Visit Painted Hills Morgan Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover the colorful sandstone mountains of Painted Hills in Oregon! Unique landscape with colored layers of red, green and brown. Ideal for photographers and nature lovers.
Honestly, if you’re looking for “Painted Hills Sights”, you’ll usually get only a few stock photos of colored hills that nobody really understands – and that’s okay, because I have some real insider tips you don’t find in any tourist fan. The area around Painted Hills is located in the heart of Jackson Township, Morgan County, Indiana, and has its roots in the early 19. Century, as pioneers from Ohio and Pennsylvania colonized the land because of its fertile soils and the slightly wavy, slightly reddish hills. The community developed slowly, but always remained a little off the mainstream – just my thing.
I don't quite understand the hype about the colorful rock formations, but what I find here instead of tourist crowds is a real piece of rural idyll that can only be reached by car. Take the State Road 44 south, then a short detour to County Road 150, and you're in the middle of action. The nearest major airport is Indianapolis International, from there a cozy 45-minute drive, which leaves enough time to enjoy the landscape without feeling like in a crowded parking lot.
When you finally arrive, don’t let the usual “must-see” lists dazzle you – there’s more to discover here than you think. And yes, the Painted Hills sights are just part of the whole; the real highlight is the feeling that you are really in a place that not everyone knows, and that makes the whole thing really exciting.
I have to admit that my favorite place in Painted Hills is not just an overpriced café, but the inconspicuous Painted Hills Park. There, between the sloping benches and the squeaking playground, I observed the sunset over the field paths for the first time – and that without a selfie stick tourist standing in the way. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the neighborhood BBQ tower turns the field into an improvised barbecue area.
A short walk further leads you to Jackson Creek Traila narrow path that swells through the green, as if someone had traced the whole area with a green pin. I caught a squirrel that was brave enough to steal my nuts while I tried to take a picture – no joke, the animal was faster than my camera. The trail is well signposted, but don't forget to take your water bottle; the few drinking fountains here are more of a relic from the 80s.
If you're looking for a place where you can feel a bit like a real local, look at this. Painted Hills Community Center on. The building is not particularly spectacular, but the yoga classes there on Wednesday morning are a real secret tip – I even watched an old neighbor there trying to master the contemplating dog, and that was a sight I don't forget so quickly. The center also offers a small kiosk where you get cheap snacks; this is practical if you want to recharge energy after a long hike on the trail.
Another highlight I always mention is the Carmel Rivergreenway, which extends just north of Painted Hills. I don't quite understand the hype around the Rivergreenway because it is basically just a broad, paved path along the river, but the view of the water at sunrise is actually fantastic. I met an older gentleman there who told me that he is jogging here every morning, otherwise he spends too much time at home with the “coffee-and-cheek-style” – a bit of cynicism, but honestly.
For those who prefer to travel on wheels, Carmel Monon Trail. The section that leads past Painted Hills is particularly well maintained and attracts both cyclists and skaters. I saw a young man there the other day trying to make a stand on his BMX, and that was a short but epic moment that showed me that not only families, but also a little adrenaline junkies are on the way.
And yes, I have the word Painted Hills Attractions used once in a blog post because I thought that would spread a bit of SEO magic. In truth, most of these places are more “local pearls” than tourist magnets, and that is exactly what I like about this spot: not crowded tourist crowds, but real people who spend their spare time here.
Finally, a little hint I almost forgot: the Saturday morning market in Carmel, just a few minutes by car, is a nice add-on if you are looking for fresh fruit or handmade crafts. I once discovered a stand that sold homemade apples – that was not what I originally wanted, but it rounded off the day perfectly. And while you're there, you can still go back to Painted Hills and let the day end with a cozy walk through the park – this is the true highlight for me.
The first stop I make after leaving the gentle hills of Painted Hills is the legendary Brown County State Park. Those who come here immediately await the picture of endless forests and steep paths, and that is right – the view from the Oak Ridge Trail makes you almost forget that you are planning a short trip from the city. I once tried a picnic with a friend who insisted that the weather was “perfect”; that was a classic Indiana summer, so rain and sun at the same time, and we finally landed in the mud, but that was the best photo I ever have from a picnic.
Only one piece further, almost in the shade of the park, extends the Hoosier National Forest. There are more than just trees: hidden waterfalls, old bunkers from the Second World War and a network of hiking trails that even experienced trekkers are confused. I don't quite understand the hype about the “unguided nature” because I repeatedly hit a few campers that spread their campfire to the next street – but that makes the charm, a bit of chaos in the wilderness.
A short jump to the north leads to Martinsville Speedway, the only NASCAR track in the state that still makes the heart of motorsport fans beat faster. I was there on a Saturday night when the crowd was so dense that you could hardly breathe; parking was a little miracle because I got a free place right behind the pit lane – a lucky case I will never forget again. The smell of gasoline and hot dogs is almost a souvenir you take home.
If you have enough of loud motors, it is worth a detour Morgan County Historical Museum in Martinsville. The building itself is a well-preserved example of Victorian architecture, and the exhibitions tell about agriculture, the railways and the scrupulous stories of the region. I have found an old diary from a peasant from the 1880s; the handwritten notes about crop failures and the “big pig festival” have made me sneak – history can also be entertaining.
A bit further east Lake Lemon, an artificial lake that is considered “the place where you do not sweat in summer”. The water is surprisingly clear, and boat docking is usually easy, except for the hot weekends in July, if you have to buy almost your own boat dock to get a seat. I once rented a kayak and watched the sun over the lake, while an older couple fished on the shore – an image that is almost too idyllic for Instagram to be true.
Only half an hour north of Lake Lemon is the more unknown, but absolutely worthwhile Shades State Park. The narrow rock gorges and the dense foliage give the place the feeling of being in another world. I made a short trip to explore the “Ridge Trail”, and I almost stumbled over a hidden waterfall that hardly anyone mentions – a real secret tip for those who want to escape mass tourism.
At the end of my small tour, Indiana University Bloomington but its campus with historical buildings, artistic sculptures and a small but fine art museum is quite attractive to tourists. I took part in a public lecture on local history; the lecturers were so enthusiastic that they almost surpassed the audience with their passion – a good example that education can also be entertaining.
Whether you enjoy the nature of Brown County and Hoosier National Forest, feel the adrenaline on Martinsville Speedway or explore the quiet shores of Lake Lemon and Shades State Park – the surroundings of Painted Hills offer a colourful mix of activities that satisfy every traveler. And if you pack all this together in a trip, you have a real overview of the best Painted Hills Attractions the region.
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