Meet the “Grand Canyon of the Midwest”—Canyons Carved from Sandstone, 14+ Miles of Hiking Trails, and Ancient Forests

We all know the wonders of the world —even some that are right here in the U.S., like the Grand Canyon. If you have visited this massive, mile-deep canyon, you’ll appreciate the beautiful, colorful rock layers that reveal millions of years of geological history. While we may not have a Grand Canyon in the Midwest, there is a natural geological wonder near Chicago that some refer to as the “Grand Canyon lookalike”—Turkey Run State Park. Nestled along State Road 47, southwest of Crawfordsville, Turkey Run State Park offers opportunities to explore deep sandstone ravines , walk through an ancient forest, and enjoy scenic views along Sugar Creek. Hiking the Turkey Run Trails ---------------------------- The real magic lies at the [Turkey Run Trails](https://www.turkeyrunstatepark.com/turkey-run-state-park-trails/), which bear resemblance to the Grand Canyon due to the deep canyon nestled in the shadows of the sandstone cliffs. To access many of the hiking trails, visitors must cross a suspension bridge over Suagr creek , which is a steep descent of 70 steps. Once you cross the bridge, you will enter the Rocky Hollow-Falls Canyon Nature Preserve, which features deep sandstone canyons and one of the last remnants of the magnificent forest that originally covered most of Indiana . Here, the peaceful hemlock trees shelter some of the most ruggedly beautiful hiking trails in the state. Source: https://secretchicago.com/grand-canyon-of-the-midwest-turkey-run-state-park/