Red, yellow, orange and brown.\nThe warm colors of autumn are upon us, and so are a plethora of fall outdoor activities. Scenic Southern Indiana offers many beautiful forests, lakes and recreation areas; all waiting for you to enjoy.\nFor an adventurous student, there are state and national forests for hiking and backpacking, rock climbing, hang gliding, caving and mountain biking. IU Outdoor Adventures activities desk manager Jamie Luce says its most popular activities include rock climbing, skydiving and whitewater rafting. While trips through IU Outdoor Adventures, located on the first floor of the Indiana Memorial Union, generally cost between $70 and $150 for a weekend. Luce says these activities are a great way to meet people who share similar interests. \n"You get to see some new people," says Luce, who spent last weekend backpacking in Big South Fork National Park in Kentucky with a group of eight people from IU. "Getting out of Bloomington is really nice."\nSuch trips provide participants with the chance to learn leadership skills, get away from campus life and enjoy the season's beautiful color and lack of bugs. Luce says it's a great time to be outdoors with another person. \n"It's romantic," she says. "And you can snuggle up with someone by the campfire."\nAll within a short drive, Yellowood Lake (in Brown County between Bloomington and Nashville), Morgan-Monroe State Forest (about 12 miles north of Bloomington on Old State Road 37), Lake Lemon (seven miles northeast of campus on State Road 45, then three miles on Tunnel Road), Brown County State Park (also in Brown County between Bloomington and Nashville) and other parks are a 15- to 20-minute drive from campus. \nSouthern Indiana is hilly and unglaciated, making for scenic, beautiful views at area parks. \nAt 1,050 feet, Weedpatch Hill in Brown County State Park is this area's highest point. \nStacy Mathies, an interpretive naturalist at Brown County State Park with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, says the park sees an increase in visitors in October each year because of the fall colors and weather. \n"More visitors come here in the fall for the overlooks," Mathies says.\nVisitors also enjoy 12 to 15 miles of trails in the park, ranging from a short, accessible trail to a three-mile trail, Mathies says. Also available are naturalist activities and interpretive talks at the park's Nature Center, which has a number of displays, a bird observation room and an active bee hive. \nFees for the park, which sees almost 2 million visitors each year, are $3 for in-state and $5 for out-of-state vehicles. The Nature Center is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. \nPerhaps the most overlooked scenic spot is the IU campus itself. Another picturesque area is the near-campus region, particularly the area bordered on the north by Seventh Street, south by Third Street, west by Indiana Avenue and east by Jordan Avenue. Beech, maple and tulip poplar are among the native trees along the many paths and trails through campus. \nMany consider the sugar maple tree on the west side of Goodbody Hall to be the campus' most spectacular fall foliage.\nSenior Laura Murray doesn't need a car to enjoy the Bloomington outdoors. In the past, she has ran from her dorm room to Griffy Lake to take the trails there. \n"I enjoy running in the fall," Murray says. "It's much cooler and the leaves are turning, so it's more colorful."\nSenior Rachel Atz also spends time at Griffy.\n"I go to Griffy, to the dam and Sycamore Valley," Atz says.\nBut her favorite park this time of year is McCormick's Creek. \n"It's the best place to go for hiking in a group, because of the wide trails," she says. "And the cave is interesting.\n"It's good to get some fresh air and solitude sometimes," Atz continues. "A lot of students aren't from around Bloomington, so it's important to take this opportunity to learn about and enjoy other landscapes."\nMonroe County itself has several lakes that offer trails for hiking, backpacking and, when not too cold, swimming. Besides Lake Griffy, south of Bloomington is Lake Monroe, which is surrounded by Hoosier National Forest; northeast is Lake Lemon. All three have served as sources of water for Bloomington.\nSophomore Leigh Frame also says being outdoors is relaxing and a good way to get away from campus life.\n"It's healthy to get outside of your immediate home," Frame says. "It helps you learn where things are and get a better view of where you're living."\nFrames says there are many places in Bloomington and Brown County, for example, just waiting for students to take advantage of.\nThe Convention and Visitors Bureau, 2855 N. Walnut, has more information for those who want to learn about outdoor activities in the area. "Nature Walks in Southern Indiana" by Alan McPherson (Sierra Club, $15.95) covers nearly every hiking trail, park and recreation area available. IU Outdoor Adventures may be reached at 855-2231.
photos by Tim Street
