Thankful Thursdays - 11/6/14 - Mounds State Park

We are extremely thankful for our Indiana State Parks. One of our favorites is Mounds State Park. It has trails with a variety of topography, plus several earthen mounds built by the Adena-Hopewell people about 2000 years ago. Mounds State Park also has an excellent nature center, with displays that  explain the placement of the mounds, and highlight local wildlife, there is also a comfy bird-watching room. The multi-purpose room at the nature center hosts frequent special events, including activities geared for different age groups, and fun winter crafts sessions. The nature center is a great place to go on windy or cold days to warm up between hikes.

Just a couple weeks ago, when it was still fairly warm, we took a late afternoon hike through the park, away from the mounds. Because so many people come to see the mounds, and to walk the trails that run alongside the White River near the bottom of the bluff the mounds are situated on, the other side of the park is often quieter. It was especially quiet on this afternoon, and we passed only a few other hikers on our afternoon trek through the forest. We watched birds and squirrels, and talked about the trees we passed. We heard, and then saw, a woodpecker at work. We stopped to enjoy one of the many small brooks that feed downhill into the White River. It was tranquil and refreshing, just what I needed to remove some brain fog. As the sun began to set, we had the opportunity to watch 4 deer feeding down in one of the many ravines.

Today, just a few days later, the area surely looks quite different, as almost all of the leaves have fallen. But two weeks ago when we hiked as a family, it looked like this:

That is a reason to be thankful! 

So tell us, where is your favorite hiking spot? Leave a comment and let us know!