Big Walnut Creek Nature Preserve Tall Timbers Trail

Bainbridge, Indiana 46105

19 Trip Reports

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Big Walnut Creek Nature Preserve: Tall Timbers Trail Professional Guide

Detailed Trail Description from our Guidebook

"This trail skirts a bluff before looping through a broad, deep ravine."

--Phil Bloom, Hiking Indiana (Falcon Guides).

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Big Walnut Creek Nature Preserve: Tall Timbers Trail Trip Reports

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19 Total

Jessica H.

7/31/2010

My friend and I decided to hike this trail. We were diaapointed that we could not find much information on the trail but did obtain a map from DNR prior to going. All the rewiews that we read advised to cash water and that is what we did because even though we had an inch of rain on friday night all the creeks were dry. That is what you get for hiking in Karst area. So other than that the other complaint we heard was that the trail was not well marked. Either they have done more marking or there have been more people on the trail to make it more defined. We had very little trouble finding the trail. So we started in the state park parked at the camp ground and joind the trail around the Iron Bridge. We hiked counter clock wise because that seems to be the direction that everyone goes and stopped at the SR462 leading in to the park. We stopped becuase it was so hot we could not stay hydrated. I do have to say it was a nice trail though and I would like to hike the rest some time. We hiked just over half. Started on 5 Friday went to the burned out old Ohio River Shelter and were off trail by 4 Saturday. We averaged just around 2 mph. Keep in mind that you go down one ridge just to go up the other side it was very pretty and quit only saw one other couple on the trail. Maps obtained at the park office were use d as fire starter that was all they were good for. I would get the maps for all the horse trails if I go again because it would have been nice to hike in the woods back other than along the road but it was how we knew to get back. But over all weather asside a good hike.

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mike M.

11/13/2009

Took a Boy Scout Troop and the older boys did the Eastern half, while the younger boys did the Northwestern area. Trails overall are not well marked. Did not get too far off trail, but it is lightly traveled and could use some maintenance. Overall everybody found it a really good backpacking trip of 2 days/nights. Forced everybody to really pay attention and learn how to read the maps and trails. It was a different kind of challenge since it is not well-maintained or marked. You do need to stash water and you need to plan ahead where to do so. The creeks are all dry this time of year, don't know about the spring. Could not find good maps, but the state park provided enough to get by. The older boys are interested in going back with more time to do the entire loop, and found it a different kind of hike than the Knobstone, Red River, or Smokies.

Comments

Aaron T.

10/20/2009

This was my first trip on the AHT...wish I would have read the suggestions to get the horse trail map too. My suggestion would be to get all three maps ( AHT, horse, and day use) as several sections run together and are not marked well, if at all. The horse trails seem to be marked better than any of the others. One section was completely shut down for logging and required a short detour. Also, make sure you get a current map. I didn't know that I was given an old map until after I was finished. I would rate this trail higher if it was marked better.

Comments

Matthew M.

9/4/2009

I have recently competed the trail and have very valuable info to anyone that needs it. I'm very familiar with the area and have spent a lot of time hiking, biking, camping, caving, rock climbing, repelling,and horseback riding. Please send me an e-mail if you have any questions what so ever. I will even give out my phone # via e-mail to anyone interested. I want everyone complete this beast of a trail and enjoy it, but there are a few things that everyone needs to know before doing so. I would love to shoot the sh** with anyone who has also competed the AHT just for sh*** and giggles. Mattdemak3@aim.com

Comments

Derek P.

7/11/2009

I recently purchased some new gear and wanted to test it out, so my brother and I chose to complete the AHT over the weekend. After reviewing the guide and topo map we decided that we could do this in two days or less. Roughly calculated we began with 30-35lbs of pack weight each. We started off at 8:40am Sat. at Pioneer Cabin and headed clockwise on the loop, camping somewhere around mile 15. We reached our vehicle around 1:30pm Sunday.

The trail was well blazed with only a few spots of downed trees or poor conditions where it met with horse trails. There were also a few areas where ground cover swallowed up the trail – but blazes always seemed to be in sight. It seems that the AHT got some love since past reviews, but isn’t heavily traveled, don’t count on a well worn and easy to follow path.

With the exception of the hike up to the Ohio River Lookout most of the elevation changes were mild-to-moderate. The 2.9 mile section of trail between Cold Friday Rd. and Pioneer Cabin is by far the most challenging, but still not intimidating. The woods were beautiful with a few wildlife sightings despite our pace and canine companion. The overlooks were not that impressive due to the amount of trees blocking views from shelter sites. We saw no other hikers on the trail during our trip.

That said we completed the entire loop in 1.5 days with around 13.5 hours of actual hiking. We’re both in decent shape but still think that the suggested three day trip either is because of too much gear or aimed at those who prefer to take longer, more frequent periods of downtime. Water filtering was not an option with nothing but dry stream beds, so pack it or cache it.

This trail is not for day hikers but easily completed by those with some basic backpacking experience. I’m confident that experienced hikers and trail runners could complete in a single day with ultra light packs and water caching.

Comments

Robert B.

5/16/2009

Hiked the trail this weekend with a group of Boy Scouts. Very poorly marked and the maps provided are not very good. Ran across many unmarked horse trails. Trail in poor condition. Many downed trees and horse riding on trail has caused deep ruts and turned parts of trail into muddy mess. A lot of elevation changes and pretty. Could be a great trail if the maintenence was better and the maps were improved. Doesn't see much traffic. Park personnel didn't show much interest.

Comments

Rich V.

4/5/2009

Students and I do the trail each spring. They love the trail, it is not marked or maintained well but thats part of the fun in it. Old Forest Road, and Cold Friday Road are water drop points, you will also be able to fill up inside the park as the trail briefly nears the camp ground. I have never encountered anyone on the trail. Expect large areas of blow down and plan on moving slower than you wish in some areas. Trail head can be difficult to find, From the parking lot walk the lane down over the bridge and it is immediately on the left. Don't count on the maps, The Ohio river shelter burned down a couple of years ago. The Homestead and Indian River Shelters are quite nice. Note that the shelters are not spaced well, they are literally 3-4 hours apart. Don't confuse the rickety shack that stands in a clearing for a shelter, it is not. Some of the locals use it as a water drop though.

Comments

Jessica N.

11/7/2008

Well, if you're looking for an "adventure," you've come to the right place. We had perfect weather (for the first weekend in November) and the trail is beautiful, but we often felt like we were on a scavenger hunt, as we would have to stop every two minutes to locate the next blaze. I wouldn't say that the trail was poorly marked, but its definitely poorly maintained. Its apparent that trees fallen across the trail have been there for awhile and plant growth has creeped onto the pathway-----so it wasn't always obvious which direction to look for the next blaze--but they're there! Keep in mind they change in shape in size. The AHT is marked with a green and/or white blaze at any given spot---sometimes its a 4X4 post w/ green paint, sometimes its a lime green button on a small stake, sometimes its a ribbon tied to a tree, sometimes its just a paint swatch.
----But other than these 'minor obstacles', it was a wonderful trail; plenty of changes in scenery and offered a nice combination of inclines, declines and straight paths. I would definitely recommend this trail to anyone looking for a solid 2-day hike.

Comments

Gary B.

6/22/2008

Trail was not really a trail at all at times. We began the trail, unwittingly, in counter-clockwise direction. At first, it was O.K. Over time, the markings became less frequent and less indicative of anything. Twice within the first hour, we found ourselves off the trail and had to backtrack to the confluence of the walking and horse trails to try again. Eventually we hiked to a camp/picnic area that overlooked the Ohio River. The trail at this point dissapeared for some time. We eventually found the marker, nothing more than a 4X4 post with a green square on it.

This trail is no more than 9 inches wide at some points and has had several felled trees block the way and block any indication of where the trail carries on.

There is very little noticeable conservation/construction/maintenance going on. The only thing that keeps this trail passable is the minor ammount of foot travel it gets - we ran into one group of three in four hours ... on a Sunday!

It appears that the employees of this State Park care very little about the continued utilization of this trail. You pay $5 (resident) at the gate (supposed to be $2 according to this site) and you never see or sense any controlling park authority has been in these woods at all.

Comments

Bradley P.

5/28/2008

I AM NOT GIVING THIS TRAIL A GREAT REVIEW. IT WAS A OK TRAIL. THE ONLY GREAT THING ABOUT IT WAS THE CIRCLE IT WENT IN AND ALSO THE NICE SHELTERS. BESIDES THAT IT WAS WAY OVER RATED.

Comments

Related Information

Trail Information

Bainbridge

Nearby City

1.7

Distance

Loop/Lollipop

Trail Type

Moderate

Skill Level

1 hour

Duration

Year-round

Season

USGS: Roachdale

Local Maps

395 Members Completed

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Big Walnut Creek Nature Preserve Tall Timbers Trail

Bainbridge, Indiana 46105

Big Walnut Creek Nature Preserve Tall Timbers Trail

Big Walnut Creek Nature Preserve: Tall Timbers Trail Trip Reports

Big Walnut Creek Nature Preserve: Tall Timbers Trail Photos

Related Information

Trail Information

395 Members Completed

Trail Log