I took a different approach.

I prefer hikes with the big scenic payoff at the end. In this case, the payoff is a beautiful waterfall! So I picked up trail 3 at the far end of the Inn’s parking lot instead.

After walking a short path, I came to a set of stairs.

At the bottom was the option to go left for Trail 10 and right to continue on Trail 3. With the waterfall as my ultimate destination, I hung a right.

Trail 10 will be there the next time I visit McCormick’s Creek, but for now, I was ready to chase waterfalls!

Trail 3

This lovely trail follows closely along the creek, with much of the path on stones along the water’s edge.

Trail 3 is just under 1 mile, but it is considered rugged due to the uneven terrain.  The rocks can be slippery so proper footwear is a must.

Yet some hikers choose to lose their shoes altogether and enjoy some good old-fashioned creek stomping! I opted to keep my feet dry this time around.

There are also long sets of stairs at each end of the trail. So if you have kids in tow, leave the stroller at home for this hike.

Of course, I tend to take my time when hiking and snap lots of photos on the journey. So I found it a very pleasant, manageable hike.

The day of my hike was a beautiful spring day in Indiana. Low 70’s, sunny, trees in full bloom, and wildflowers starting to dot the landscape with an array of colors. Plus the gentle sound of rushing water to create a peaceful ambiance.

While there were tons of photo ops all along the trail, the waterfall at the end was the prize I had been anticipating and it was well worth the journey.

If you cross the creek you can get right up under the waterfall for a refreshing spray of water. I decided to stick to the right side of the trail and scaled the rocks near the stairs to get a close-up view, without actually getting wet.

Once you have had your fill of the waterfall from down below, climb up the steps and get yet another breathtaking view from the lookout ledge.

If Trail 3 sounds too strenuous for you, the good news is you can still enjoy this view of the waterfall since it is right by the trail entrance near the Inn.

For me, it was the end of my trail, so now it was time to explore the Inn!

Canyon Inn and More

Canyon Inn is the perfect spot for a family or large group getaway or a romantic rendevous. The Inn includes a small gift shop, a restaurant overlooking the surrounding woods, and plenty of cozy common areas. Sit a spell by the fire or put together a puzzle in between your outdoor explorations.

Then retire to your room with all the basic amenities you are used to in a hotel, although the wifi may be a bit spotty since you are deep in the woods. But that is just a good excuse to get off the grid for a while!

During this trip, I only had time for Trail 3 and a quick spin through the Canyon Inn, but there is so much more to explore at McCormick’s Creek. For those interested in more primitive lodging, check out their campground facilities.

The Nature Center is also worth a visit and the interpretive naturalists offer numerous activities and guided hikes for a variety of ages and interests. Plus, with 10 different hikes to choose from, you are sure to find a trail that fits your endurance level and has you feeling at one with nature.

Find out all that McCormick’s Creek State Park has to offer here, then plan your own trip to this stellar Indiana State Park!

Stick with Traveling Tanya…there are plenty more hikes to come in 2021!

If you missed any of my previous hikes, go back and check out those adventures now:
hike 1, hike 2, hike 3, hike 4

Where is your favorite place to go hiking? Tell us all about it in the comments below and join me as I inspire others to get out and explore!

Wherever the road takes you, make it a joyous journey,
Traveling Tanya

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