Have you felt that chill in the air? I realize some people love summer, and I do, too, but there is just something about the fall season that makes it special.
So, I wanted to mark the occasion by providing a list of the best public places to see fall color in Hendricks County as we head into the peak viewing season.
McCloud Nature Park
Located in the northwest corner of the county just outside North Salem, McCloud has been touted in various publications as one of the top spots in Indiana to view fall colors and was even named by The Points Guy, a popular travel media platform, as one of the top 15 spots in the world to enjoy fall foliage without massive crowds.
Its scenic vistas along seven miles of nature trails provide plenty of amazing photo ops. The 232-acre park is home to multiple species of trees, providing stunning colors. Add in the historic iron truss bridge that spans Big Walnut Creek, a wetland habitat observation deck and other amenities, and you’ve got a prime fall viewing spot.
I highly recommend attending their Fall Colors Festival in mid-October when the leaves reach peak hues. Hayrides and many other activities provide fun for the entire family. And don’t forget to check out their popular prairie maze throughout the season.
Burnett Woods Nature Preserve
Burnett Woods in Avon continues to be one of Hendricks County’s hidden treasures, as I’ve found many locals have never heard of it. The 80-acre preserve full of oak, hickory, maple, black walnut and tulip poplar trees explodes with color in the autumn. It boasts two trails that loop through the park.
The half-mile blue trail is perfect for both young and old, as it is shorter and easy to navigate. The red trail is 1.2 miles long and a little more challenging. Visitors can easily walk the red and blue trails for a pleasant 1.7-mile hike under a canopy of brilliant autumn leaves.
Located on County Road 100 South, just east of Dan Jones Road, you can park behind the Avon Light and Life Free Methodist Church, 8264 E. County Road 100 South in Avon, next to the softball diamond. Once there, walk southeast across the grass toward the road, and you’ll run right into the entrance to Burnett Woods.
Echo Hollow Nature Park
Echo Hollow — formerly Sodalis Nature Park — sits just south of I-70 in Plainfield and serves as an ecological wonder, largely untouched due to the small creatures that inhabit it. As such, the variety of trees seems limitless, providing all the autumn hues one could imagine.
Following the completion last November of its first added amenity, the Lake Loop Trail, the park now includes 310 acres with more than five miles of trails of varying lengths, mostly surrounded by beautiful trees.
It also boasts a 5.5-acre pond, so the fall colors are doubled as the trees reflect off the water. You can do some catch-and-release fishing from the ADA-accessible pier or have lunch under the large pavilion in the picnic area.
More Options
Those are my favorite spots in Hendricks County to see fall color, but the list doesn’t end there.
Other public places you should also check out include:
- Avon Town Hall Park (Avon)
- Washington Township Park (Avon)
- W.S. Gibbs Memorial Park (Avon)
- Arbuckle Acres Park (Brownsburg)
- Natural Valley Ranch (Brownsburg)
- Williams Park (Brownsburg)
- Ellis Park (Danville)
- Vandalia Trail (Plainfield, Amo and Coatesville)
- Hummel Park (Plainfield)
Beyond Color
While you are out and about searching for beautiful fall color, make sure to visit Beasley’s Orchard in Danville. A true fall destination, the farm boasts tons of family fun, including apple cannons, a corn maze, hayrides to the pumpkin patch, apple u-pick, a Barnyard Bonanza family area and much more.
And don’t leave without touring their Civil War-era barn and trying their award-winning apple cider or cider slushies. They have also introduced a line of hard cider in cans that adults can purchase.
Find More Online
There is so much more to see and do in Hendricks County this fall that I couldn’t cover it all. So, make sure to visit our website at VisitHendricksCounty.com/Fall to find all our fall festivals or to plan a perfect personalized fall getaway.
We’ve put together various two-day fall itineraries and other trip ideas to help you find the autumn adventures that fit your interests.
