Turkey Run State Park

Turkey Run is Indiana's secret weapon for turning nervous newcomers into confident adventurers. Those sandstone gorges? They're like natural jungle gyms carved by glaciers. Boys love the wooden ladders bolted into the canyon walls - it feels adventurous but it's totally safe. The suspended bridge gets their hearts pumping. Creek hiking means wet feet and huge grins. I use this trip to build confidence: if you can navigate a ladder with a day pack and hike through Sugar Creek, you're ready for bigger things. The 'wow' factor is high, the risk is low, and the campground has everything families need. It's the perfect bridge between car camping and real backpacking.