McCormick's Creek State Park
Visitors to McCormicks Creek State Park can enjoy a wide variety of activities and services in a beautiful and restful natural setting.
You can explore the park by 10+ miles of well-marked hiking trails, taking you past unique features like Wolf Cave, Twin Bridges, and the Falls on McCormick's Creek. If you enjoy horseback riding you can take guided trail rides or pony rides at the Saddle Barn.
Picnickers have a variety of picnic areas to choose from, and some have shelters with fireplaces. Many are close to drinking water, restrooms, or playground equipment. There are also several shelter houses throughout the park, and they are all reservable.
Visitors to McCormick's Creek State Park can also enjoy an Olympic-size swimming pool, playgrounds and playing fields, and a variety of games and sports at the Recreation Center. Fishing is available on nearby White River. The Nature Center also offers a variety of exhibits, displays and scheduled interpretive naturalist services year-round.
All of the various campgrounds are open year-round at McCormicks Creek State Park. Camping choices include Class A (electric) campsites, Class C (primitive) campsites, a Youth Tent Area and Group Camps.
For visitors preferring all the comforts of home a stay at Canyon Inn or one of their family housekeeping cabins could be just the ticket. The Inn also houses meeting rooms and a public dining room called Birdhouse Restaurant. For some easy, ready-made fun enjoy one of McCormick's Creek State Park's Family Getaways at the Canyon Inn.
RECREATION:
- Hiking Trails
- Picnic Areas & Shelter Houses
- Saddle Barn
- Nature Center
- Swimming Pool
- Recreation Center
- Playgrounds & Playing Fields
- Tennis Courts
- Fishing
- Canoeing/Kayaking
Park History
Long before pioneers entered the area now known as McCormick's Creek the Miami Indians roamed the land. The Indians had camps along the banks of the White River to the north and south, but what is now state park land was far too rugged, filled with canyons and ravines, to invite settlement. Instead, it became a hunting ground, offering deer, squirrel, grouse, and fish from its deep woods and clear streams. It wasn't until 1816 that the first settler laid claim to the area, when John McCormick homesteaded nearly one hundred acres along the canyon by the waterfalls. In those days it was common practice to name physical landmarks after the people who owned them, and thus McCormick's Creek received its name.
NATURE CENTER
The Nature Center at McCormick's Creek State Park, designed on the 'Please Touch - Gently' theme, houses natural history exhibits, nature games and quizzes, a wildlife observation room, and a full range of naturalist-led activities available free of charge to park visitors. A self-guiding nature trail lies just behind the Nature Center.
Interpretive naturalist services are available year-round and are headquartered in the Nature Center (unless otherwise noted). Scheduled programs include hikes, history talks, live animal presentations, workshops, and system-wide patch programs. Special groups wishing programs just for their group should contact the Nature Center in advance.
The Nature Center is open year round, though winter hours are reduced.
Nature Center Hours:
- April - October:
Daily 9:30 am - 4:00 pm - November - March:
Thursday-Monday 9:30 am - 4:00 pm - Closed Tuesday & Wednesday
- Group programs available - make arrangements one month in advance.
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