 Photo Courtesy Dale Smith
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Facilities and Activities:
| Day-Use | Fishing | yes | | | Hiking Trail, miles | yes | | | Picnicking | yes | | | Picnic Shelters, # | yes | | | Nature Programs | yes | | Camping | Primative, # | 105 | | | Flush Toilets | yes | | | Dumpstation | yes | | | Showers | yes | | | Youth Group Camp, capacity | yes |
State Park Location Maps:
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 Photo Courtesy Dale Smith
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State Park Link:
Shades State Park
Nearby Parks:
Shades State Park Airport
Turkey Run State Park
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| State Park Contact Information: |
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Shades State Park
Route 1 Box 72
Waveland, Indiana 47989
Phone: 765-435-2810
Toll Free: 800-457-8283
Reservations: 866-622-6746
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| Adopt-A-Park Contacts: |
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Photography: add your photos
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| State Park Reservations: |
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Reservations: 
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| State Park Overview: |
| Shades State Park is that peaceful place you've been looking for. Located about 17 miles southwest of Crawfordsville (off S.R. 47), it is a favorite for hikers and canoeists.
The beautiful sandstone cliffs overlooking Sugar Creek and numerous shady ravines provide the backdrop for your journey through this nature lover's paradise.
Adjacent Pine Hills Nature Preserve affords spectacular topography for those willing to take a fairly long hike. |
| Reviews By Park Visitors: |
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Peaceful and Serene
Although it only carries B campsites, it is nonetheless one of my favorite parks. I especially enjoy the crystal falls trail.
Written by Renee K.
13-Apr-2008
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Nature lovers dream
This park is a nature lovers dream. The trails are great and the usage of the park is low. There are some days you will not see a soul. Just you and nature. Peace and solitude.
Written by Arhoun Willowwlof
25-Apr-2008
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Quite Camping
This is the only place my husband and I camp when we want to get away from it all. Very quiet and peaceful campsite! Even at 9 am. We love it!
(name not given)
8-May-2008
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Great family trails
Great camping, clean facilities. The best part had to be the trails. I was 6 months pregnant and we had our 8 year old son with us, and the trails were passable by all of us. The trails were also clean and well maintained. We had a map with the description of each trail...we plan to go back this year and finish the rest!
Written by Debbie
29-May-2008
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Heaven
This is the most peaceful place that you can possibly be at. If I could go to one place it would be shades.
Written by Derek
13-Jun-2008
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Beautiful Nature
This state park is awesome!It has spectacular waterfalls and beautiful views of Sugar Creek.It also has spectacular canyons.This is a state park you must see.
Written by Jacob Moore
13-Jun-2008
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One of my favorites!
I love this park! I have been going for several years and always find something new. Near Turkey Run and Raccoon Lake. Go you will not regret.
(name not given)
13-Jul-2008
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Favorite Hikes from long ago
This was my favorite destination by car or canoe, back in the 50s and 60s. Summers in high school and on college vacations, here our gang gravitated for picnics, hikes, parking (summer nights in high school) and generally growing up in the appreciation of a local natural wonder.
Written by Bill Leavenworth
17-Jul-2008
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Backpack to Site
We enjoyed the 2.5 mile hike back to our campsite. It is the perfect weekend getaway and we will definately return next Summer. :)
Written by Sedona
25-Aug-2008
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Lovely
good hikes, peaceful, not crowded, no liberals
Written by APG
14-Sep-2008
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The woods loves tree huggers, sorry.
(name not given)
26-Oct-2008
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(name not given)
26-Feb-2009
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Stay Away!
I really hope the 2.5 mile hike keeps people away from this perfect getaway/hideaway. My best friend turned me on to this place 2 years ago. Thanks Matt!
(name not given)
3-Apr-2009
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GREAT PLACE TO GET AWAY
I LOVED IT EVERYONE IS NICE WILL TELL PEOPLE TO GO THERE ATLEAST ONCE IN THERE LIFE
Written by BRIAN B
13-Jul-2009
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Great Park
I really enjoyed camping here, Sugar Creek is very close if you like canoe/ kayak (within a mile) We did the 15 mile trip. I went over 4th of July weekend and had a very good time - not noisy although their were tons of people. The sites have plenty of trees and are fairly private. Try not to forget anything though, b/c there is not anything very close. We are planning our next trip back in about a month. I would be careful about food though, for some reason this has been the worse park for racoons that I have been to this year.
(name not given)
13-Aug-2009
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Quiet and Peacful
Awesome park. Will recommend it highly.
The trails are wonderful!
(name not given)
25-Aug-2009
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I love this park.
I was a Boy Scout for as long as I can remember, and I have camped at many campgrounds, recently I graduated from Boy Scouts and decided to stick around and help out, I am glad I did. My troop stayed at Shades last weekend, Nov 20-22, and everyone loved it! the trails are amazing, the absoluted best I have seen in Indiana, and Michigan. the campsites we stayed at, Youth, were clean and well maintained, though a little swampy at the north edge. there was plenty of room for star gazing, tents and games- all at once! The ravines(ladder trails) were amazing, devils puch bowl made me feel like a little kid, high on exitement. Beautiful waterfalls rewarded us for the hike down the creek. On our we took a trail with only one ladder from the play ground, found sugar creek, got onto a large area of river stones, and found this pile of rocks, about 6 ft. high and 3-4 Ft. around. I will come back someday and the troop is already making plans to do so.
Written by BSA T. 251 Asst. Scoutmaster
23-Nov-2009
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| Camping: |
| * Non-Electric / 105 sites * Youth Tent Areas * Dumping Station |
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...vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental, etc read more.... |
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| Related Links: |
| Our Hoosier State beneath us: Geomorphology: Shades State Park: A Missing Part of the Geol - Shades State Park: A Missing Part of the Geologic Story (GM-33) Trail I, following a niche high on the canyon wall, passes just beneath a bluff of sandstone. Rocks exposed here reveal an... | | Indiana State Parks - CLICK & VIEW INFORMATION. Northern Indiana. Chain O' Lakes State Park 2355 E. 75 South Albion, IN 46701 219-636-2654. Indiana Dunes State Park 1600 North 25 E. Chesterton, IN 46304 219-926-1952.... | | Shades State Park - Shades State Park Located in Fountain/Parke/Montgomery Counties Route 1 Box 72 - Waveland, IN 47989 765-435-2810. Shades State Park is that peaceful place you've been looking for. Located about... | | Pine Hills - Pine Hills Nature Preserve. Location: Take Hwy. 231 south from Lafayette (or West Lafayette, if they ever get that bridge finished) to Crawfordsville. Take 47 south from Crawfordsville to Hwy.... | | Shades State Park - Shades State Park. Location: take Hwy. 47 southwest out of Crawfordsville. Turn right onto Hwy. 234 and follow the signs; 234 turns north just before the entrance to shades. Description: One of... |
| Area Attractions: |
| * Picnic areas w/shelters (Shelter Reservations) * Hiking Trails * Fishing * Interpretive Naturalist Services (Seasonal) |
| Area Campgrounds | | Grandpa's Farm Camp Ground
4244 State Road 227 N
Richmond, IN
(765) 962-7907
| KOA Campgrounds
3101 Cart Rd
Richmond, IN
(765) 962-1219
| Deer Ridge Camping Resort
3696 Smyrna Rd
Richmond, IN
(765) 939-0888
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| | Area Fishing Related Businesses | | All About Bass Bait & Tackle
700 N 10th St
Richmond, IN
(765) 935-3800
| Esox Rods Moorehead Tackle Supply
3194 Union Pike
Richmond, IN
(765) 966-5900
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