IN the Parks

IN the Parks IN the Parks is an Indiana state parks podcast, part of the Get Indiana podcast network

08/13/2026

Spring Mill State Park in Mitchell, IN, offers everything a state park should -- nature, history, and culture. There's so much going on at this park, I had to make two episodes! In Part 1, you'll learn why old growth forests are important, find out what's hiding in the dark cave systems, and discover how you can explore the caves by foot or by boat. You'll also get the backstory on how an unexpected bird, the brown b***y, transformed the park last year!

Plus, you'll hear some updates on the newly renovated inn and learn about events the Friends of Spring Mill State Park puts on every year.

YouTube episodes are adapted from my podcast so are audio only but include pictures from the park. You can also listen on Apple or Spotify.

Interviews & episode is from December 2024 and have been edited for length and clarity. Promotional deals are no longer available. Any mistakes are my own. Hope to see you IN the Parks!

08/12/2026

On my family trip to the Utah Mighty 5 National Parks, our next stop is Bryce Canyon National Park. This park left a lasting impression on all of us; it was definitely a favorite! We got to enjoy Astronomy Fest events on our first night there, taking advantage of the park’s Dark Sky status. In this ep, my brother shares tips on taking pics of stars with your phone.

We also share how we were in awe of the hoodoos, unique rock formations all throughout the amphitheater. (Note: Bryce Canyon is not technically a canyon). And if a little kid can hike Navajo Loop and the Queen’s Garden Trail, so can you!

YouTube episodes are adapted from my podcast so are audio only but include pictures from the park. You can also listen on Apple or Spotify.

Interviews & episode are from summer 2026 and have been edited for length and clarity. Any mistakes are my own. Hope to see you IN the Parks!

08/12/2026

On this special episode, get ready to fall in love with Indiana State Parks! All the state parks, recreation areas, and off-roading parks add up to 37 properties! Could you hike them all in one year?

Get ready to meet 3 Hoosiers who love the parks so much, they had to take on the challenge! They share their tips and tricks for batching parks together, how to find the best trails and views, and which parks they're excited to visit again. Plus, they'll share the life lessons they picked up along the way.

YouTube episodes are adapted from my podcast so are audio only but include pictures from the park. You can also listen on Apple or Spotify.

Interviews & episode is from summer 2024 and have been edited for length and clarity. Promotional deals are no longer available. Any mistakes are my own. Hope to see you IN the Parks!

08/11/2026

Charlestown State Park is a hiker's paradise and a camper's dream! Full of legends, lore, and even a ghost town, Charlestown has plenty of excitement and beauty. The park's new hiking challenge will take you through every single trail, and this episode will too!

You'll hear from the challenge creators, park staff, and even the mayor of Charlestown why each trail is worth hiking as we cover the mysteries and history of the park. Get ready to learn about Rose Island, the Welsh Prince Madoc, the Indiana Army Ammunition Plant, and the future plans for Charlestown.

Get connected with the Friends of Charlestown State Park Information and Hiking Page. Be sure to tackle the new Challenge! Sign up for Devil's Backbone hikes. (Scroll down to Events to see the hike dates.) And don't forget to Bring in the Green on St. Patrick's Day weekend.

YouTube episodes are adapted from my podcast so are audio only but include pictures from the park. You can also listen on Apple or Spotify.

Interviews & episode is from summer 2024 and have been edited for length and clarity. Promotional deals are no longer available. Any mistakes are my own. Hope to see you IN the Parks!

08/10/2026

Falls of the Ohio State Park in Clarksville, IN, may be the smallest state park, but the history and impact of this land is enormous! Come with me on a journey through time as we learn about the stories of the fossils, George Rogers Clark, the Underground Railroad, and more. You'll also learn what's going on with the park today as well as hear more rock puns than you wanted!

Be sure to visit Falls of the Ohio Foundation where you can check out the we**am to get a good idea of whether or not the fossil beds are exposed. Also be sure to look at Alan’s fossil brochure with pictures of the fossils. I've known general information about Hannah Toliver for a while, but it was wonderful to find her historic marker about a mile away from Falls of the Ohio. I was greatly helped by a presentation at Falls of the Ohio about Guinea Bottoms and the Underground Railroad that you may want to see in its entirety.

YouTube episodes are adapted from my podcast so are audio only but include pictures from the park. You can also listen on Apple or Spotify.

Interviews & episode is from summer 2024 and have been edited for length and clarity. Promotional deals are no longer available. Any mistakes are my own. Hope to see you IN the Parks!

08/09/2026

Hear about the State of the Indiana State Parks from Indiana's director of the Department of Natural Resources, Dan Bortner. This governor-appointed position gets to shape and guide the priorities of the administration, which means for the past four years, Dan has had a front row seat to exciting initiatives like the Unity Blaze, Next Level Trails, planting one million trees, building a new lodge at Potato Creek State Park, and so much more!

In this episode, Dan shares about his lifelong love for Indiana's state parks, what he's proud of accomplishing over the past four years, and what Hoosiers have to look forward to in 2025 and beyond.

YouTube episodes are adapted from my podcast so are audio only but include pictures from the park. You can also listen on Apple or Spotify.

Interviews & episode is from summer 2024 and have been edited for length and clarity. Promotional deals are no longer available. Any mistakes are my own. Hope to see you IN the Parks!

08/08/2026

In nearly every episode, you've heard from the Indiana State Parks interpretive naturalist. But what exactly is that job? In a word, they're storytellers. Listen to find out why I think this may be THE most important job in the state parks!

You'll get to hear about the woman who started it all, why white tennis shoes are important, who was the state's top interpretive naturalist in 2024 (hint: we met her already this season!), and what it takes to be an interpretive naturalist. You'll hear a few familiar voices from past episodes and meet a couple new women who oversee the work at the state level. I loved talking with all of them!

YouTube episodes are adapted from my podcast so are audio only but include pictures from the park. You can also listen on Apple or Spotify.

Interviews & episode is from summer 2024 and have been edited for length and clarity. Promotional deals are no longer available. Any mistakes are my own. Hope to see you IN the Parks!

Let’s celebrate the Indiana State Fair with a SALE! Save $5 on your state parks hat throughout the state fair with the c...
08/07/2026

Let’s celebrate the Indiana State Fair with a SALE! Save $5 on your state parks hat throughout the state fair with the code FAIR2026

Buy your hat here: https://buymeacoffee.com/intheparksonline/extras

Then show off your hat while you’re at the fairgrounds! Get Indiana.

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