Run and hike to your heart’s content in any of Indiana’s parks, including Eagle Creek, Fort Benjamin Harrison, Brown County and Broad Ripple (see more in our parks section). But be sure not to forget Indy’s many greenways, which are simply divine when you feel like kicking up some dust.

The Central Canal Towpath, which runs for 5 miles along the canal, was recently named one of the Top 10 Fitness Trails in the United States by the American Hiking Society and Coors’ Aspen Edge. With the Towpath, runners, walkers and bikers can escape the city along the limestone surface that winds along waters and woods from Broad Ripple to 30th Street.

The path of the Eagle Creek Trail stretches from the rolling hills of Eagle Creek Park to the wide floodway of the White River. The intended 16-mile trail links neighborhoods, schools, parks and commercial areas, as it winds past playing fields and through woodland, prairie and wetland settings.

The quiet Fall Creek Trail features a winding, wide, forested corridor that clings to forest and creek, as well as roadways with light traffic. Trail users can take the path from Fall Creek past 38th Street and on up to 56th, while a separate section of the trail picks up again just south of 79th Street.

Covering 10.5 miles, the Monon stretches from 10th to 96th streets, where it connects with the 5-mile Monon Greenway of Carmel. This popular pathway invites bikers, trail runners and walkers to its tree-lined passageway that connects parks and neighborhoods across the city.

Much of the Pleasant Run Trail flows with the stream of the same name, while other areas wind through neighborhoods. Connecting several community parks, the sometimes shady, sometimes sunny trail starts in the northwest corner of Garfield Park and makes its way north to Ellenberger Park in Irvington.

Pogue’s Run Trail connects Brookside Park and Spades Park on the Eastside of Indianapolis. Most of the trail surface is natural stone — perfect for runners and walkers wanting to take in some of the surrounding wetlands and woods while they exercise.

The White River Wapahani Trail travels from 38th Street to White River State Park, and links several other paths, including the Central Canal Towpath and the Fall Creek Trail. For more on these paths, head to www.indygreenways.org.

Farther out of the city — approximately 35 miles south — lies the Knobstone, coined “Indiana’s Appalachian Trail.” This trail is the state’s longest footpath at 45 miles long, and offers hundred-foot climbs and descents, along with rugged forested land that gives you glimpses of oak, hickory, beech and maple trees. The trail presently extends from near Deam Lake, just north of S.R. 60 in Clark County, to Delaney Park, just east of S.R. 135 in Washington County.

Even farther out, you can hike or run either the north or south border by hitting the American Discovery Trail. The national trail has a northern branch that stretches from Richmond to Gary and a southern branch that follows along the Ohio River. Find out more at www.discoverytrail.org/states/indiana/index.html.

And if getting up and on your feet leaves you yearning for more, you can always join the Indianapolis Hiking Club, which has been in existence for almost 50 years and boasts approximately 700 members. The club hosts multiple hiking events nearly every day of the year, clocking in more than 1,000 hikes annually. Hike over to www.indyhike.org for the pick of the litter when it comes to team treks.

Lakes

“Wawasee,” said the wise old man. What he saw was Wawasee Lake in Syracuse, Ind., which is the largest natural lake in the state. With more than 3,000 acres of water, Wawasee ensures swimming, fishing, camping and boating are on the to-do list, but it seems to be on everyone else’s summer fun list as well. Weekends at Wawasee can get very crowded, you see, so play hooky from work and show up mid-week, like a wise old man would.

For that matter, head to any of these lakes, rivers and beaches mid-week and enjoy the solitary splendor of Indiana’s water spots. The state has hundreds of ’em. Herein, a sampling for your liquid pleasure.

Southern Indiana offers a surplus of lakes. Just a few miles from Indiana University and downtown Bloomington, Lake Griffey is one of those best-kept secret deals. It’s a great place to crack open a beer and do some serious meditation. A 1,200-acre nature preserve houses the small lake (only 109 acres of water with a 10-foot–deep average). You can hike, fish, canoe, rowboat or just scratch your name in the dirt and contemplate evolution. But make sure not to swim, operate motorboats (in the water) or ride off-road vehicles or bicycles — those park people won’t like it. Focus on what you can do: Reflect on where you came from.

A 10-minute drive from Bloomington lands you at Lake Monroe, Indiana’s largest manmade reservoir, which boasts a whopping 10,750 acres of water. With Hoosier National Forest — including the Deam Wilderness Area — on its outskirts, the lake serves as a wildlife refuge, providing a nesting area for bald eagles. For bald humans (and those with hair, too), however, jaunts to Lake Monroe are not so much about nesting (maybe), but more about rites of passage. You’ve not truly lived in Bloomington until you’ve been bitten by mosquitoes or happily lost your bikini top at one of the two beaches at Lake Monroe. The popular spot provides acres of fishing, hiking, skiing, sunbathing and general fair-weather folly.

Another treat for Bloomington residents — especially for bass fisherman — is Lake Lemon in Unionville, Ind. The 11th largest lake in the state with approximately 1,650 acres of the wet stuff, Lake Lemon sits about 10 miles northeast of Bloomington. The lake was originally built as an additional water source for the city. Now, as a recreational destination, it boasts 24 miles of shoreline where you can plunk down your trunk and fish, canoe or just sit and watch for the Loch Ness monster.

In Birdseye, dive into 8,800 acres of Patoka Lake. This retreat is nestled in the Hoosier National Forest and offers the usual water fare, like swimming, fishing, water skiing and more. Outside of the water, you can enjoy the rolling topography and scenic rock outcroppings before you bathe your winter-white epidermis in the sun. Nine boat launch ramps sate your boating spirit, and golfing, hiking and hunting are also available. If you head east, you’ll find a number of caves worth exploring.

Load up your boat and fishing gear and head toward Tell City on Highway 37. Just north of there, you’ll find Indian, Celina, Tipsaw and Saddle Lakes, all stocked with bass, crappie, bluegill, redear and catfish. Yum.

Tipsaw Lake: sandy beaches and grassy picnic sites with shelters aplenty. Camp in one of the 63 roomy campsites at Lake Celina, where flush commodes, showers and picnic sites make sleeping under the stars convenient. Indian Lake offers peace and quiet, with only one boat ramp and a few picnic sites, and you can meander along the wooded ridges or hike the 12 miles of trails. Travel the shoreline trail to bird watch at Saddle Lake, which hides like a jewel. Ten campsites, picnic areas and a boat ramp are available.

Situated in the picturesque Whitewater River Valley, daily waves of 5,260 acres of water lap onto the shores of Brookville Lake. Here you can fish, swim, camp and wade. There’s also hiking, waterskiing, shooting and hunting to be had, and, if you look, you can find out the good bit of history that’s here. Just south of the lake, search for traces of prehistoric Indian mounds or step onto the first section of land given to the white man by Miami Indians in 1795.

Heading north out of Indianapolis, you can explore the rich countryside and the 2,855-acre Salamonie Lake. Loaded with pioneer history and Indiana legends, the lake, along with the Salamonie River State Forest, offers visitors a chance to see for themselves what’s going on. It’s been said that hikers report time standing still and trails appearing to shift, causing some unlucky souls to get lost. Take your Global Positioning System and leave the hallucinogens at home. If you’re lucky enough not to get lost, you have your pick of swimming, camping, playing basketball and volleyball and visiting the Nature Center.

Lake Maxinkuckee is in Culver and one thing’s for sure: Culver looks cool. Kurt Vonnegut must have thought so. He spent his honeymoon with his first wife there, and he included the 2.3-mile city’s accompanying lake in Fates Worse Than Death. Now the John Dillinger Museum is there, the Studebaker Museum, the Old Lighthouse Museum and a bunch of others … as well as a whole lotta Amish cheese (for such a small town, one might say). But about that lake … Rated as a prime walleye location, Lake Maxinkuckee offers bass, bluegill, crappie and yellow perch hooking. There’s a public swimming beach, an 11-mile bicycle trail and boat rental, to boot. Make a weekend of it at Culver and Lake Maxinkuckee. Then let us know if it’s as cool as we think.

Approximately 15,000 acres of land surround Mississinewa Lake, which adds another 3,180 acres of water to north Central Indiana. Just south of Peru, Mississinewa Lake borders Frances Slocum State Forest, so a trip here will land you smack dab in the middle of a place we’ll refer to as Natureville. The Mississinewa River (described in the rivers section) has carved unique geological features into the limestone in the area, leaving behind structures like the “Seven Pillars,” located 2 miles below the Mississinewa Lake. Recreational activities include boating, camping, fishing and hunting. Basketball, volleyball and Frisbee are possibilities, or you can hike the trails and learn about the area, which happens to be rich with Indian history. Then sit and smoke a peace pipe in the Meshingomesia Miami Indian Cemetery.

You’ll find more Indian history at Huntington Lake (renamed J. Edward Roush Lake in 1993) in Huntington, where you can walk the same trails that Little Turtle (a war chief of the Miami Indians) once roamed or visit the gravesite of Little Turtle’s granddaughter, Kil-So-Quah. The area, about 35 minutes south of Fort Wayne, offers fishing, swimming and camping by the lake on the Wabash River.

Venture westward about an hour out of Indy, and you’ll stumble onto Cecil M. Harden Lake in Rockville. You’ll also find five boat launch ramps, an archery range, hiking trails, basketball courts and even horse shoe pits. At the 2,060-acre Cecil M. Harden, you can swim, fish, water ski or sit back and be the king (or queen) of your sandcastles. Then roam the area and enjoy the numerous species of trees, wildflowers and berries.

Home to Cataract Falls, the largest falls in Indiana, Cagles Mill Lake offers a serene escape from city life in Cloverdale. Nestled in the picturesque lands of the Mill Creek Basin, Cagles Mill provides outdoor activities such as boating, fishing, hiking and hunting, as well as court sports like basketball. Rent pontoons or fishing boats, or take one of the water safari boat tours.

Rivers

One of Indiana’s most beautiful and interesting rivers, Big Walnut Creek rises in northwestern Hendricks County and flows diagonally across Putnam County. The uppermost segment of the river flows through a deeply cut valley, which reveals rare plant species and abundant wildlife. Down river, natural vegetation is limited to bank trees, and throughout the river, successful catches can include small-mouth bass, panfish, catfish, suckers and carp.

Experience the tranquility of rural farmlands and forests when you float down the Big Blue River, which flows through one of the most diverse areas of Indiana. This river starts in Washington County in Southern Indiana and a portion of it forms the boundary between Harrison and Crawford counties. The water makes its way through limestone bedrock, which has created a series of half-canyons that never completely enclose it. Limestone walls, heavily covered with trees and shrubs, sandwich the river as it flows downstream.

Deep River ripples through the Calumet area of Indiana, one of the most heavily industrialized regions in the world. The river corridor, surprisingly primitive, suffers a bit from industry pollution. Heavily vegetated banks block much of the adjacent land, which is alive with agricultural and residential use. Much of the river is muddy, and the water creeps slowly downstream. For a scenic stop, head to the Old Mill Dam, located just south of the I-80/94 bridge.

From the confluence of the Big Blue River and Sugar Creek comes the Driftwood River. Winding through farmland, the Driftwood River is banked with wood strips for most of its 16-mile length. A natural setting nestles the upper section of the river, while the southern reaches are starting to show signs of development. Vegetation along the river includes silver maple, box elder, green ash and sycamore. Driftwood fishermen can yield sunfish, rock bass, bass and catfish.

The Eel River, in Northern Indiana, flows 110 miles through farmland and woods. It rises as a shallow stream north of Fort Wayne, flowing southwest to feed the Wabash at Logansport. Banks are lined with thick vegetation and trees, and fishing is good — rock bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, bluegill and red horse suckers are caught here. Area wildlife includes wood ducks, great blue heron, kingfishers and sandpipers.

Indians named the Elkhart River after one of the river’s islands, which they thought resembled an elk’s heart. Rising from the lake country of northern Noble and southern LaGrange counties, the slow-moving Elkhart starts off as two branches in Northern Indiana that eventually join to flow northwest. The river enters the St. Joseph River in the city of Elkhart. Marshland, which comprises the largest single unit of remaining wetland in Indiana, borders the upper reaches of the river. The southern branch of the river connects other lakes and depressions, as it winds its way through rolling fields and woods. The Elkhart is said to contain the greatest variety of wildlife and fish. Migratory waterfowl, great blue heron, little green heron, woodpeckers, raccoon, deer, cottontails, voles, mice and moles are all found here.

Located in the northeastern part of Indiana, the Fawn River is considered to be one of Indiana’s most adventurous rivers. The 44-mile river corridor, rising from the northwest corner of Steuben County, twists with considerable marsh along its banks. Flatrock River originates in Henry County and flows over 88 miles before joining the Driftwood River to form the East Fork of White River at Columbus. Flatrock is anything but flat, flowing through some of the deepest and richest soils in the state.

Slow and winding, the Iroquois River flows approximately 94 miles through farmland that went untouched until around 1850. Today, the river flows through prairies and narrow woodlands as it heads west into Illinois. Swamp milkweed and rose mallow, oak, hickory and walnut pocket the banks, while chipmunks, ducks and turtles nest.

One of Indiana’s most extensive water drainage systems, the Kankakee River encompasses approximately 3,000 square miles of river basin through 13 northwestern counties. Corn, soybean, wheat and hay fields surround the Kankakee River. Trees around the area include ash, sweet gum, white pine, aspen and cypress, and marsh grasses, wild rice, cattail and smartweed populate the wetlands of the river.

Ohio marks the spot where the Mississinewa River starts before stretching 100 miles west and north to the Wabash River near Peru. The river flows through a flat, wide valley, and with a falling rate of 3.3 feet to the mile (Mississinewa means “falling water”), its waters are swift and steady.

The winding Muscatatuck River is a “bifurcate,” which means it’s divided into two segments that flow roughly parallel to the southwest. Muddy-colored waters, mud banks and a silt bottom characterize the river, which stretches through populated agricultural regions. Fishing is generally good for largemouth and smallmouth bass, sunfish, bluegills, rock bass and channel catfish.

Pigeon River, located in Northeastern Indiana, begins flowing at Mongo in a west-northwest direction toward the St. Joseph River. Above Mongo, the river is known as Pigeon Creek, after Chief White Pigeon, whose tribe inhabited the area. The narrow and shallow river valley boasts sycamore, tamarack, swamp white oak, sugar maple, black oak, willow and cardinal flowers, while the wildlife make it one of the best fishing and hunting streams in the state. Fish found here include trout, northern pike, large and smallmouth bass, rock bass, bluegill and carp. And for fauna, you can find deer, squirrel, muskrats, beaver, waterfowl and songbirds.

The St. Joseph River flows to Fort Wayne from Ohio, and it moves so slowly, you might not think it’s moving at all. The river corridor boasts both hardwood forest and fertile farmland. Wooded banks are filled with maple, willow and sycamore trees. Though the St. Joseph only spends 42 of its 210 miles in Indiana, there is much to see and do here, like boating, fishing and swimming.

Clear, running and unpolluted, the approximately 90-mile Sugar Creek travels southwest as it cuts across west Central Indiana. Named after the many sugar maple trees in the area, the swift river is conceded to be the most beautiful in the state. It runs through Shades and Turkey Run state parks, and the many covered bridges that arch above it add history to its natural setting.

Fed and nourished by 88 natural lakes, the Tippecanoe River is considered the river of lakes. The gentle 166-mile river travels through green fields and forest, as it runs into Kosciusko County. Good fishing and hunting can be found here, and the area is a haven for warblers, redheaded woodpeckers and wild ducks.

Indiana’s most famous river, the Wabash, occupies the state’s heartland, and it flows over 475 miles to its confluence with the Ohio River. A trip down the Wabash gives a great view of Indiana in its most pristine natural environments.

Meandering 200 miles from Columbus, the East Fork of the White River joins the West Fork near Petersburg before heading toward the Wabash. The White River fights it way though rocky terrain, but many picturesque views populate its trip. Calm waters meet up with rapids in several spots along the river’s expanse, making it perfect for multiday trips.