Eagle Creek Park is an urban oasis for adventure seekers and nature lovers. Located in northwest Indianapolis, the park first opened in 1972 after the city invested in the creation of a reservoir. Now, Eagle Creek is the largest park in Indianapolis and one of the largest in the country. With 3,900 acres of green space and over 1,300 acres of water, there’s enough space for countless outdoor activities. 

Each year, more than a million people visit Eagle Creek Park’s expansive forests and open waters. You can sail and fish on the reservoir, hike along the network of trails, and swing through the trees on their zipline course. They also offer an outdoor concert series and interactive nature classes for all ages. Their resident naturalists can teach you just about anything about the local environment—from bird watching to habitat building. 

With so much to see and do, Eagle Creek Park is the city’s go-to destination for exploring the great outdoors.

Sail the lakeside waterfront just minutes from downtown Indianapolis.

Indiana may be landlocked, but you can still enjoy the beautiful waterfront at the Eagle Creek Reservoir! If you want to venture out onto water, all you need to do is choose your vessel. 

The park offers sailing lessons as well as many different rental options down at the Marina. There, you can rent canoes, kayaks, pontoons, row boats, paddle boats, and even paddle boards. If you’re feeling especially adventurous, you can try one of their paddle board yoga classes during the summer, balancing on the water as you meditate!

And if you have a boat of your own, you can bring it down to the reservoir and sail across the park. There are some size and speed limitations on personal boats, but Eagle Creek has a strong community of sailing enthusiasts. The Indianapolis Sailing Club offers programs for both serious racers and casual sailors, embarking on relaxed trips with their friends and family. 

Enjoy water sports and sandy beaches at Eagle Creek Park.

Eagle Creek Park helps you elevate your water sport activities to the next level. If rowing is your passion, teens and adults can train at the Indiana Rowing Center. Eagle Creek Reservoir is home to a world-class rowing course and has hosted the U.S. National Rowing Championship several times. You can also join a competitive team or learn the basics of rowing strokes at one of the center’s classes. 

For all the anglers out there, Eagle Creek invites you to cast your line into the reservoir’s calm waters. Two popular fishing holes in the area are Lilly Lake and the Marina, where you can also purchase live bait, artificial lures, and fishing tackle. Because of the park’s restrictions on boats, you can trust that the waters won’t be disturbed while you’re fishing. And when you reel in your line, you may find crappie, largemouth bass, walleye, bluegill, or channel catfish!

You can even hit the beach at Eagle Creek Park, right in the middle of Indianapolis. The sandy stretch along the reservoir is the ideal place to swim, build sandcastles, and chill by the water. With a snack bar and lifeguards on duty, it has all the makings of a summertime escape without having to leave the city.

You can find high-flying outdoor fun for the entire family.

Eagle Creek Park is the city’s main hiking hotspot. The park’s six trails run a total of sixteen miles through the mature woodland. For casual hikes, the natural and gravel paths are designed to be easy or moderate in difficulty. Those routes are ideal for both experienced trail runners and families looking for a leisurely excursion. 

If you’re seeking more of a thrill, you can find it high above the hiking trails at the Go Ape Treetop Adventure Course. You can climb 40 feet in the air, traverse the challenging rope ladders, and swoop on tarzan swings. Then, hold on tight as you speed through the trees on five different ziplines. The biggest one is 305 feet long! Anyone age 10 or older can test their mettle on the course from March through November each year.

Now, if you prefer your feet firmly on the ground, the Earth Discovery Center is a great place for kids and nature enthusiasts of all ages. The Discovery Center teaches about the science behind our environment and all of the park’s creatures. You can attend dozens of interactive classes and nature hikes led by their naturalists. And walking through the center, you’ll also encounter some of the critters who call the park home. If you time it right, you may even witness a caterpillar morphing into a monarch butterfly!

Nestled in the park’s natural landscape, you can also hit the links at Eagle Creek Golf Club, one of the Midwest’s premier golf courses. The 36 holes of Pete Dye championship golf incorporates the park’s natural terrain into the design. 

Eagle Creek Park is an ideal gathering place for the Indy community.

Over the years, Eagle Creek Park has become a popular place for the community to come together, providing a space for both personal and community events. Families and friend groups often meet up at Eagle Creek for a day out, whether they’re going swimming or hitting the trails. Scattered throughout the park, there are several playgrounds, shelters, and picnic sites that are perfect for a small party or a casual hangout. 

On Wednesday nights in the summer, people bring blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy live music at the “In Concert with Nature” and “Jazz on the Point” concert series. And there’s even a spot for your four-legged friends to socialize! Eagle Creek’s Bark Park allows for off-leash fun with the purchase of their “pooch pass.” 

But the real magic of Eagle Creek Park is that it’s only a short drive from downtown Indianapolis. This enormous park is a welcome escape from the bustling city, with scenic landscapes and natural woodland. So, it’s no surprise that Eagle Creek is one of Indy’s most beloved parks and a place where everyone goes to unwind.