Clifty Falls State Park, an Indiana State Park near Jeffersonville, Madison, North Vernon

USA

Indiana

Clifty Falls State Park

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Facilities and Activities:

General Land, acres 1300
Day-Use Hiking Trail, miles yes
Picnicking yes
Picnic Shelters, # yes
Nature Center yes
Nature Programs yes
Camping Primative, # 59
Electric Sites, # 106
Flush Toilets yes
Dumpstation yes
Showers yes
Youth Group Camp, capacity yes
Accommodations Lodge Rooms, # 63
Indoor Swimming Pool yes
Tennis yes
Restaurant yes

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State Park Link:
Clifty Falls State Park

Nearby Parks:
General Butler State Park
Crosley State Fish and Wildlife Area
Muscatatuck State Park

State Park Contact Information:
	Clifty Falls State Park 1501 Green Rd Madison, Indiana 47250-1974 Phone: 812-273-8885	Area Places to Eat
Adopt-A-Park Contacts:
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State Park Reservations:
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State Park Overview:

Clifty Falls State Park is located near Madison with entrances off state roads 56 and 62. The name Clifty Falls paints a beautiful picture in your mind. Winter and spring hiking shows the falls at their best while the rugged splendor of the creek and canyon offer exciting scenery year-round.

In historic Madison tour the Lanier State Historic Site, mansion of frontier banker James F.D. Lanier and enjoy the drive along the beautiful Ohio River. Plan a park visit during one of the community's special events such as the Madison Chautauqua Art Festival or Regatta hydroplane boat race.

Reviews By Park Visitors:

visitor rating:

(7 votes) |Post Your Own Review

What a great time

My daughter and I stayed 3 nights at the Inn in one of the Parkview Suites. The room was very clean. Every one we met and helped us were very nice. We played tennis every day. The pool at the Inn is very nice. We have highly recommeded lots of friends and family to go to Clify Falls.

Written by Darci & Bonnie Simpson 8-Aug-2008

i love to bring my 3 year old to play

My son and I go to clifty about 3 times a week just to walk and play on the new play area which is really great!!! he loves the nature center too. we live close by and I would recommend any to go see for their selves

(name not given) 23-Apr-2008

First Visit

We were surprised to see an entry charge for a state park, but it was worth it!

Written by Aaron 26-Apr-2008

Awesome Park

Even though it might seem small, it is a great park. Huge waterfalls, nice hikes through wilderness, and great food at the lodge. A great place to visit!

(name not given) 9-Jul-2008

Love the pool and trails

This place was great. The pool was good with an really enjoyable slide, great for kids. The trails we rough but really neat rock formations. Good camp sites all and all a good experience I spent the time there with my 3 kids and spent less than $30.

(name not given) 6-Aug-2008

FALL IS THE MOST SCENIC TIME

THE LEAVES AT THE END OF OCTOBER ARE IN ALL OF THEIR SPLENDER. TREES COVER NEARLY ALL OF THE PARK WITH CURVY ROADS AND SCENIC CLIFFS ALONG THE TRAILS.. ENJOY!

(name not given) 6-Nov-2008

juggaloistic!

ok i am from northern indiana. every year a big group of my juggalo family desides to go to all the different campgrounds all over indiana. this year we went to clifty falls! it was alot of fun! my bf (best friend) and my girlfriend was walking with me well my girlfriend is on the side closes to the road. i was in the middle, and my bf was closes to the river! well he turns to look at something and he walked right into a pole! it was hularious! lol! we also walked the trails and there was like 50 of us walking through the creek bed! it was awsome! i would love to go back sometime!

Written by juggalette from indiana! 13-Jun-2009

Camping:

* Electric / 106 sites * Primitive / 59 sites * Youth Tent Areas * Dumping Station

History of the Area:

People have always been fascinated by scenes of rugged geologic splendor, places which give witness to awesome powers at work in nature. Clifty Falls Sate Park, with its deeply cut gorges, sheet rock walls and plunging waterfalls, is such a place. Like the proverbial cowboy who first viewed the Grand Canyon one cannot help think, "Something has happened here!"

Clifty Falls and the nearby Ohio River are products of the Ice Age. The Ohio River is a trench cut by sand and gravel laden melt waters of the glacial ice mass and basically marks the southern most advance of the glaciers which came from the north. Clifty Falls and its canyon are a subsequent erosion feature. From the lip of Clifty Falls at an elevation near the general level of the county, Clifty Creek plunges down more than 70 feet. In nearly three miles of canyon, the creek descends another 250 feet to the Ohio River below. There are four major waterfalls and numerous minor ones in the park.

The 425 million-year-old hales and limestones of the park are among the oldest bedrock exposures in Indiana. They are some 100 million years older than the sandstones and shales of the south central 'Knobs' region and nearly 150 million years older than the coal-bearing deposits of southwestern Indiana. An abundance of fossil remains of ancient marine life are interred in the formation of the rock.

In 1853, the Madison and Indianapolis Railroad Company began work on a railway which was to have run west from Madison then up Clifty Creek Canyon and Dean's Branch to connect with the mail line about one mile north of Madison. Two tunnels were planned for the 4 3/4 mile line. The lower tunnel was barely started and excavation of the upper tunnel which traverses the cliff just south of the Tunnel Falls was in progress when financial problems made it necessary to suspend operations. Portions of the park's hiking trails follow the original grade and several piers and trestle abutments may still be seen.

For many years, the park consisted of 617 acres which included the falls, the canyon and the immediate upland rim. In 1965, the park was more than doubled in size by the acquisition of adjoining upland fields from the Madison State Hospital. This 'old field' area has provided the space needed for modern recreational demands. The city of Madison and the Ohio River Valley make up the panorama seen from Clifty Inn.

Area Places to Eat

Bakery

Sweet Mornings Donut Shop - Liberty, IN
We offer the following donuts and muffins made fresh daily in our shop: Glazed donuts,Twists,Plain and Chocolate Cake ,Apple Fritters,Honey Buns,Blueberry,Sour Creme,Donut Holes,Bars,Yeast rings,Tiger Tails,Filled Donuts,Berry Blast Muffin,Sin-A-Muffin.
Web Site: http://www.sweetmorningsdonutshop.com/

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