CAUTION: LOCATION MAP Trail crosses VERSAILLES STATE PARK 7 Laughery Creek. Impassable during Box 205, 1387 E. U.S. 50 • Versailles, IN 47042 • (812) 689-6424 high water. 5,988 Acres Established 1943 421 Indianapolis 1 VERSAILLES STATE • 7 50 PARK 50 VERSAILLES STATE Town of PARK • Versailles 1 1 421 7 1 1 2 MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS TRAIL NAME MILEAGE TRAIL TYPE 2 1 Grandview Loop 6.0 More Difficult 2 2 Center Loop 2.0 More Difficult 3 Creekside Loop 1.4 More Difficult 2 4 Cliffside 2.5 More Difficult L a 5 Turtle Loop 1.0 Easy u g h e 6 Shadow Run Loop 4.0 More Difficult r y C r 7 Last Chance 2.0 More Difficult e e 8 k 8 Eagle Trace 1.0 More Difficult 9 Worm Hole 2.5 More Difficult 9 HIKING TRAILS 4 Old Forest 2.25 More Difficult Orchard 1.25 Easy 3 Fallen Timber Creek 1.85 Easy Otter Trail 1.5 Easy 4 3 4 Schimmerhorn Shelter Hiking Permitted on Mountain Bike Trails 8 Heron's Point 9 Shelter Playing 5 Field Cedar Grove 5 Shelter Mountain Bike Trail C Trailhead e d a r C l l e n T i m b e r r C Fa r e e k e e k VERSAILLES Lakeview LAKE Shelter Youth Tent Asst. Property Area Manager's Campground B Residence Service Campground Property Area A Group Manager's Trailside Camp Laughery Residence Shelter Playing Field Campground Control Station Campground C Dam Oak Grove Shelter Horse Day-Use Area Horseman’s SINK Campground HOLES Town BRADT NATURAL AREA of Gate U.S. 50 & South Co. Rd. 300E, Versailles, IN 47302 Versailles House d oa Versailles State Park R Park Office er 50 ow T ire F CCC Worker ld Statue O Covered Bridge No rth Vernon 50 County Road 300 East 50 Cincinnati LEGEND Boundary Accessible L Road Campground a u Hiking Trail Playground g h e Mnt. Bike Trail Camp Store r y Mnt. Bike Trailhead Shelter C r Parking Lot Nature Center e e North Emergency Telephone Picnic Area k 0 ¼ ½ ance Restrooms Dumping Station Entr Boat Launch Saddle Barn Approximate Scale in Miles Swimming Pool Trailhead Boat Rental Covered Bridge Please carry out all trash you produce in order to keep your park clean and Gatehouse CCC Worker Statue beautiful for others to enjoy. 11/2020 recreation building to house the boys ranging from 18 to BRANDT NATURAL AREA DESCRIPTION OF HIKING TRAILS 28 years old, known as the Civilian Conservation Corps. Enjoy the scenery of the eastern side of Versailles TRAIL & DESCRIPTION DISTANCE DIFFICULTY These CCC enrollees developed the park through tree State Park, known as the Bradt Natural Area. Donated in planting, native stone masonry and wood construction, November 2001, this is where the Bradt family resided Old Forest Trail 2.25 miles Difficult road construction and path work, watershed and erosion and farmed in the 1900s. Although the structures in which Circles upland woods and ravines along the eastern controls, and water construction projects. President they lived no longer exist, those 83 acres now flourish bluff of Laughery Valley, featuring oak, hickory, maple, Franklin Roosevelt’s “tree army” also joined artisans in with native flora and fauna. Hike the 3.1 mile long trail beech, tulip poplar, black walnut and other native trees. constructing buildings and shelters. Most of their original through the southwest wooded area. Enjoy watching Look for limestone sinkholes along the way. Trail can work is still present throughout much of Versailles State deer, squirrels, and many species of birds in their natural be accessed from below, from the Old Fire Tower Road Park. habitat. Take a stroll and visit the wetland area, which or near Oak Grove picnic area. Parents, please watch During fall 1937, Company 596 was pulled from possesses a large body of water with surrounding cattails children at road crossings. Versailles to work in Oregon. By April 1943, the National and aquatic plants. Location: 39°03'44.7"N, 85°12'21.2"W, Park Service deeded the property to the state of Indiana, S. Co. Rd. 300 E., Milan, IN 47031. Orchard Trail 2.75 miles Easy and the “Versailles Project” became Versailles State Makes a figure 8 along the hill of the southern edge Park, Indiana’s second-largest state park. Today the park of Fallen Timber Creek/ravine. The trail rounds includes 5,988 acres. RULES AND REGULATIONS Campground A to near the CCC-constructed Oak Construction of Versailles Lake began in January 1954. • Do not injure or damage any structure, rock, tree, flower, Grove shelter, where Trail 1 can be picked up. Encircling Using prison laborers, the 230-acre lake was built as an bird or wild animal. Do NOT gather limbs, brush or trees Campground A, access can be made near Oak Grove area water supply and recreation outlet, opening to the (either dead or alive) for firewood because they rebuild picnic area, behind Trailside shelter, from several points public for boating, fishing and swimming in June 1958. the natural humus. in the campground, and from Fallen Timber bridge at New facilities and features have been added to the park • Any firearm (except lawfully possessed handguns), the lake. over the years. A swimming pool complex, complete with BB gun, air gun, CO2 gun, bow and arrow, paint gun a waterslide, opened in 1987. As a result swimming in the or spear gun in possession in a state park must be Fallen Timber Creek Trail 1.5 miles Easy lake is no longer permitted. unloaded or un-nocked and stored in a case or locked Running directly through the park is Laughery Creek, within a vehicle, except when owner is participating in Begins north of Fallen Timber bridge and goes east named after Col. Archibald Lochry, a Revolutionary War an activity authorized by written permit. along Fallen Timber Creek. Crosses the creek three soldier. In 1781, Col. Lochry and his men were traveling times before joining Trail 2. Numerous invertebrates • Dogs and cats must be attended at all times and kept down the Ohio River to meet with George Rogers Clark inhabit the creek bottom. on a leash no longer than 6 feet. at the Falls of the Ohio. Before they arrived, the soldiers • Vending or advertising without permission of the Depart- died in a battle with Native Americans where Laughery Otter Trail 1.5 miles Easy Creek enters the Ohio River, just south of Aurora. ment of Natural Resources is prohibited. An abundance of history lies below the park’s surface. • Camping is permitted only in the campground. No youth Over time Laughery Creek has cut its way through Silurian groups are permitted in the family campground. Mountain bike trail maps are available at entrance reef limestone, creating rugged cliffs and exposing fossil- • Fires shall be built only in designated places. gatehouse and mountain bike trailhead. rich, 475-million-year-old Ordovician rock. Throughout • Please comply with the Carry In/Carry Out trash policy many of the park’s creeks, hikers will find fossils, including in all day use areas. Overnight guests must put waste PLEASE STAY ON MARKED TRAILS. bryozoans, brachiopods, corals and crinoids. Numerous in receptacles provided for that purpose. sinkholes and associated springs point to an extensive underground drainage system that dominates the park. • Motorists shall observe posted speed limits and park Please let wild animals remain wild. The park’s beautiful hardwood forests provide only in designated areas. Feeding deer is prohibited. Feeding of wild animals can expansive habitats for songbirds and a variety of wildlife. • Swimming is limited to the pool, when lifeguards are result in harm to both animals and people. Animals who To learn more about Versailles State Park and the on duty. depend on handouts become a nuisance to visitors and a opportunities that the park provides, visit the Nature • Horseback riders shall ride on horse trails only. Horses danger to themselves. Please lock up all food and coolers Center located near the lake. Its interactive exhibits prove are not permitted on hiking or biking trails. inside cars or campers. Roll up car windows tightly. to kids of all ages that a trip to Versailles can be both • The park is closed from 11 p.m. until 7 a.m. No one is educational and recreational. allowed entrance into the park between those hours, except anglers and registered campers at their site. DNR PROPERTIES NEARBY Crosley Fish and Wildlife Area-boating, boat For a complete list of rules and regulations, inquire at park office. ramps, dog training, areas, fishing, hunting, target ranges, trapping, wildlife watching THIS IS YOUR PARK Splinter Ridge Fish and Wildlife Area-hunting, Visitors shall observe the rules, which are designed to wildlife area fulfill the purpose for which state parks were established, For a list of park events, visit namely, to preserve a primitive landscape in its natural Selmier State Forest-fishing, hiking trails, hunting interpretiveservices.IN.gov condition for the public’s use and enjoyment. Pick up an Indiana Recreation Guide for more information. ACTIVITIES AND FACILITIES CENTRAL RESERVATION SYSTEM BOAT RENTALS—Boats may be rented by the hour Reservations for all types of camping, family or day. Privately owned boats may be launched on cabins, and shelters at state parks, reservoirs the lake at the boat ramp. Only electric trolling motors, CAMP. and forests can be made online or by calling CENTRAL RESERVATION SYSTEM powered by no more than two 12-volt batteries, are toll-free. allowed. Call: 1-866-6campIN (1-866-622-6746) BRIDLE TRAILS—25 miles of bridle trails are Online: camp.IN.gov available for those bringing their own horses.