A 1,500 Acre Park With Breathtaking Views, Beautiful Waterfalls, Unique And Rugged Trails, And Rich History
For those willing to trek the extra mile and take the road less traveled, Clifty Falls State Park offers quite the reward. Just a five minute drive from Madison, Indiana, many people are unaware of Clifty's existence until they pass through. And it's the breathtaking views, beautiful waterfalls and unique and rugged trails that make the 1,500 acre park unforgettable once discovered. And of those who visit the park, “90 percent don't even know” about some of the most unique and exciting parts of Clifty.
Clifty Creek's stony bed is “littered with fossil remnants” that “tell of a long vanished marine ecosystem that teemed with life.” This includes ancient corals, ancestral squids, brachiopods and more. Some have even see trolibites and cephlopods in the 425 million year old limestone and hale rocks. Because of Clifty Canyon, it's very easy to see the fossils, which are exposed in the heart of the canyon.
There are ten marked trails throughout the park. Most are labeled as “rugged.” The three-mile trail that leads to these stony beds is labeled as “very rugged,” described as a “one way, no out-let” path. It may be impassable during times of high water. But the trek is worth it for “fossil geeks” like Naturalist Brad Kessans.
“As long as you are physically able to get into the canyon and to the creek,” said Kessans, “you'll see the largest and most prevelant fossils, one on top of the other. That's where I would go.”
While guests are not allowed to collect fossils at the park, there are many fossil hunting sites nearby. According to Kessans, there's a road cut on Highway 421 where many people gather to collect fossils, a five minute drive from the park.
The fossils aren't the only part of the park that must remain untouched. Even though the fossils are a very unique aspect of the park and a reward for those who are looking to get off the beaten path, Clifty is mostly known for their large nature preserve in the canyon.
The protected area is full of 400 foot elevations, bluffs, cliffs and waterfalls (the largest is 83 feet). There are 13 miles of marked trail. Guests must stay on the trail and can't leave anything more than their footprints. Walking in the untouched wildlife is a great experience for many people, especially those who love to see animals in their natural habitat and endangered plant species.
“Our park is different. You can see a lot of critters here,” said Kessans. “In the spring and summer you can see box turtles – which are a protected species – and many snake species. We have turkeys who run the park this time of year. We have deer, raccoons... People might see a red fox or an exotic salamander.”
But the most exciting part of the preserve is found on trail five, which leads to Tunnel Falls. The mile long trail eventually leads guests to a man-made tunnel known as Brough's Folly. Built in 1852 by John Brough – the then-president of the Madison & Indianapolis Railroad company, the tunnel was part of a the “River to Rail” project.
The tunnel may be known as “abandoned” but it's anything but. The 600 foot tunnel is home to many bat species, cave salamanders and spiders. The tunnel is closed from November to May during the bats' hibernation season, but there are many spots where guests can peer into the mouth of the cave.
Kessans often gives tours of the cave and other locations throughout the park. On site seven days a week, the park's rangers “know all of the behind the scenes stuff” that “makes the park special.” During short walks around the park, they tell guests about the park's history and its unique spots.
There's tales of work on the railroad, when over 700 men worked on the tunnel back in the 1850s. Then there's the park's ties to the Underground Railroad. There's stories of past land owners, a hotel that used to be on the location, an orchard... But Kessans won't give away any of the stories. That's what visiting Clifty is all about: Finding out more, exploring...
While Clifty Falls State Park has a picnic area, multiple playgrounds, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a nature center and a tennis court, it's really all about taking that rugged trail, peering into the bat cave... It's about learning more, discovering the unknown.
Olivia Richman
A graduate of East Connecticut State University in Journalism, Olivia has written for Stonebridge Press & Antiques Marketplace among others. She enjoys writing, running and video games.
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Clifty Falls State Park, located near Madison with entrances on state roads 56 and 62. The park’s waterfalls change moods with the weather and the seasons and can range from roaring plunges to delicate bridal-veil mists to gleaming frozen titans