An easy-going hike to see Indiana’s tallest waterfall
Cataract Falls State Recreation Area – There are times when a hiker’s Parkinson’s disease calls for a trek less vigorous than other hikes. If that’s you, then you might enjoy a picturesque trail that I found in south-central Indiana.
The path follows a river, with two waterfalls as bookends to the out-and-back route. As a bonus, there’s also a 150-year-old covered bridge nearby to check out. (Jump to hike stats.)
This jaunt may be just what’s needed by people with Parkinson’s disease or other movement disorders who love to get outside but have some difficulty walking. It’s a fantastic way to get exercise and breathe in clean air.
Mr. Unshakable and I found the trail while driving to the place we had picked to watch the epic solar eclipse of 2024. The “path of totality” swept right through Indiana. (But that’s another story.)
At the park gate, we were given a detailed map. The attendant suggested that we start by continuing on the park road to the Lower Falls parking lot. That way we’d go uphill for the first half of the hike, and downhill on the return.
So we started our hike from the Lower Falls lot.
First, we stopped to admire the smaller of the two waterfalls we would see.
The trail sloped gently upward, and part of it was paved before it gave way to packed dirt.
Parkinson’s tip
Not all wheelchairs are meant for hiking outdoors, but a wheelchair could work on a portion of the path near the Lower Falls, as well as at either of the falls’ viewing areas.
We continued up the trail for about half a mile along the river and then came to a potential obstacle: a short, steeper incline with big rocks to go around. This is where much of the trail’s 155 feet of elevation is.
Parkinson’s tip
Hiking poles are your friend here, but it might be even better to have a human friend close by to help you along.
After overcoming that obstacle (life’s just full of those, isn’t it?), we were only a few hundred feet from the Upper Falls lookout. Flowing 40 feet down from top to bottom, the tiered falls are the largest in Indiana.
We took some pictures at the lookout, then headed over to the nearby covered bridge. Built in 1876, the structure is almost 150 feet long. It was closed to vehicles in 1988, but the public is welcome to walk through it.
After that, we were back on the trail for the return trip to our car.
Parkinson’s tip
If you don’t want to go down the steep, rocky area on the way back, you can return to your car via the road that you took to the parking lot. The distance will be similar, and the path much smoother.
Hike info
PD difficulty level (see chart): Easy
Distance: 1.7 miles round trip (out and back)
Elevation gain: 115 feet
Trailhead location: 2605 N. Cataract Road, Spencer, Indiana
Bathrooms: pit toilets near main parking lot and at Lower Falls parking lot
Emergency medical support: hospital in Greencastle, 35 miles from park
Costs: Park daily entrance pass: $7/residents, $9 nonresidents
Insider tip:
Swimming or wading in the river is not allowed, and it’s probably dangerous, especially after big rains.
(Photo of strange mushroom is brought to you by girl on the trail who picked it. Don’t do that either!)
That mushroom is a white morel, if I’m not mistaken! They are delicious and sought-after by mushroom hunters; a lucky find. There are some toxic false morels that look a little similar: you can tell the difference by cutting it in half and checking that it’s hollow up the middle (false morels are solid).
Who knew? I knew my salad today was missing something…