Friends of
SKILES TEST
NATURE PARK
A Hidden Gem to Discover
The beauty of Skiles Test Nature Park lies in its diverse landscape of forested hills, deep ravines and grassy meadows. Nestled along the northern edge of the Fall Creek Greenway, the 80.9-acre park is a pocket of tranquility that offers more than just a place to recreate. With nearly 5 miles of trails, visitors can meander through mature stands of hardwoods; young, reforested areas; and acres of grasses and wildflowers, experiencing nature’s seasonal splendor.
The park’s ever-changing scenic tapestry begins in late winter when tiny spring ephemerals start to bloom among the leaf litter on the forest floor. By summer the park’s landscape is awash in shades of green accented by an assortment of colorful wildflowers and the lively pollinators they attract. The most striking time to visit the park is October when acres of broadleaf trees produce a stunning palette of fall colors in their dramatic retreat into a winter hiatus.
As nature takes its rest, visitors become acquainted with the park’s intriguing past as fragments from the years that Skiles Edward Test owned the property become more visible.
The remnant forests that are part of the landscape in northeast Indianapolis have survived extreme disturbances from urban development and human activity. As a small fragment of this ecosystem, Skiles Test Nature Park is no exception.
The park’s 80.9 acres of land had endured a long history of industrial and agricultural activity by the time the city received the property in 1974. A half century serving as the hub of a large estate left a mark on the land that is unescapable today.
A Long History of Disturbance
Visiting the Park
Visitors traveling by car may access the park from the parking lot on Fall Creek Road between Shadeland Avenue and Johnson Road. Parking is free but limited. Two ADA-accessible parking spaces are available. Those on foot or traveling by bike may enter the park through the parking lot or at the 65th Street entrance. No on-street parking is permitted at either entrance. Park amenities consist of trash bins, picnic tables and benches stationed at the Fall Creek Road entrance.
The parking lot serves as a trailhead to the Fall Creek Greenway. Fort Harrison State Park is located about 0.5 miles from the nature park via the Greenway.
ACCESS: Open: dawn to dusk
PARKING LOT: 6700 Fall Creek Road
TRAIL SYSTEM: ≈ 5.0 miles
– Paved and natural surface
– Easy to moderately steep and rugged
PAVED TRAIL: 0.8 miles from the Fall Creek Road entrance to 65th Street
CONNECTS TO: Fall Creek Greenway, Fort Harrison State Park via Greenway