Want to check out the best parks in Elkhart, Indiana? Elkhart is located in northernmost Indiana, just a brief drive from Mishawaka, Goshen, and South Bend.
The city was officially named the “RV Capital of the World” in 1914. It is also dubbed the “Brand Instrument Capital of the World.”
Elkhart offers many things to do, offering something for many interests. The city is home to one of the biggest county fairs in the country, nationally popular Jazz Festivals, and many other special events.
Guests will find vibrant urban energy and several museums. They will also have the opportunity to witness the Amish way of life as Elkhart is close to one of the most extensive communities in the world.
If you are a fan of adventure and would love to spend more time in the great outdoors, this city also provides such opportunities.
Here are some of the best parks in Elkhart, Indiana, and nearby areas.
Parks in Elkhart, Indiana
1. Boot Lake Nature Preserve
Boot Lake Nature Preserve
The sprawling 300 acres of Boot Lake Nature Preserve consists of wetland, forest, and prairie habitat.
A piece of the site has an extraordinary story-having been reclaimed from Elkhart’s sludge farm.
The converted site now serves as a state-dedicated nature preserve safeguarding Indiana’s rare and endangered animals and wetland plants.
National Audubon acknowledges the preserve as a vital Bird Area. It has over 200 species documented, including exposed grassland-nesting birds found in the 80 acres of refurbished prairie.
Guests can enjoy a small picnic pavilion, a prairie overlook, a wetland, and four miles of trails linked with various habitats.
Over 200 species have been discovered at Boot Lake Nature Preserve, including unusual and rare birds like Henslow’s Sparrow, Sedge Wren, Bobolink, and Black-billed Cuckoo.
Vast trails winding through the forest and prairie will make guests feel like explorers crossing wild terrain.
Boot Lake Nature Preserve is also home to numerous endangered and threatened species, such as Sandhill Cranes, Blanding Turtles, and the beautiful wetland plant Purple Bladderwort.
Address: 51430 Co Rd 3, Elkhart, IN 46514, United States
2. Cobus Creek County Park
Cobus Creek County Park
This 84-acre site, formerly farmland, consists of various natural habitats, from wetlands to prairie and woods.
A cold-water trout stream known as Cobus Creek runs through the Park. The creek is among the few cold-water trout streams in the state.
The cold water, gravel bottom, and wooded banks are suitable for supporting trout and are well-known for fishing.
The Sensory Garden in the Park is designed for anyone who wishes to improve the moderate garden experience by stimulating their senses.
This garden is constantly graced with the sweet smells, sounds, sights, tastes, and textures of nature, from the first blooms in early spring to the last scent of fragrant herbs in the autumn air.
The diversity of habitats in Cobus Creek County Park draws various birds. It has hosted numerous state-endangered species, including Lark Sparrow and Sedge Wren.
Address: 30680 Co Rd 8, Elkhart, IN 46514, United States
3. McNaughton Park
McNaughton Park
McNaughton Park is another beautiful park in Elkhart with incredible river views. The Park has a fun space with unique play structures, such as the scavenger hunt constructed into the play space.
McNaughton Park also has a colorful band shell with built-in seating for visitors, many picnic tables, and grills.
The Park also provides an enjoyable aquatic environment for kids of all ages with its spray loops, large bucket spills, aqua domes, power volcanoes, water guns, and more.
The Park is well-maintained, and a soft terrain is put in for the safety of guests, particularly kids.
Other facilities in McNaughton Park include a concession stand, loungers and shade umbrellas, horse show lanes, a pavilion, and tennis courts.
Bring your entire family to McNaughton Park to enjoy solitude and the beautiful views of nature. It is no doubt among the fun parks in Elkhart, Indiana.
Address: 701 Arcade Ave, Elkhart, IN 46514, United States
4. Central Park
This 12.8 acres family-friendly Park is one of the most extensive among the 26 public parks in Mishawaka.
Central Park extends on the north bank of the St. Joseph River and can be accessed through the Mishawaka Riverwalk.
Children will enjoy Central Park for its splash pad and carefully-designed playground equipment.
As for adults, they can have a fun time at the Park’s lighted courts for tennis and basketball. Picnic tables, five pavilions, and grills are also in Central Park.
Central Park is in Mishawaka, IN, 19 minutes from Elkhart IN
Address: 295 E Mishawaka Ave, Mishawaka, IN 46545, United States
5. Studebaker Park
Among the top parks in Elkhart, Indiana, is Studebaker Park, which spans an area of 92.6 acres.
This beautiful Park features sports fields, a cabin, and a small but terrific playground that contains an expression swing. This swing places an infant at eye level with an adult, which enables them to swing eye to eye together.
The wooded lot with fantastic walking paths is gorgeous in all seasons, and the river meanders along the Park.
There is a bridge and a concrete sea wall that is particularly fantastic for enjoying nature or fishing.
Studebaker Park is suitable for walking and family activities. It also has a basketball court, soccer field, bike path, and baseball court.
Address: 1020 McDonald St, Elkhart, IN 46516, United States
6. Shiojiri Garden
Shiojiri Garden, measuring 1.3 acres, is a pocket-sized public park on the southwest corner of North Indiana Avenue and Mishawaka Avenue.
The Shiojiri Park was created as a friendship garden to represent Mishawka’s sister-city relations with Shiojiri City of the Nagano Prefecture in Japan.
This original Japanese garden is among the few in Indiana. It is inarguably the most serene public place in the city.
Shoji Kanaoka, Its designer, also envisioned the Japanese gardens of the Epcot Center in Florida.
The Garden contains 20 varieties of flowers and trees, including a grove of cherry trees.
The Shiojiri Garden also boasts two snow lanterns, four bridges, and a traditional Japanese teahouse pavilion.
The 12-acre Crawford Park, directly adjacent west of the garden, contains more recreational facilities.
Its facilities include a splash pad, lighted basketball courts, playground equipment, an open-air rental Pavilion, and picnic areas.
Address: 450 N Niles Ave, Mishawaka, IN 46544, United States
7. Island Park
One of Elkhart’s most beautiful features is Island Park, a wooded river Island at the intersection between the Elkhart and St. Joseph rivers. It is one of the top parks in Elkhart, Indiana.
You can access Island Park through three footbridges, for a peaceful amble by the water and in the shade of towering trees.
On the banks, you will pass many water birds and anglers fishing for walleye, pike, and bass.
This is the perfect setting for the environment-themed Meet Me on Island Park festival in early August, with a beer garden, live music, food vendors, a kid’s area, a silent auction, and countless eco-oriented exhibitors.
Address: 200 E Sycamore St, Elkhart, IN 46516, United States
8. Merrifield Park
Swimming is not advised in the St. Joseph River because of its strong current. However, you can enjoy the waters at the 13-acres riverfront Merrifield Park.
This Park, located on Prospect Drive off north of Mishawaka Avenue, contains an Olympic-sized swimming pool with a diving platform.
It also provides a figure-of-eight wading pool with a water umbrella, a 160-foot water slide, and a water basketball net.
On Merrifield Park’s northern side, there is also playground equipment and a boat launch.
This northern part of the Park also houses an ice skating rink, baseball diamonds, a football/ soccer field, a sand play area, and a sand volleyball court.
Address: 1000 E Mishawaka Ave, Mishawaka, IN 46544, United States
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9. Battel Park
Another Park to check out in Mishawaka is Battel Park, located on West Mishawaka Avenue on the north side of the St. Joseph River.
Mishawaka’s special occasions, like concerts and theatrical productions, are commonly held in the bandshell of Battel Park.
This 11-acre Park, founded in 1881, is famed for being the city’s first and remains a top-tier Park of Mishawaka.
Battel Park further oozes charms in its terraced rock garden and historic walls installed in the 1930s.
The other facilities in this Park, accessible through the Mishawaka Riverwalk, include a splash pad, playground equipment, a basketball court, and lighted tennis courts.
There is also a picnic area with grills and tables, a gazebo, a civil war statue, and a famous wedding venue.
Address: 301 W Mishawaka Ave, Mishawaka, IN 46545, United States
10. Beutter Riverfront Park
Beutter Riverfront Park is located on the southern bank of the St. Joseph River and stretches across 7 acres off North Spring Street.
The Park was created on the grounds of a deserted factory that had been an eyesore for years.
The development of this Park witnessed a dramatic and inspiring transformation to the site, which now contains an abstract reflective sculpture named “River Shards.”
The beauty in Beutter Park can also be witnessed at the fast-running river channel with two bridges containing fiber-optic underwater lightning.
The Park is named in memory of Mishawaka 1984-2003—Mayor Robert C. Beutter. It also contains an 800-foot perennial garden.
Address: Riverfront Park, 120 Ironworks Ave, Mishawaka, IN 46544, United States
11. Shanklin Park
When it comes to parks inside Goshen, Shanklin Park is the most extensive, with an area of 90 acres. It lies between the Elkhart River and Millrace Canal.
It is Goshen’s epicenter of recreational activities, with facilities that include a playground, a canoe launch for the Elkhart River, the community-built Tommy’s Kids Castle, the Kiwanis Pavilion, three lighted baseball and softball diamonds, and a basketball court.
Go around and check out the Shanklin Pool, created in 1969 with three pools and two diving boards, and the terrific Schrock pavilion, an enclosed pavilion that can be rented. It also hosts numerous events and programs.
If you want to lounge and imbibe the peaceful and serene environment, then do so and be captivated by the Park’s meaningful features, such as its long forested wetland, wildflower, native grasses, and perennial garden.
Address: 411 W Plymouth Ave, Goshen, IN 46526, United States
12. Treasure Island Park
Treasure Island Park, located on the banks of Lower St. Joseph, offers a place for guests to relax and enjoy nature.
This four-acre Park provides a stunning view of the river. Waterfowl and migratory birds can often be spotted.
Facilities in the Park include nature observation, fishing, and canoe access to the river.
Visitors can cast their line along the quieter canals or from the shore for an opportunity to snag some Walleyes or smallmouth Bass.
This Park is a great option if you want a place to collect your thoughts and appreciate nature. Treasure Island is closed in the winter from December through March.
Address: 56226 Armour Ave, Elkhart, IN 46516, United States
13. Abshire Park
Abshire Park is a smaller Park located on East Lincoln Avenue. It features an area of 75.5 acres and was presented to the Parks & Recreation Department Stores in 1986.
As the second-largest Park in the city, Abshire Park strives to preserve the equilibrium in the recreational and passive opportunities in the Park’s system.
Visitors from Pumpkinvine Nature Trail can quickly take a detour to Abshire Park near the trail.
To the north of the Park, guests will discover a managed natural trail that features a prairie restoration, wetlands, and traditional forest.
On the southwest side of the Park is Rock Run Creek, a great habitat for the fauna.
Address: 1302 E Lincoln Ave, Goshen, IN 46528, United States
14. Ox Bow Park
Test your stamina by visiting Ox Bow Park, situated on County Road. It is the ideal place for an enjoyable day with the family as it is only a few minutes from Elkhart.
Prepare to spend an entire day here to try and enjoy its countless activities- from archery and disc golf to nature programs and woodland hikes.
Try the Flying Disc Sanctuary, which is well-known among local disc golfers. It has a 24-technical course, ideal for all enthusiasts.
If you love field sports, ensure you join the flag football, volleyball, and soccer games at the Park’s two athletic fields.
With its vast expanse, you will undoubtedly be catching your breath after a few games.
Also, don’t miss the opportunity to go fishing as Ox Bow Park brags of numerous piers and sites for casting a line and multiple fishing opportunities at the Elkhart River.
The Park also provides winter activities with its groomed trails and two sledding hills. Ox Bow Park is in Goshen, 23 minutes from Elkhart, IN.
Address: 23033 Co Rd 45, Goshen, IN 46528, United States
15. Fidler Pond
If you want to spend a day doing nothing or want to relax, then take your loved ones to Fidler Pond.
Goshen is blessed with countless nature parks, but Fidler Pond is among the finest and most recommendable places for guests with families.
This vast place, cutting across 100 acres, has a pond of 80 acres that offers different activities.
Go fishing with the children and use the fishing pole rentals or engage in catch-and-release bank fishing.
Rent a pedal boat, canoe, or kayak and soak in the sun and the ambiance. After that, you can sit back on the swinging benches while marveling at the beautiful surroundings.
You can also stretch your legs by strolling on the popular trail around the pins before seeing the Chiddister Pavilion, an open-air pavilion that can be rented.
The pavilion hosts events, including Goshen’s yearly Rock in the Quarry Triathlon.
Address: 1424 Lincoln Hwy, Goshen, IN 46526, United States
16. Pumpkinvine Nature Trail
Pumpkinvine Nature Trail spanning 17 miles, extends over Goshen, Shipshewana, and Middlebury.
It is a greenway and linear Park on the old Pumpkinvine railroad corridor.
The trails are whole, featuring asphalt and limestone surfaces, perfect for bikes with narrow tires.
You can run, walk, bike, or go on rollerblades to see small towns, urban areas, and agricultural communities.
Pumpkinvine Nature Trail allows you to witness the gorgeous and scenic views and landscapes, including views from the three cities’ vast Amish communities.
You will have the opportunity to see Amish people biking in old-fashioned clothing, hand-cutting flowers in fields, and tending their fields with horse-drawn plows.
Exploring the trail is harmless even for visitors, with markers that indicate direction and distance.
So If you want to be one with nature, Pumpkinvine Nature Trail is a terrific place to go.
Address: Indiana, United States
Take to exploring other cities of Indiana. Check out our list of things to Do in Michigan City, things to Do in Anderson, and things to Do in Goshen.
Plan Your Trip to Elkhart
Elkhart is an ideal destination if you are a nature lover looking for adventures. The city offers something fun for everyone. It is also ideal for families to visit and have a pleasant time.
Elkhart has a variety of natural attractions worth visiting, such as trails, parks, preserves, and gardens.
If you plan to visit this city, ensure to check out all the parks in Elkhart, Indiana, listed above. You will undoubtedly have a fun time.