Nature Exploration is Located Just Minutes From Downtown at Indy’s Eagle Creek Park

When summer temperatures start to sizzle, Eagle Creek Park offers a breath of fresh air and plenty of fun ways to explore, including swimming, boating, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, ziplining, birdwatching, picnicking and more.

Located in northwest Marion County and part of the Indy Parks and Recreation system, Eagle Creek Park accounts for 1,400 acres of water and 3,900 acres of land, making it one of the largest city parks in the country. Admission grants visitors access to a plethora of year-round recreational opportunities.

The reservoir, of course, is the centerpiece of the park and the main attraction during the summer months, luring guests to the water for boating, fishing, kayaking, sailing, canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding. Eagle Creek Outfitters rents watercraft (in addition to hybrid mountain bikes) and provides all the equipment you need for lake adventures by the hour on a first-come, first-served basis.

The two-person kayaks are ideal for couples or parents with kids, and a very pleasant way to spend a morning or afternoon on the scenic lake. Keep your eyes open to glimpse birds, bald eagles, turtles, waterfowl and other wildlife. Always practice water safety, and don’t forget the sunscreen.

Visitors who prefer to stay grounded on dry land are welcome to hike on a half dozen trails of varying degrees of difficulty, bring four-legged friends to the Bark Park, or soar above it all on the Go Ape Treetop Adventure ziplines and canopy tour.

After a day at Eagle Creek, refresh and refuel at nearby Rick’s Boatyard Café, where the beer is cold, the food is good, and the patio offers outstanding sunset views over the reservoir.

For more information, visit https://www.indy.gov/activity/about-eagle-creek-park.