Creek Stomping at Shades State Park
Time for another hike, and in July I headed back to Shades State Park. I’m on the second half of a year-long adventure to complete all 12 of the fabulous hikes recommended by Only in Indiana in 2021.
Normally, July in Indiana is rather hot and humid. But I lucked out with an extremely pleasant day for my return trip to Shades State Park, which is in west central Indiana. With my friend Jenny in tow, we were overjoyed to have an overcast day with temperatures in the low 70’s.
Perfect hiking weather!
I’m a planner, so I scoped out the website for Shades State Park as well as the map prior to our visit. I was looking for the Pearl Ravine Trail, but all the trails are numbered, so I surmised that Trail 2 was the one I wanted.
When entering the park, I chatted briefly with the attendant after flashing my state park pass. (Side note: if you enjoy hiking it really does pay to purchase an annual state park pass!) He pointed me in the right direction for Trail 2 and highly recommended we take the short jaunt to explore Lover’s Leap.
It’s always a good idea to get tips and pointers from the knowledgeable staff at the parks, and this gentleman did not steer us wrong!
Lover’s Leap
Jenny and I quickly found the entrance for trail 2 and the side path to the left leading to Lover’s Leap.
Just a short way down the path we came upon the protruding deck with an archway labeled “Lover’s Leap.”
Just a few steps past the arch you can gaze far down into the depths of the forest and comprehend how this lookout got its name. If you are afraid of heights you may want to skip this side trek!
I personally loved the views and felt perfectly secure on the solid structure as I clung tightly to the banister while snapping several photos.
None of the photos I took do justice to the high elevation and breathtaking views, so you really need to experience Lover’s Leap for yourself. For your own safety, please look, but don’t leap!
Trail 2
We then headed back to the beginning of Trail 2, which started off fairly tame.
We enjoyed the soaring trees, lush greenery, and flat walking path.
But as many Indiana trails do, the terrain changed dramatically and made for a fun and challenging hike! This 1.25 mile trail is labeled Rugged/Very Rugged for a reason.
Best to leave the stroller and little kids at home as you navigate the rocky ravine and the stairs that never end!
My prep work once again came in handy. I had been advised by the Interpretive Naturalist to follow the Trail 2 loop in a clockwise direction. I’m happy to pass this wise council on to you, as it will make your journey a bit easier and less sweaty!
Prepare for Stairs
Trail 2 contains lots of stairs. Lots. Of. Stairs! There are 160 steps to be specific…that’s a lot of steps!
The reason for going in a clockwise direction is so you can go down, rather than up, most of the stairs. And as far as I’m concerned, down all these stairs is enough of a workout! Most of the stairs are rather narrow so single-file is also recommended.
Some of the stairs are rather steep and can also be slippery if there has been recent rain. So I preferred to put my camera away on the descent and actually held on to the rails on both sides!
There were plenty of flat stretches that gave me an opportunity to check out the amazing views and whip out my camera.
Lucky for me Jenny appreciates my slow and observant hiking pace!
Pearl Ravine
Once we were down the numerous sets of stairs, we were nestled into Pearl Ravine. But before we started our trek through the ravine, we veered left to get a peek at Steamboat Rock.
This massive rock juts out over Sugar Creek and both are worth pausing your hike so you can check out the views and snap a few photos.
Now it was time for some creek stomping! Not in the depths of sugar creek, but in the trickle of Pearl Ravine.
I have some fond memories of creek stomping in my youth where the goal was to get wet. Jenny and I had the opposite idea in mind! We gingerly made our way along the rocky path that makes up a large portion of Trail 2.
Slippery When Wet
Depending on recent precipitation, I’m guessing it can be rather difficult to stay dry on this trail.
Somehow Jenny and I fared pretty well with just a few close calls on slippery rocks and muddy spots along the ravine. I definitely recommend sturdy footwear, either the waterproof kind or ones you don’t mind getting dirty and wet.
Buddy Up
While I’ve enjoyed many hikes solo and at times prefer the peaceful solitude in nature, I was really glad I took Jenny on this adventure. Both for the pleasant conversation and for safety’s sake. And I advise anyone completing Trail 2 to buddy up.
There were not a ton of trail signs through the ravine, so it was helpful as hiking partners to take turns reassuring the other that we were indeed on the right path!
We also took turns leading and thereby testing rocks for stability. And then warning the other whenever we took a misstep or found a less than sturdy rock.
Jenny and I both made it safely to the end of the trail. But I couldn’t help but wonder how someone who slipped and twisted an ankle would make it out of the ravine, especially if they were hiking alone!
At the end of the ravine, we came to Maidenhair falls…and more steps. But not too many! We were then back to fairly flat ground and an easy finish to our hike.
That wraps up yet another hike in 2021. Just five more to go! If you missed any of my earlier hikes you can catch up here: hike 1, hike 2, hike 3, hike 4, hike 5, hike 6
Stay tuned for more Indiana hiking adventures!
Which of Traveling Tanya’s hiking adventures has been your favorite? Have you tackled any of these Indiana hikes yet? Comment below and share your Indiana hiking experiences!
Wherever the road takes you, make it a joyous journey,
Traveling Tanya
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