COLUMN: Driftwood Outdoors: Covered bridge country offers more than a scenic drive

Parke County, IN is home to beautiful, covered bridges and even more beautiful natural resources. Fall is a favorite time to visit because of the explosion of vibrant colors as the leaves change. It’s also when the Covered Bridge Festival occurs, which by all accounts is one of the largest and best fall festivals I’ve ever attended.

Known as the “Covered Bridge Capital of the World,” Parke County is home to 31 historic covered bridges. They are scattered across the region. Some are out in the middle of nowhere, some are in small towns, but my favorites are the few you float under on Sugar Creek. When cool October mornings arrive, the hardwoods turn red, orange and gold, gliding a canoe through mist rising off the water beneath a century old, covered bridge is one of the prettiest sights to behold in the Midwest.

I came to know this country well during my years at Purdue University. Back then, I was looking for outdoor adventures to fit a college student’s budget. Sugar Creek quickly became one of my favorite destinations. Canoeing, camping and fishing provided escape for little cost. The scenery made Parke County feel much farther from civilization than it really was. All these years later, the region remains one of my favorite fall destinations.

Sugar Creek flows through Shades State Park and Turkey Run State Park. These are two of Indiana’s most outstanding public properties, both offering camping and direct access to the creek. My favorite way to experience the fall foliage is from a canoe or kayaking. Depending on the stretch you float, paddlers can pass beneath multiple covered bridges. The Narrows Covered Bridge and Cox Ford Covered Bridge still span Sugar Creek near Turkey Run. Seeing one of these old wooden structures appear around a bend while floating beneath a canopy of fall color is a uniquely Indiana experience.

Sugar Creek offers excellent fishing, especially for anglers who enjoy moving water. Smallmouth bass are plentiful and some grow to trophy size. A canoe or kayak allows you to cover water, then stop and work promising holes, runs and rocky banks. This is a great water to try your hand at fly fishing. Fall also brings relief from the heavy summer crowds.

The camping opportunities are equally impressive. Turkey Run and Shades state parks provide excellent bases for exploring the region, with hiking trails and easy access to Sugar Creek. There are also numerous privately operated campgrounds around Parke County and the Sugar Creek corridor, making it possible to turn a day trip into a long weekend.

Another option is Raccoon Lake, or as it is officially known, Cecil M. Harden Lake. The 2,060-acre reservoir offers boating, camping and excellent fishing. Indiana DNR surveys have identified striped bass, black crappie and channel catfish among its top fishing opportunities, with largemouth bass and bluegill also present. Raccoon State Recreation Area offers hundreds of campsites and multiple boat ramps.

Big Raccoon Creek below the dam deserves attention, too. Compared with the number of paddlers on Sugar Creek, Big Raccoon can feel really quiet. The wooded banks, moving water and historic bridges give it character all its own. My old route began below the dam and continued toward Mansfield and Bridgeton, passing through some of the prettiest areas in Parke County.

Fall always offers another reason to return. The 2026 Parke County Covered Bridge Festival runs October 9 through October 18. Billed as Indiana’s largest festival, the 10-day celebration spreads across communities throughout the county. Visitors come for arts and crafts, food, small towns, fall foliage and, of course, the 31 covered bridges. Rockville serves as festival headquarters.

My suggestion is to experience the festival, but don't spend the entire trip on pavement. Pack a tent or camper. Bring fishing rods. Rent a canoe or kayaks and spend a lazy day on the water floating Sugar Creek or take out a fishing boat on Raccoon Lake. Spend a day wandering through festival towns, then spend the next.

Covered bridges are beautiful when viewed through a windshield. They are even better when you paddle beneath one with a fishing rod beside you and October leaves floating on the water.

See you down the trail…

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