Fall Creek Gorge in Mid-Summer
Mid August in Indiana means photo road trips! This particular visit took us to Fall Creek Gorge, near Attica, in west-central Indiana. The area is very lush, with mosses and ferns covering the steep limestone and sandstone walls of the gorge. Think of Turkey Run State Park on a very small scale, and without the kayaks and crowds.
The gorge is owned and managed by the Nature Conservancy, and was dedicated as a State Nature Preserve in 1986. Although I am an Indiana native, I just recently became aware of the site in recent years.
It is worth the trip – not only for the photo opps, but the water feels absolutely wonderful on a 90 degree Indiana summer day. Some of the potholes make for some creek lounging; the water in a few choice locations is up to my chest. The water is very clear and refreshingly cool.
The gorge is a difficult place to find. It’s in the middle of nowhere, on a gravel road, with a huge parking area for a half dozen cars. Don’t ask the locals – they probably don’t know where it’s at. But always willing to help, I’ve got directions for you:
Assuming you can find Attica, from the corner if S.R 28 and U.S. 41 travel west on U.S. 41 4.6 miles to Potholes Road (Kramer electric substation is across the road). It’s a gravel road and easy to miss. Go north roughly 1.5 miles to a small parking lot on the left side of the road. If you cross over the twin bridges over Fall Creek and Big Pine Creek, you have gone to far. From Daniel Central, it’s a short 100 miles to the Gorge.
Park your car, tailgate a nice lunch, leave your trash behind, walk the short trail to the gorge and prepare to get wet and enjoy yourself. I hope you enjoy these shots – I will have a full gallery posted soon.