Hiking can be even greater in winter

Southern Indiana's hilly terrain, shimmering lakes and colorful fall foliage make for wonderful hiking. Below is a list of top hiking spots around Bloomington that beckon exploration. Hikers who desire longer hikes can always combine shorter trails, said Stacy Mathies, an interpretive naturalist at Brown County State Park. So, lace up those boots and get ready to romp and stomp through scenic, tranquil beauty.\nCharles Deam Wilderness\nNestled in the Hoosier National Forest, southeast of Bloomington, the Charles Deam Wilderness is the best local hiking spot, said Dick Jones, founder of the Bloomington Hike Club. \n"Deam is a top spot to hike because it is a pure wilderness hike," Jones said.\nThe 13,000 acre preserve is Indiana's only protected wilderness area. Deam's seven interconnected paths -- four loops and three linear trails -- await hikers searching longer jaunts. Visitors are permitted to camp trailside or by Lake Monroe's shores, where lapping water soothes one to sleep. Keep an eye out for sweeping bald eagles during the day.\nBrown County State Park\nAs Indiana's largest state park and only a 20-minute drive from Bloomington, Brown County is another optimal site. The park features ten hiking trails and two lakes. Trail 6 circles Strahl Lake and Trail 7 loops around Ogle Lake for a one and a half mile jaunt. Trail 5 runs through Ogle Hollow Nature Preserve, which features the rare Yellowwood tree. Ambitious hikers can trudge the Ten O'Clock Line Trail, a 16 mile, one-way journey that concludes at Yellowwood Lake in Yellowwood State Forest. Trekkers must hike it in a day, though, as trailside camping isn't permitted. \nMorgan-Monroe State Forest\nLocated north of Bloomington, east off State Road 37, Morgan-Monroe spans almost 24,000 acres of hardwood tree-dotted ridges and valleys, evidence of a glacier that halted in the area, says indianaoutfitters.com, an Indiana outdoor information site. Morgan-Monroe contains six foot trails that range from one to 10 miles. Energetic hikers can opt for Three Lakes Trail, a 10-mile loop that connects each of the forest's lakes -- Cherry, Bean Blossom and Bryant.\nMcCormick's Creek State Park\nHikers in McCormick's Creek State Park, 14 miles northwest of Bloomington in Spencer, Indiana, can roam past limestone formations and a gushing waterfall. Its ten short trails, all under three miles, wind through the park's canyon. Popular Trail 3 runs along the creek and by the falls, says Laura Guest, a park employee and frequent hiker. Trail 5 coils through the park's Wolf Cave Nature Preserve, passing sugar maple, beech, and red oak trees.\nYellowwood State Forest\nAlthough lesser known than other parks, Yellowwood's relative anonymity makes it ideal for hikers seeking serenity and seclusion. \nSenior Laura Koenig, a trip coordinator for IU Outdoor Adventures, said Yellowwood is her favorite local hiking spot because of its little-trampled trails. \n"I like it because there aren't a lot of people on the trails, and the forest has a wide range of animals and plants," she said. \nYellowwood's many types of trees make it a great place to admire fall's beauty, she said. The facile 1.7-mile Jackson Creek Trail ambles through both pine and deciduous tree areas and offers marshy views of Yellowwood Lake. \nKnobstone Trail\nThe Knobstone Trail, dubbed "The Little Appalachian Trail," reigns as Indiana's longest hiking path - serious hikers shouldn't miss it. The trail, which features 60 miles of rugged, wilderness hiking, runs parallel to Interstate 65. You can hop on its northern terminals in either Jackson-Washington State Forest, near Brownstown, Indiana, or nearby Delaney Park. It snakes south, ending at Deam Lake in Clarke State Forest, near the Ohio River, Jeremiah Lemmons, Jackson-Washington State Forest's assistant manager, said. Hikers not up to trekking the entire trail can get on at any of its eight trail heads. The trail meanders though the Indiana Knobs, taking travelers over steep ridges and low ravines and providing great overlooks along the way, Lemmons said. \nContrary to popular opinion, hikers don't have to put away their boots once fall's vivid leaves drift to the ground. As long as the temperature isn't too frigid, winter is a great time to hike, as well. \n"There's nothing more beautiful than hiking in the woods during winter," Jones said.