Clifty Falls State Park

How to get to Clifty Falls State Park

Things you'll need when you get here.

It’s VERY IMPORTANT to read BOTH of these pamphlets carefully.

Remember the Central Reservation System at 1-866-6campIN
(866-622-6746). Also online at camp.IN.gov.

Note: if needed, download either Free pdf file reader:
FoxitReader (I've used for many years)
or
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC
Note: optional browser extension or antivirus ware is not required.

What else do I need to know about Clifty Falls State Park?

BURN BAN! Effective immediately, due to extremely dry conditions, Jefferson County has implemented a complete burn ban. NO CAMPFIRES or GRILLS allowed at Clifty Falls State Park until further notice. Thank you for your patience.

BURN BAN UPDATE 8-17-2012: NO CAMPFIRES allowed at Clifty Falls State Park campground or at the Inn. Propane and charcoal grills may now be used in the campground, and in the standing grills around the property, effective immediately. Contact the property with specific questions. Thank you for your continued patience.

POOL HOURS FOR REMAINDER OF 2012! Clifty Falls Pool will be open WEEKENDS ONLY after August 7th thru Labor Day from 12-6pm. However, the pool will be CLOSED on August 25th & 26th. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Thank you.

Clifty Falls State Park is 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. Winter and spring visits reveal them at their best. The rugged splendor of Clifty Canyon offers exciting year-round hiking and scenery.

Clifty Creek’s stony bed is littered with fossil remnants telling of a long vanished marine ecosystem that teemed with life that included ancient corals, ancestral squids, brachiopods and more. Fossil collecting within Clifty Falls State Park is prohibited but nearby collecting locations are readily accessible.

In Historic Madison, tour the Lanier State Historic Site, the former mansion of frontier banker James F. D. Lanier, and enjoy the drive along the beautiful Ohio River. Plan a park visit during one of the community’s special events, such as the July Regatta hydroplane boat race or the Madison Chautauqua Festival of Art in late September.

Please Note: Clifty Falls Tunnel is closed until further notice

All caves, sinkholes, tunnels and mines on DNR properties are closed to provide protection from white-nose syndrome, a fungus that is killing bats in large numbers in the Eastern U.S. and is now spreading west. This includes the old railroad tunnel at Clifty Falls. To learn more about WNS visit www.dnr.IN.gov/batdisease.

• Nature Center/Interpretive Naturalist Services
• Shelters (Shelter Reservations)
• Picnicking
• Hiking Trails
• Tennis & Other Games
• Meeting & Conference Facilities
• Clifty Inn and Restaurant
• Swimming Pool / Water slide Open Memorial Day (Policy)

Camping - See campground maps under MAPS tab
• Electric / 106 sites
• Non-electric / 63 sites
• Youth Tent Areas
• Dumping Station

[top]

DESCRIPTION OF HIKING TRAILS (Download both maps above in blue boxes).

1.^†RUGGED (.75 mile)—Starts at nature center parking lot, proceeds to Observation Tower overlooking Ohio River, then along canyon wall to park road. Long, steep grades in and out of canyon.

2. VERY RUGGED (3 miles)—One-way, no-outlet in North End. Continual water damage and rockslides have required the removal of this structure for everyone’s safety; therefore, access in and out of the canyon is available only via connecting trails 1, 4, 5, and 8. Trail 2 is primarily the stone bed of Clifty Creek and may be impassable during times of high water. Areas above and below all waterfalls are always OFF LIMITS.

3.^†RUGGED (1 mile)—Starts at park road just south of Poplar Grove. Long grade descends to mid canyon, then follows along canyon. Steep grades rise to Poplar Grove. Easy walking to near side of Beech Grove connecting with Trail 4.

4.^†RUGGED (.75 mile)—Starts at Hoffman Falls parking lot. Short distance to spectacular falls overlook. Follows canyon to Lilly Memorial (spur connects to Clifty Creek), which has a long, steep staircase at Lilly Memorial.

5.^†RUGGED (.875 mile)—Starts at Lilly Memorial, long, steep staircase to mid-canyon. Follows along canyon past tunnel entrances (spur connects to Clifty Creek), past Oak Grove to Tunnel Falls. Steep staircase from falls overlook to road.

6. MODERATELY RUGGED (.5 mile)—Starts at Hickory Grove, follows canyon just below rim to Lookout Point. Some very rocky footing.

7. MODERATELY RUGGED (1.25 miles)—Starts at Clifty shelter, proceeds past Little Clifty Falls along rocky footing to Lookout Point. Returns to picnic area east of shelter via upper Little Clifty Creek gorge.

8. RUGGED (4.5 miles)—Starts just west of north gatehouse. Proceeds south along west rim of Clifty Canyon. Steep grades to Clifty Creek at north and south ends of trail. (Steep switchback connects to creek across from Oak Grove.) Exits south canyon to park road or Trail 1 to nature center.

9. MODERATE (1 mile)—Campground to nature center and Clifty Inn, via swimming pool.

10. EASY (.75 mile)—Starts at back of swimming pool parking lot, features old field ecology.

^†Brough’s Folly 1852 railroad path