Redbird Off-Road State Recreation Area in Dugger, IN, is another epic spot for driving, riding, and hiking! This park provided me with a chance to be a little braver than I wanted to be, but was I ready to take advantage of it? If you visit Redbird to ride, don’t forget the park fees are a little different. You’ll need to pay a different (but still small) fee if you plan to take a motorized vehicle on the trails. Check the park’s website to learn more.

The dates for this season’s night rides are April 18 for the Spring Night Ride, July 25 for Trails for Tikes Night Ride, and October 24 for Hall-O-Wheelin.

Check out the website and follow on Instagram and Facebook to see pictures from Redbird. Buy IN the Parks stickers and support the podcast!

Any mistakes are my own.

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Turkey Run State Park may be Indiana's best-loved park! It was cherished by the Lusk family, the white settlers who owned the land in the 1800s. Later, the community fought to keep it as a park instead of letting a lumber company get their hands on it. The creator of our state parks system, Colonel Richard Lieber, also had a very strong connection to the property. There's something about the rugged beauty, adventure, and reminder of how small you are that keeps people coming back!

Learn about the Lusk family and how the park began, discover old and new trails, and hear about the Eagles in Flight weekend that happens every January. Plus, you'll find out how long I've been visiting this park!

If you want to support Turkey Run or learn about the Eagles in Flight weekend, be sure to follow their Friends volunteer group online.

Buy IN the Parks stickers and support the podcast!

Any mistakes are my own.

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Head to Southern Indiana to visit Deam Lake! You'll enjoy time on the water and discover it's the gateway to more trail systems than you'd expect! Horse riders and hikers can camp at Deam Lake and access Clark State Forest, for more miles of exploring. The Knobstone Trail's southern terminus is at Deam Lake, and the Monon South has a trailhead here too.

You'll also learn that Deam Lake is named for Charles C. Deam, Indiana's first forester. Deam was a man of intense focus and conviction, an early conservationist who spent his life discovering plants in the state and beyond.

The Deam Lake Loop Trail Run is October 3, 2026, and you can sign up for the race here.

If you want to bring your horse to ride at Deam Lake, Indiana Trail Riders Association is a valuable resource.

Get maps, tips, segment ideas, pictures, history, and more on the Knobstone Hiking Trail Association website.

Follow Deam Lake on Facebook and be sure to take on their new hiking challenge!

Buy IN the Parks stickers and support the podcast!

Any mistakes are my own.

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