- Versailles State Park Alerts (2)
- Temporary Closure: The property will be closed to the public for deer management hunts on Nov. 18-19 and Dec. 2-3, 2024. The property will close on the evening before the hunt and reopen the morning after. Only individual licensed hunters selected from the draw may participate at any site. Information about these deer management hunts can be found at on.IN.gov/reservedhunt.
- TRAIL CLOSURE ALERT: The Bradt Natural Area will have trail closures due to forestry mowing from August to September. Trail access points will be closed off with bright red closure tape and signage. Trails are estimated to be closed for about three weeks starting on August 13. Thank you for your patience while these trails are closed.
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 205
Versailles, IN 47042
812-689-6424
on.IN.gov/versaillessp
Mapping Address:
1387 U.S. 50 East
Versailles, IN 47042
- Description
Take a drive through the beautiful rolling hills of southeastern Indiana with Versailles State Park, Indiana’s second-largest state park, as your destination. This area has a deep history rooted in both the Civil War and the Civilian Conservation Corps. Versailles State Park dedicated a CCC commemorative statue in 2010. Numerous fossils tell the story of an ancient sea that covered the region. During the Civil War, Morgan’s Raiders made their way through the area that is now the park. The town of Versailles was briefly under Confederate control.
Relax while fishing on the 230-acre lake where you can rent a rowboat, kayak, or canoe. Get a workout and see the beauty of the park by taking a walk on the hiking trails or a ride on the mountain bike trails. Bring your horses for the day to enjoy the more than 20 miles of horse trails. Steps to a scenic overlook at the dam are a prime spot to see herons and other aquatic wildlife. In fall, enjoy the Versailles Pumpkin Show in the town of Versailles on the last weekend in September. For Halloween festivities, visit the park the last weekend in October.
During the summer, pool hours may change because of weather and staffing. Please contact the property office for exact times before your visit.
- Activities
- Picnic areas w/shelters
(Shelter Reservations) - Interpretive Naturalist Services (Seasonal)
- Boat Launch Ramp
- Boat Motor / Electric trolling only
- Bradt Nature Area - Accessible Observation Deck and Trail
- Bridle Trails (day use only)
- Fishing
- Hiking Trails
- Mountain Bike Trails
- Rental-Canoe, Rowboat, and Kayak
- Swimming / Pool / Waterslide (Policy). Contact office for hours.
Camping - See campground maps under MAPS tab
- Electric / 226 sites
- Equestrian - Electric/ 9 sites
- Group Camp
- Youth Tent Camping Area
- Camp Store
- Dumping Station
INFORMATION
- Picnic areas w/shelters
- Description of Hiking Trails
Note: For trail locations, view the property map under the MAPS tab.
1. MODERATE (2.25 miles)—Circles upland woods and ravines along the eastern bluff of Laughery Valley, featuring oak, hickory, maple, beech, tulip poplar, black walnut, and other native trees. Look for limestone sinkholes along the way. Trail can be accessed from below, from the Old Fire Tower Road, or near Oak Grove picnic area. Parents, please watch children at road crossings.
2. MODERATE (2.75 miles)—Makes a figure 8 along the hill of the southern edge of Fallen Timber Creek/ravine. The trail rounds Campground A to near the CCC-constructed Oak Grove shelter, where Trail 1 can be picked up. Encircling Campground A, access can be made near Oak Grove picnic area, behind Trailside shelter, from several points in the campground, and from Fallen Timber bridge at the lake.
3. EASY (1.5 miles)—Begins north of Fallen Timber bridge and goes east along Fallen Timber Creek. Crosses the creek three times before joining Trail 2. Numerous invertebrates inhabit the creek bottom.
PLEASE STAY ON MARKED TRAILS.
- Maps
- Multimedia
Indiana State Parks hosted a public archaeology event at Versailles State Park and invited students from area schools to learn about how archaeology can teach us about history and prehistory. Ball State University, through a National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund grant, showed the students some of the historic archaeological sites in the park. View the video on YouTube.
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