EVANSVILLE — It's just one of those things about Evansville that people — well, serious hikers and people who hike less seriously — have to accept.
"This area doesn’t have a ton of hiking," said Becca Carter, a Henderson, Kentucky, resident and "ambassador" of the Western Kentucky chapter of Hikerbabes.
"We usually have to drive an hour or two to get to anything outside of, like, Audubon (State Park) or Harmonie (State Park). There’s just not a ton of great hiking around here, so our (Hikerbabes) chapter probably does travel a little bit more than some of the others."
Travel? Carter, who said many of her group's roughly 850 members are from Evansville, has Hikerbabes set to go to Maine's Acadia National Park in September and to North Carolina in October.
"I have family (in Maine), I've been many times, I know the area around national park really well," she said. "I thought, you know, I’m just as adept at taking a group there as I am to Land Between the Lakes."
Denise Lanier, an Indianapolis resident, is the founder of HikerBabes Community of Southern Indiana. That group focuses on Indiana hikes, of which Lanier says there are many.
"The hiking & adventure throughout Indiana is PLENTIFUL!!" she told the Courier & Press by email.
Lanier had a few tips for anyone just starting out in the hiking game.
"Always carry enough water for your hike, especially as temps are heating up!" she wrote. "Carry snacks, a map and wear a sturdy athletic shoe or hiking boot. Just starting out? Start small and stay close to home.
"Hiking is for everybody, whether it’s a paved pathway that’s wheelchair accessible and stroller friendly or deep in the woods with no cell service."
Paved pathways. It's a question in hiker circles. Is walking on paved pathways hiking?
Carter, whose group organizes about four hikes a month, says no.
"I like to call those ‘urban hikes,'" she said. "And that would be its own thing, because it’s not the same. But sometimes it’s all we have."
It's harder still to find legitimate hiking trails in the immediate vicinity because some areas that would seem to invite such expeditions do not allow dogs.
"A lot of times, if I don’t want to drive a couple of hours but I want to take my dog, I have to do what I call an urban hike — and so that is the state hospital park or the Riverwalk in Henderson, those are two really great places," Carter said.
As recommended by Lanier and Carter, here are six great places to hike in the Evansville area — kind of — and five more that are worth the drive:
6 good hiking spots in the Evansville area
Lincoln State Park East Loop in Spencer County, Indiana
"I have not hiked this trail, but it is one of the top-rated hikes within an hour of Evansville," Carter said.
Lanier named Lincoln State Park and Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial in Lincoln City, Indiana. "My 2 favorite trails at LSP both meander around lakes," she wrote. "Trail 1 is 1.5 miles, rated easy, going around Lincoln Lake & Trail 6 is 1.8 miles, rated easy, going around Weber Lake. It should take less than an hour to complete either.
"When visiting the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, be sure to stop by the visitor’s center first! The Trail of 12 Stones highlights major events in President Lincoln’s life & there is a Living Historical Farm on site as well!"
Audubon State Park, Henderson, Kentucky
"Audubon has a variety of shorter hikes or you can combine trails for a longer hike. Dogs only allowed on one one-mile loop trail," Carter said.
Harmonie State Park, New Harmony, Indiana
"HSP offers almost 8 miles of trails. Hike as little or as much as you want!" Lanier wrote. "Bring the family and have a picnic. Harmonie also offers a paved bicycle trail, which may be used for walking."
Jeffreys Cliffs, Hawesville, Kentucky
"Six miles of trails," Carter said. "No dogs. Lots of steep cliffs and rock outcroppings with a large rock house that you can explore. This was an old farmstead that was donated and turned into a hiking preserve around ten years ago."
Angel Mounds State Historic Site, Evansville
"While there are only 4-5 miles of trails, the major draw is the history!" Lanier wrote. "Angel Mounds showcases native peoples who lived in modern-day Evansville from the Mississippian Culture over 1,000 years ago. The site features earthen mounds built by these people."
Howell Wetlands, Evansville
"Howell is home to one of the largest remaining wetlands in Indiana," Lanier wrote. "Howell Wetlands offers only 2 miles of trails, making it great for families. However, to learn more about biodiversity in our state, this is a must see!"
5 more hiking spots that are worth the drive
Clifty Falls State Park in Madison, Indiana
Carter and Lanier each cited Clifty Falls State Park in Madison. (Distance from Evansville: 161 miles) "Clifty Falls has ver 14 miles of trails. Make your adventure as long or as short as you wish," Lanier wrote. "However, don’t miss the waterfalls, which are best viewed in the Spring or after very heavy rains."
Carter said Clifty Falls has a nice variety of options for hiking.
"Multiple trails can be combined to create the mileage you’d prefer," she said.
Spring Mill State Park in Mitchell, Indiana
(Distance from Evansville: 101 miles) Spring Mill has about 10 miles of trails, Lanier wrote.
"The Pioneer Village offers a living historical village of how pioneers lived and worked in Indiana in early times. You can’t miss out on the inexpensive Twin Cave Boat Tours. While Mammoth Cave in Kentucky steals the show, you can still get a great taste of the underground world."
Hemlock Cliffs & Yellow Birch Ravine in Taswell, Indiana
(Distance from Evansville: 80 miles) "Two must-see trails in Hoosier National Forest. Both have waterfalls & Yellow Birch is home to 1 of 4 Natural Arches in Indiana," Lanier wrote.
But it's not a cakewalk.
"Both trails are rated hard, but short enough that the whole family can enjoy," Lanier wrote.
Hematite Lake Trail in Eddyville, Kentucky
(Distance from Evansville: 67 miles) "This trail is at Land Between the Lakes and is an easy two-and-a-half miles," Carter said. "LBL offers lots of other options for hiking, including the 58-mile North South Trail."
Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve in Ellettsville, Indiana
(Distance from Evansville: 126 miles) "This wetland offers a 2.5 mile trail that loops through another Indiana wetland," Lanier wrote. "It is home to the endangered: Indiana Bat & Kirtland Snake as well as a nesting site for the American Bald Eagle.
"Nearby you have the Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge, which hosts a stopping point for a plethora of migrating birds in the spring and fall. There are a ton of restaurants, wineries and breweries."
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