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Charlestown State Park
4.9 ★★★★★ 33 Google reviews · Running trail in Charlestown, Indiana · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Loop distance
- 6 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Charlestown State Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
What runners say about Charlestown State Park
“The entire park is beautiful and well kept.”
“Beautiful day, busy with people and families needing to get out in nature's beauty”
Really nice state park for camping, hiking, and local historical Rose Island Abandoned Theme Park. Hiking trails are really diverse and scenic. Campground available along with picnic areas and boat launch to Ohio river. Very large park and close to several southern Indiana cities and Louisville, KY.
Trail #2 is perfect for kids 3 and older. There are several trails down to the creek where kids can splash around. Be careful around the waterfall areas, the railing above the drop is good for most but not great, and the fall would be bad. It's about a 1.5 hour walk if you're taking your time.
This does require payment at the gate! I live out of state and it was $9 for the day. There was plenty of parking the day I went. The bathroom area was clean. Dogs welcomed on-leash. The paths were well maintained. Honestly it wasn’t very populated which is always my preference.
$9.00 out of state day pass. $7.00 if you are a resident of Indiana. A gorgeous place to spend an afternoon. We had a wonderful time taking a 10+ mile hike to check out all the trails here at Charlestown State Park. This place is filled with so much history we didn't know existed.
Trail conditions & character
“Be careful around the waterfall areas, the railing above the drop is good for most but not great, and the fall would be bad.”
“I do advise the paved road to and from the island is very steep and will get your heart rate up!”
“I do advise the paved road to and from the island is very steep and will get your heart rate up!”
Plan your run at Charlestown State Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- Loop distance6 mi back to where you parked. Long enough for a real long run.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websitein.gov
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 6 am–7 pm |
| Tuesday | 6 am–7 pm |
| Wednesday | 6 am–7 pm |
| Thursday | 6 am–7 pm |
| Friday | 6 am–7 pm |
| Saturday | 6 am–7 pm |
| Sunday | 6 am–7 pm |
Running trails near Charlestown
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Charlestown State Park Trail 1 Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 36 reviews
Kid-friendly area offering a number of hiking trails.
Christmas Lights Of Charlestown
4.8 ★★★★★ 486 reviews
Festive park featuring Christmas lights synced to music, a train ride and an ice rink, for a fee.
Greenway Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 123 reviews
Local green space with a dog area, a playground and a creek for kids to splash around in.
