Tippecanoe River State Park: Trails #4, #5, and #3 (Blog Hike #1029)

Trails: Trails #4, #5, and #3
Hike Location: Tippecanoe River State Park
Geographic Location: north of Winamac, IN (41.11547, -86.57486)
Length: 3.8 miles
Difficulty: 3/10 (Easy/Moderate)
Date Hiked: September 2024
Overview: A nearly flat loop partially along the Tippecanoe River.
Park Information: https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/parks-lakes/tippecanoe-river-state-park/
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=972834
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming July 11)

Directions to the trailhead: From the intersection of US 35 and SR 14 in Winamac, take US 35 north 4.25 miles to the signed state park entrance on the right.  Turn right to enter the park, pay the entrance fee, and drive the main park road to the large gravel Riverside Picnic Area and Nature Center parking lot, where this hike begins.

The hike: Draining 1.25 million acres across 14 counties, the Tippecanoe River is one of the largest rivers in northern Indiana.  The river forms northwest of Fort Wayne as it draws water from multiple kettle lakes, and it flows west/southwest for 182 slow and winding miles before emptying into the Wabash River near Lafayette.  The river's name comes from the Miami/Illinois words for "buffalo fish," a testament to this river's abundance of aquatic life.

            Tippecanoe River State Park sits on the river's west bank near the midpoint of its course, and it protects 7 miles of its namesake river.  The park was built by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) as a Recreational Demonstration Area, a depression-era program that bought-up old farmland that had low farming potential but high recreation potential.  The park was transferred to the State of Indiana, and it became a state park in 1943.

            Today the park retains its rustic and remote feel.  The river is popular for canoeing but too dangerous for swimming.  The park offers a 112-site developed campground, a nature center located on the river, 13 miles of bridle trails, and 10 hiking trails totaling 10 miles.  This hike combines 3 trails to form a loop that stays close to the river and features the oxbow lakes, wetlands, and forests that still give this land high recreation potential today.

Trailhead at picnic area

            Pick up Trail #4 as it leaves the rear of the parking area, passes through a mowed-grass picnic area, and crosses a wooden bridge with stone supports.  The single-track dirt trail winds incessantly through dense brushy forest with large black walnut trees as it heads in the general direction of north.  At 0.3 miles, you reach an oxbow lake, or an old river channel that has been cut off from the river's main flow to form a lake.  I saw a heron perched in the lake's shallow waters on the damp morning I hiked here, and the oxbow lake is a very scenic spot.

Oxbow lake

            At 0.6 miles, the Tippecanoe River comes into view on the right for the first of only 2 times on this hike.  For a park named after the river, the trail system does not offer frequent or extended river views, a fact I found rather disappointing.  Next the trail curves left to head away from the river, climbing but only slightly.  The difference between maximum and minimum elevations on this hike is less than 20 feet, and this hike may be the flattest hike with significant distance in Indiana.

Major trail intersection

            Just past 1 mile, you reach a major trail intersection with a bench.  Trail #4 goes left here, and a connector trail goes straight.  You could use either of those options to shorten this hike, but our hike turns right to begin heading northbound on Trail #5.  The next part of the hike goes through a pine planting that may date to this park's WPA days.  Thus, the going is easy, quiet, and scenic.

Hiking through a pine planting

            Ignore a short-cut trail that exits left and stay with Trail #5 as it forms a short loop.  Pass the other end of the short-cut trail, and reach this hike's best Tippecanoe River view at 2.25 miles.  The winding river is wide and slow here, as it is for most of its distance.  The river view may not be as wide as you would like, but the riparian scenery is still very pleasant.

Tippecanoe River

            2.4 miles into the hike, you reach another trail intersection.  Trail #5 turns right here to head for the northern part of the park, but you want to turn left to head south toward Trail #3.  The next 0.9 miles head almost due south in an almost straight line.  First you join Trail #3, then you cross Trail #5, then you leave Trail #3 and join Trail #4.  While not the most interesting hiking, the terrain remains flat and the going remains easy.

Hiking near the campground

            At 3.25 miles, the trail curves left as you begin tracing the perimeter of the main campground, which comes into view on the left.  3.6 miles into the hike, you reach the park road that leads to the trailhead parking area.  Turning left and doing a 0.2 mile road walk returns you to the parking lot to complete the hike.