What we’re about
THIS GROUP WELCOMES EVERYONE!
WHO WE ARE
The Indianapolis Hiking Meetup Group was formed in October 2006 by Christine B. and has grown rapidly. We're a group who enjoys the outdoors, meeting new people, and just having fun.
Our aim is to explore the great hiking spots Indiana has to offer and provide an opportunity to socialize with others who have a passion for hiking. Hikers of all levels are welcome to join. With us, you'll burn a few calories and see some great sights to boot.
I also post the events as early as I can, so that people can determine if a particular weekend will work for them.
KNOW YOUR LIMITS!
The hikes we do are usually either moderate or rugged, depending on the park. The group is mainly for people who exercise on a regular basis or can handle the demands of the day's hike. It's important that people realize what their limits are and not attend a challenging hike they may not be ready for. Please be sure to note the hike descriptions and determine whether or not you'll be able to enjoy the event. None of us want anyone to end up injured or unable to finish a hike.
We also hike all year-round, so weather conditions can also be a factor, and although we avoid hiking in extreme temperatures (in the teens or in the nineties), please be aware of any weather conditions that may have an effect on your ability to hike.
TYPES OF HIKES
Rugged hikes consist of lengthy events across challenging terrain, which can mean rocky streambeds and steep hills. These hikes wouldn't be recommended for beginners or those who are still getting into shape. Our rugged events are often our best hikes but are definitely a workout. Examples of these would be Clifty Falls, Turkey Run, and Shades State Parks.
Moderate hikes are not as physically challenging as the rugged ones and take place on less hilly terrain. These hikes contain a few hills that will get your heart rate up or else the length of the hike will be the real challenge. These would require a decent level of fitness and examples of moderate hikes would be Eagle Creek or Fort Harrison.
Easy hikes aren't frequently on our schedules, but that may be a matter of opinion. Any hike in this category would consist of a flat terrain and nothing strenuous.
DUES
$3 per year
The dues go toward maintaining the fee for the Meetup site and dues are paid through the site.
GUESTS
You are always welcome to bring a guest or guests with you, but we ask that they join if they are your guest more than a couple times. We limit the number of guests to 2 people.
KIDS
We're not strictly an all-adult group, but young children may not be up for the hikes we do, so please take that into consideration. Any young people willing and able to come out are welcome.
DOGS
Dogs are welcome on our hikes, as long as he or she gets along with other pooches and a large group of people. In some cases, dogs can be let off leashes while we're out on the trails, but on days when we're at a popular park, dogs will be need to be kept on leashes.
CANCELLATIONS/POSTPONEMENTS
If a hike is called off due to inclement weather or some other problem, an e-mail will be sent out as early as possible letting everyone know and an update will be made to the site. Hikes are usually postponed to another weekend to avoid bad weather or any other setback.
PHOTOS
As you can be seen from the Photos section of the site, we have some great photographers in the group and taking pictures is a big part of our events. Everyone is welcome to upload their photos to the site.
POLLS
Polls are available, so feel free to post ideas.
If you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact me.
Take care,
Michael
Upcoming events (1)
See all- Hike @ Eagle CreekEagle Creek Park, Indianapolis, IN
Time for a local hike! For this event, we'll meet at one of our usual spots to cover between 5 and 6 miles in roughly 2.5 hours. The trails at Eagle Creek are in the easy to moderate category, and admission is $6 for Marion County residents.
We'll meet at the Peace Learning Center's parking lot. A map of Eagle Creek is located at https://eaglecreekpark.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Trail-Map-3_24_18.pdf.
Restrooms are located at the Earth Discovery Center down the street from the Learning Center.
The hike itself will consist of two different routes through the park, one covering the northern part of Eagle Creek, and the second routing through the southern half.
We'll begin from the parking lot of the Peace Learning Center and follow the red trail up to the Ornithology Center. We'll then hike part of the fitness trail and cut across the middle of the park to return to where we started at the Peace Learning Center. (If anyone needs to take off at this point, you can.)
For the second part, we'll head east and then south on the orange trail and pick up the red trail to return to where we began.
If you enter from the 56th Street entrance, once you pass through the gate house, you'll continue on the street you're on (Eagle Creek Parkway) and eventually pass a parking lot on your right. You'll stay on Eagle Creek Parkway for quite a while until you reach Walnut Point Road. Take a left there. Walnut Point also leads to the marina. After getting on Walnut Point, the first intersection you come to will have a ranger station on the right, but here you will make a left and then a quick right into the Learning Center parking lot.
If you enter from the 71st Street entrance, once you pass through the gate house, you'll wind your way through the park, staying on the same road (Eagle Creek Parkway), until you reach Walnut Point Road. Take a right at Walnut Point, which also leads to the marina, and continue down the street to the first intersection. A ranger station will be on the right. Take a left there and then a quick right into the parking lot.
Car Pool Info: If anyone is interested in doing a car pool, please send a message to me through the site by Friday evening.
After the hike, for those interested, we can plan to grab lunch at Luciana's at Trader's Point.
Please note:
Terrain: Easy to moderate
Time: Around 2 to 2.5 hoursSee you on Saturday,
Michael
