Located in Clarksville, Indiana, on the banks of the breathtaking Ohio River, the Falls of the Ohio State Park aims to connect visitors to today’s environment by exploring the ancient past through the study of the environment. Visitors can enjoy the history of “The Falls” by exploring the interpretive center overlooking ancient fossil beds or by visiting the exhibit gallery and the discovery center.
History:
Originally a series of flowing rapids, The Falls was a hazardous 26-foot drop covering more than 2.5 miles of river. Currently, most of The Falls is now behind the McAlpine Dam, however, the 390-million-year-old fossil beds, one of the largest in the world, remain naturally exposed.
Programs:
Family Nature Club: One Sunday of every month, visitors can attend a family-friendly nature club. Starting at 2:00pm, visitors of all ages will enjoy guided hikes, scavenger hunts, and all kinds of outdoor educational activities.
Public Hikes: Hikes on the Devonian fossil beds, led by local naturalists, are offered on weekends starting on Memorial Day and running through Labor Day. Visitors will learn about the unique fossil beds as well as the history and the wildlife surrounding the area. If visitors cannot make one of these pre-scheduled hikes, special guided hikes can be scheduled or visitors can stroll through the fossils themselves and attempt to find a roving naturalist.
Hikes on the outer fossil beds are one of the most amazing excursions a visitor can experience. Guides will lead visitors through the outer rugged fossil beds in their purest form as they learn about geology, wildlife, history, river dynamics, and engineering. These tours can only happen in the late summer and fall, when the upper gates of the McAlpine Dam are closed. These hikes have minimal shade, rocky terrain, and take about 3.5 hours.
Canoe Hikes: Naturalist Jeremy Beavin will take visitors on a unique paddle tour of the Falls via canoe and kayaks. Visitors will enjoy a refreshing boat trip through the conservation area and take a short hiking break through the outer fossil beds to see some rare fossils. These trips can only be scheduled in the late summer or early fall.
Additional Information:
Falls of the Ohio State Park, 201 West Riverside Dr., Clarksville, IN 47129, Phone: 812-280-9970, Map
Map: