Hoosier State Treasures: Indiana Outdoor Activities for All Seasons

If you’re passionate about the great outdoors and love to get the adrenaline flowing, Indiana has the perfect outdoor playground waiting for you.

Whether kayaking the White River in Indianapolis or horseback riding in Columbus, the magnificent catalog of Indiana outdoor activities will help you tick off your bucket list goals. If you’re looking for a family-oriented trip or an exciting adventure with friends, join us as we uncover our top picks for outdoor activities in Indiana.

Canoe the Driftwood River – Edinburgh/Columbus

Kickstarting our recommendations of the best outdoor pursuits in The Hoosier State, we first head to the picturesque Driftwood River, which connects Edinburgh with the city of Columbus.

Our first stop is to meet the crew at Blue’s Canoe Livery for a day of canoeing and kayaking through the state wildlife preserve for a relaxing paddle. Here, you can choose to navigate the occasional mild rapids or, for a more tranquil experience, paddle along the riverbanks, spotting the region’s wildlife, including deer, beavers, and wild turkey.

Ideal for family and friends, our next adventure outdoors finds us at Brown County Saddle Barn for a series of trail and pony rides. Expert guided tours offer a range of scenic trips for beginner riders to the more adventurous trails for the more experienced; for us, a day out on the horses provides a genuine rustic escapade into the Indiana countryside.

Heighten your outdoor vacation away with a great night’s sleep at the Best Western Edinburgh/Columbus every night in Edinburgh, Indiana.

Complete the Pumpkinvine Trail – Goshen, Indiana

Whether you’re a keen runner or just enjoy trail walking, you’ll need to come and visit the impressive Pumpkinvine Nature Trail, which connects Shipshewana with the city of Goshen.

As one of Indiana’s premier nature trials, the Pumpkinvine Trail began life as the Pumkinvine Railroad corridor. Seventeen miles long, the nature trail is ideal for joggers who like to run while surrounded by Indiana’s diverse wildlife habitats, including wetlands and forests.

For people and families who enjoy a more leisurely stroll, the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail has a host of outdoor attractions on your walk, including the botanical park of Krider World’s Fair Garden, or for the avid birders among you, a multitude of bird-spotting opportunities to see the pileated woodpeckers, yellow-billed cuckoos, and black-capped chickadees.

Be sure to maximize your outside adventures on the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail when you book your stay at the Best Western Elkhart Inn & Suites in Elkhart, Indiana.

Explore the Rivergreenway Trail – Fort Wayne

Heading to Fort Wayne next, our tour of the best things to do outside in The Hoosier State finds us heading to the culture-rich city once famous for being an eighteenth-century trading post.

Home to the Rivergreenway Trail, we suggest you head to the delightful team at Fort Wayne Outfitters & Bike Depot to truly experience this amazing route’s natural beauty. Totaling twenty-six miles in length, the Rivergreenway Trail is a safe paved pathway system that runs along the banks of St. Marys, St. Joseph, and Maumee Rivers and is an open-air adventure for all ages.

Next on our outdoor activities shortlist is spending an afternoon at the legendary Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo. Here, you can spend hours wandering around the 40-acre zoo’s enclosures in a range of native habitats to spot African lions, eastern grey kangaroos, and even a blacktip reef shark.

Enhance your outdoor escapades in the haven of Fort Wayne, Indiana, when you book your family’s stay at the Best Western Fort Wayne I-69 North.

Kayak The White River – Indianapolis

Next on our shortlist of outdoor adventure hotspots in Indiana, we head to the state capital of Indianapolis, located on the banks of the White River in the heart of Indiana.

Our first port of call sees us call in at Franks Paddlesports Livery to bask in the sunshine on Indianapolis’ White River. Here, you can hire canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards for a day on the water, floating along for a 7-mile cruise that takes in Arcade Island and Shell Island along the way.

Sticking with our aquatic themed outdoor activities, our second top tip for things to do in Indianapolis is to head to the family-friendly Seashore Water Park. Featuring its multi-colored twisting waterslides, a lazy river, and a wave pool, the Seashore Water Park is ideal for people of all ages looking for an open-air escapade.

Enjoy the fun outdoor events in and on the water before resting soundly every night at the Best Western Plus Indianapolis NW Hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Cycle Around the Hoosier National Forest – French Lick

Our final suggestion for those looking for a fresh-air adventure in Indiana is to head down to the superb town of French Lick, famous for its natural mineral springs and surrounded by the Hoosier National Forest.

Without a doubt, the best thing to do in French Lick is to explore the countless cycle trails that encompass the city, where you can ride as far south as the remarkable Patoka Lake. For the mountain bikers amongst you, you can also challenge the Buffalo Trace Trail, which leads to the Waterfall Trail with its stunning waterfall feature.

Once you’ve had the chance to explore French Lick and its unique surroundings, we recommend an afternoon outdoors at the impressive French Lick Scenic Railway. Here, guests of all ages can climb aboard the Dinosaur Adventure Train for hours of entertainment for the kids, or you can choose to take the Scenic Train, which takes passengers on a winding journey through the Hoosier National Forest.

Elevate your time surrounded by the Hoosier National Forest in French Lick, Indiana, when you book your accommodation at the Best Western Plus French Lick.

Summary: From paddling down the Driftwood River to biking through Hoosier National Forest, Indiana’s outdoor playground offers a whirlwind of adventures for thrill-seekers and nature lovers alike!