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Indiana State Parks

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Charlestown State Park
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Charlestown State Park Charlestown State Park, IN © Amy Dawn Whitlock
Charlestown State Park Charlestown State Park, IN © Amy Dawn Whitlock
Charlestown State Park Fourteen Mile Creek © Paul Wonning
Trail along Fourteen Mile Creek leads to Ohio River
Charlestown State Park Picnic Area © Paul Wonning
The picnic area overlooks the Ohio River
Charlestown State Park Ohio River © Paul Wonning
Ohio River from overlook
Charlestown State Park Ohio River View © Paul Wonning
Stunning views of the Ohio River at Charlestown State Park
Charlestown State Park Elevation © Michael E. Ruby
This is an elevation tag on the way down to the Portersville Bridge
Charlestown State Park Plaque © Michael E. Ruby
The plaque at the Charlestown boat ramp
Charlestown State Park Charlestown State Park © Michael E. Ruby
The Charlestown State Park entrance sign.
Charlestown State Park Bridge © Michael E. Ruby
The Portersville Bridge
Charlestown State Park Another view © Michael E. Ruby
The Portersville Bridge from the other side
Charlestown State Park Plaque © Michael E. Ruby
The plaque at the Portersville Bridge
Charlestown State Park On the bridge © Michael E. Ruby
Standing in the middle of the Portersville Bridge
Charlestown State Park Well © Michael E. Ruby
Ranney Well house
Charlestown State Park Plaque © Michael E. Ruby
The plaque sits on top of the Portersville Bridge
Charlestown State Park © Michael E. Ruby
Charlestown State Park Charlestown Boat Ramp © Michael E. Ruby
Looking down the ramp to the Ohio River
Charlestown State Park © Tammy Davis
Tammy Davis
Charlestown State Park © Rich Fowler
Charlestown State Park © Rich Fowler
Charlestown State Park Charlestown State Park © Rich Fowler
Charlestown State Park Ohio River © Tammy Davis
Ohio River from trail 6 Tammy Davis
Charlestown State Park Looking for breakfast © Rich Fowler
A vulture warming up in the morning sun at the main entrance to the park
Charlestown State Park Surveying The Countryside © Rich Fowler
A vulture warming up in the morning sun
Charlestown State Park © Tammy Davis
Tammy Davis
Charlestown State Park © Rich Fowler
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CHARLESTOWN STATE PARK
CHARLESTOWN STATE PARK
12500 IN-62
Charlestown, Indiana   47111-9759
(lat:38.4305 lon:-85.6279) map location

Phone: (812) 256-5600
Reservations: 812-256-5600
Charlestown State Park is located in southern Indiana with easy access from I-65, 8 miles to the east on state road 62. With scenic vistas of the Fourteenmile Creek valley and elevation changes of over 200 feet, Charlestown has much to offer the visitor with this diversity. While hiking the rugged terrain you will see Devonian fossil outcrops and areas of karst sinkhole topography. Bird watchers will enjoy the 72 species of birds, including bluebirds, black vultures and an occasional Bald Eagle.

Charlestown is one of two state parks offering full hookup campsites.
Passes
State park permits can be purchased at any of the state park property locations across Indiana. State park permits can also be ordered online by visiting the INDINIA ENTRANCE FEE web page.
FACILITIES AND ACTIVITIES OVERVIEW
Day-UseFishingyes
 Hiking Trailyes
BoatingLaunch Rampsyes
CampingElectric Sitesyes
 Full Hookup Sitesyes
WinterActivitiesyes
Camping
* Full Hookup / 60 sites * Electric / 132 sites * Campground Reservations
Camping Map (pdf)
Boating
In Indiana, the park offers a variety of boating options for visitors. There is an accessible boat ramp available to launch personal watercraft into Fourteenmile Creek which leads out to Ohio River. Canoeing and kayaking are popular activities in this area as well due to its calm waters and scenic surroundings. However, motorized boats should be aware that there may be shallow areas or submerged objects within the creek.
Fishing
You can fish in the Ohio River and Fourteen Mile Creek. Species include catfish, bass, bluegill, crappie and carp. Boating access is available for fishing enthusiasts with their own vessels. Fishing from the bank of these water bodies also provides a relaxing experience.


Location
Charlestown State Park is located near Charlestown, Clarksville and Crestwood

Picnicking
1. Charlestown State Park offers numerous picnic areas with tables and grills.
2. There are four rentable shelters for larger gatherings.
3. Picnic sites have stunning views of Fourteenmile Creek valley.
4. Some picnic spots provide access to hiking trails and fishing opportunities.
5. The park also features a playground near the main picnic area.

Trails
1. RUGGED 2.4 milesBegins at the Trail 1 parking lot and follows an existing gravel road a short distance before turning to the left and slowly descending into the Fourteenmile Creek valley. It then meanders through dense floodplain forest before climbing up the valley wall to wind along rock outcrops and abutments. A lower portion of the trail offers scenic views of Fourteenmile Creek before climbing again as it returns to the parking lot. Spring wildflowers along portions of this trail will treat the hiker to stunning displays. Wildlife, songbirds, and birds of prey may be seen along this trail.

2. MODERATE 1.4 milesBegins in the picnic area and follows several stream ravines as it circles back to return to the picnic area. The middle section of this trail runs along hillsides heavily forested with mixed deciduous hardwoods, bridges several small ravines, and offers scenic views of several small cascading falls and rock-bottom streams.

3. RUGGED 2.1 milesThe trail begins with a very steep road grade that once led to a footbridgeover Fourteenmile Creek. The bridge provided access to Rose Island, a 1920s amusement park. The Rose Island facilities were damaged beyond repair by the 1937 flood, and the bridge was removed once the Army bought the land in the 1940s. Good areas for stream-bank fishing can be reached by following the gravel portion of Trail 3 to Fourteenmile Creek. The middle section of this trail is very scenic with views of Fourteenmile Creek, rock cliffs high above the trail, abundant spring wildflowers, and mixed deciduous forests.

4. Rugged 2.9 milesTrail 4 begins at same parking lot as Trail 3. Beginning on gently rolling land, this trail soon begins to descend into mixed hardwood forests as it follows tributaries of Fourteenmile Creek. At about the halfway point, hikers will see commanding views of Fourteenmile Creek from a bluff more than 100 feet above the water. High quality woodlands and striking wildflower displays are found on this trail.

5. MODERATE 1.2 milesConveniently located in the campground near site 17, this trail is easily accessed. Descending a wooded ravine, the trail ultimately comes to a platform overlooking Fourteenmile Creek. Winding back up the hillside, the trail ends where it started, so its a short walk back to your campsite. Non-campers can enjoy this trail by parking in the overflow lot and hiking the .3-mile leg to the main loop.

6. RUGGED 2.3 milesThis scenic trail starts across the road from the Riverside Overlook and runs along the top of the river bluff. The bluff top offers glimpses of the Ohio River and Twelvemile Island, and overlooks the boat ramp. A bridge crosses a natural waterfall and descends to the old Charlestown Landing site, where locals used to send and receive goods by boat pre-1940s. From there it is a stroll back along the bluff bottom. Enjoy the towering bluffs. During spring, there is an abundance of wildflowers.

PLEASE STAY ON MARKED TRAILS.
Trail Map (pdf)
Bicycling
Biking enthusiasts should note that cycling is limited to paved roads. Off-road biking isn't permitted within the park boundaries.

The terrain can be hilly, so it's advisable for cyclists to prepare accordingly and maintain caution while riding downhill.

There are no dedicated bike trails available; therefore, bikers must share roadways with motor vehicles which requires extra vigilance at all times.

Cyclists need helmets as safety measures due to traffic on shared paths and potential steep inclines in certain areas.

Remember: there aren't any bicycle rentals onsite - bring your own gear if you plan on pedaling around this scenic area.

Lastly, always respect wildlife by maintaining a safe distance when encountering animals during rides through these natural surroundings.
Birding
Birdwatchers can explore six hiking trails, with opportunities to spot various species like warblers and woodpeckers. The park's diverse habitats attract a wide range of birds throughout the year. Birding enthusiasts may also enjoy spotting waterfowl along Fourteen Mile Creek or Ohio River banks within the park boundaries.
Area Attractions
Activities and Facilities

* Hiking Trails * Picnic areas w/shelters (Shelter Reservations) * Fishing, along 14 Mile Creek bank on Trail 3 * Playground Equipment * Camping * Interpretive Naturalist Services (seasonal)

Visitor Comments, Memories and Reviews
June 2 by Andrea
park review stars; one to five Decent campground with all sites being electric and some full hook up. We were in a tent, and found the sites in the paw paw loop to be too close together. In addition, the shower house in the paw paw loop did not have hot water and the shower only stayed on for 5 seconds at a time. The main loop shower house was nice with hot water. We were told the campstore was open 8-4, so we tried to go at 230 on a Saturday and they were already closed. Also tried to go at 10am on Monday and 930am on Tuesday..also closed. Firewood and ice available at campground gate. Very nice trails to hike with Rose Island being a definite must see. If you closely on the trails, you can find remnants of old buildings.
February 26 One of my favorite parks.
park review stars; one to five
May 13 Be aware of deer ticks
park review stars; one to five We recently camped in the park(our first visit)and found that the area in the campsites had not been mowed, the tick infestation was so terrible that we could not sit outside without multiple ticks getting on us , even with the use of personal spray. It was so bad that we left one day early. We were in a campsite with full hookups and was a fairly expensive venture. We also noticed when we arrived on Thursday the dumpsters were over-flowing with trash. They were not emptied until on a Friday night or Sat. We did enjoy the paved trails otherwise we were very dissapointed. With proper maintenance this could be a very nice campground.
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Indiana State Parks

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