Clifty Falls State Parks may offer year-round beauty made for those who love the outdoors, but its real treasure has a long — and we do mean long — history.
The creek bed that runs through the park is full of clues to its ancient past, including fossils from a long-gone marine life ecosystem.
Clifty Falls State Park
Why it matters
The park is the keeper of some of Indiana’s ancient history, including 425-million-year-old shale and limestone rocks and fossil remnants that give clues to a former marine ecosystem with corals and ancestral squids. But enjoy with your eyes only; public fossil collecting at the park is not allowed.
What to see today
Line up your visit after a healthy rain, and trails will take you past waterfalls whose drops from cliffs are dramatic or gentle, based on the season.
Ask a local
The park is a stop on the Indiana Birding Trail, which catalogs sites that include habitats and climate influences that offer chances to see a diverse array of species at different stages of migration, mating and raising their young.
Plan your visit
USA 250 Most Treasured Views is a USA TODAY Network project exploring places across America with historical and cultural significance, created in celebration of the USA 250 initiative marking the nation’s 250th birthday.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Ancient fossil beds and stunning waterfalls await at this Indiana gem
Reporting by Domenica Bongiovanni, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
