O'Bannon Woods State Park
IMPORTANT TRAVEL DETOUR: Beginning April 1, 2013 through September 2013, the west entrance to O’Bannon Woods from I-64/SR 66 will be CLOSED due to a nearby bridge replacement. CAMPERS AND VISITORS COMING FROM THE WEST ON I-64, must continue on I-64 to the Corydon exit (Exit 105). At the exit, go south on SR 135 to SR 62. Go west on SR 62 about 10 miles. Go south on SR 462 about three miles to the park entrance.
7234 Old Forest Road SW
Corydon, IN 47112
(812) 738-8232
O'Bannon Woods Events
DESCRIPTION
O'Bannon Woods State Park (formerly Wyandotte Woods State Recreation Area) lies in the central and extreme southern part of the state, bordering the Ohio River. It is nestled inside 26,000-acre Harrison Crawford State Forest, but is managed separately, along with Wyandotte Caves State Recreation Area. For more information about O'Bannon Woods or Wyandotte Caves, contact the park office at (812) 738-8232.
O’Bannon Woods was the location of one of the few African-American Civilian Conservation Corps units. The property also has a uniquely restored, working haypress barn, complete with oxen for power and a pioneer farmstead.
The area offers electrical campsites, as well as the Stagestop Campground, which offers primitive and youth camping. A canoe access ramp is also available at the Stagestop Campground. Indiana’s first natural and scenic river, Blue River, flows through the state park and forest.
The Corydon Capitol State Historic Site is located near the park. Visitors can learn about early Indiana history as they tour the beautiful first state capitol building, built entirely of limestone, and old town square.
Please Note: All Caves Closed until further notice
All caves and sinkholes on DNR properties except for Twin Caves at Spring Mill are closed to provide protection from White-nosed syndrome, a fungus that is killing bats in large numbers in the Northeastern U.S. and is now spreading west. This includes Wyandotte Cave and all the wild caves at O'Bannon Woods. To learn more about WNS, visit www.dnr.IN.gov/batdisease. Thank you for cooperating with DNR in this effort.
Note: Privately-owned show caves such as Marengo Cave, Blue Springs Cavern and Squire Boone Cavern, remain open to the public for tours. These privately-owned caves, which operate guided tours only, are taking precautions prior to and during tours to manage the potential for WNS spread.
ACTIVITIES
- Nature Center/Interpretive Naturalist Services
- Picnicking/Shelters (Shelter Reservations)
- Horse Trails
- Picnic Tables
- Fishing / Boating
- Hiking Trails
- Family Aquatic Center
Camping - See campground maps under MAPS tab
- Electric - 281 sites
- Horseman Non-Electric - 47 sites
- Primitive Non-Electric - 25 sites
- Group Camp: 100-bed self-contained structures
- Dumping Station
INFORMATION
DESCRIPTION OF HIKING TRAILS
Note: For trail locations, view the property map under the MAPS tab.
AA. FIRE TOWER TO ROCKY RIDGE BIKE AND HIKE TRAIL (2 miles) MODERATE TO RUGGED— Begins at the fire tower and travels west, intersecting with the Rocky Ridge Trail. Combined with the Rocky Ridge Trail and with a return to the fire tower this route provides 6 miles of mountain biking and hiking trail. Parking, comfort station and water are available at the fire tower.
A. ROCKY RIDGE BIKE AND HIKE TRAIL (2 miles), MODERATE—Begins and ends near campsite 35. This loop trail passes through deep ravines and up scenic, rocky slopes. Parking and water are available at the campground.
B. TULIP VALLEY TRAIL (2 miles), MODERATE— Begins across from the Group Camp, passes through the woods in front of Hickory Hollow Nature Center, and continues up the ridge to the campground. One mile of this trail is universally accessible from the Nature Center.
C. CCC GHOST TRAIL (1.25 miles), RUGGED—This trail begins and ends at the Group Camp and follows both sides of a dry creekbed. Be prepared for long, steep climbs and rocky descents. Parking is available at the Group Camp.
D. CLIFF DWELLER TRAIL (1.75 miles), MODERATE—This loop trail crosses a dry creekbed, follows a beautiful, spring-fed creek and has some long stretches of climbing. Parking is available at the Pioneer Shelter House.
E. WHITE-TAILED DEER TRAIL (1 mile), EASY—This trail begins at the entrance to Shelter House 2 picnic area and ends at the bottom of Shelter House 2 parking lot.
F. OHIO RIVER BLUFF TRAIL (1.5 miles), Rugged—This loop trail captures vistas of what the early settlers saw while traveling down the Ohio River. Follow the rocky escarpment bluff, as it meanders down to the horse trail from Shelter House 2 and back to the lower parking lot. It then skirts under the edge of the bluff and up the rock staircase, built by the CCC, back to the shelter.
G. POST-OAK CEDAR NATURE PRESERVE TRAIL (.8 miles), RUGGED—This trail is on Cold Friday Road, 1.5 miles south of the main property office. The Division of Nature Preserves requests that you register at the trailhead before entering the nature preserve.
H. SHARP SPRING TRAIL (1 mile), EASY to MODERATE— This trail loops around the perimeter of Wyandotte Wetlands and passes Sharp’s Spring on the lake’s backside. The parking lot shelter provides a beautiful spot for a picnic.
PLEASE STAY ON MARKED TRAILS.
MAPS
GALLERY
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