♪ >> Southern Indiana's Brown County State Park is one of the most visited in the Hoosier state, garnering about 1.2 million visitors each year, and it's no surprise why.

We're in one of the most beautiful places in the entire state of Indiana, and it is such a great location to see the seasons change day by day.

>> Beautiful, accessible, and full of surprises.

This park is a must-visit for nature-loving Hoosiers.

♪ >> The first things visitors may notice when arriving at Brown County State Park are the rolling hills and lovely views, and for those, you can thank the ancient glaciers that once covered much of North America.

>> The most recent glacier, the Wisconsin Glacier, did end a little bit north of where we are here at Brown County State Park.

It did contribute quite a bit to the landscape here as the water receded and the valleys kind of formed themselves.

We get these very steep sorts of hillsides that aren't really found in most areas of the state.

It is very similar to going to a mountain range; although, of course, the scale, it does not compare to a real mountain range.

>> It wasn't so long ago that these hills weren't so magnificent.

In the 1800s, most of the trees here were cleared for farming, but that deforestation led to severe erosion and a decrease in soil quality.

Farming efforts in Brown County were largely abandoned by the turn of the 20th century.

>> It's quite a thing once the farms began to close, that we would now be standing in the largest state park in Indiana with a rather mature forest.

>> As the land healed, Hoosier leaders saw the value of this place, and in 1929, established Brown County as the fourth state park in Indiana.

At nearly 16,000 acres, it is by far the largest.

Fortunately, there are a number of ways visitors can appreciate this picturesque park, with 20 miles of paved roadways, you don't even need to get out of your car.

>> Being able to drive through it, you can -- you can still see.

You can stop and -- and there's spots where you can stop and get out and be able to look and enjoy the peace and quiet.

>> It's really nice and peaceful.

And it's nice to look at the trees and catch this time of the year where the leaves are falling turning colors and everything.

It's real pretty and nice and serene.

>> It's beautiful just to -- just to see how they preserve all these little birds, all of these trees.

And we were just reading about how they maintain the natural resources here.

So that is very impressive.

>> But if you've got some more time, there are 21 miles of hiking trails to enjoy as well.

>> Brown County State Park does have an excellent trail system, regardless of what style of hiking you want to do.

If you are looking for just a short little scenic hike, around one of the lakes is doable in only a little over an hour at the most extreme case.

However, we do offer some other trails.

Due to the size of the park, we do have trails where you can go to valleys that are fairly secluded.

Trails 11 and 10, for example, can take you down into valleys where you can't hear manmade noise unless you brought it with you.

>> But for a unique look at Brown County State Park, you might want to consider the view from the back of a horse.

There are more than 20 miles of trails set aside just for horseback riding.

And if you are new to the equestrian way of life, the Saddle Barn will get you started.

>> These excursions really are for absolutely anyone.

We take all experienced riders, inexperienced riders.

We love to introduce new people to horseback riding.

I feel like it's the best therapy in the world.

>> We offer two trails for our guided trail rides, a 2.2 and a 3.3.

Our horses are incredible.

They are so patient.

They take excellent care of their riders.

They know exactly what to do and how to do it, but we give you a tutorial so that you know how to steer, you know how to ride comfortably.

And throughout the entire trail ride, our guides are extremely experienced and they are very, very patient.

And so we really just try to make it absolutely so much fun.

>> And if thrills are your thing, why not explore some of the park's more than 100 miles of mountain biking trails.

>> When they originally started building the trails, they kind of had a plan and a mission to build trails that were accessible for a wide range of skills.

We have everything from very easy, kind of flowy kind of loops, and everything to some of the more technically advanced, more rocky sections, and things like that, that really challenge a more advanced rider, and everything in between.

>> This is a bronze level mountain biking trail system, and not too many people are aware of that.

You know, there are some close parks in Indianapolis, you have Fort Ben and Southwestway, and -- but they are very small trail systems.

You've got one loop to do, and you know, 100 miles worth of trails, it's a really -- you know, just extensive system.

>> In the end, whether it's by foot, car, bike, or horse, there's no wrong way to explore this one-of-a-kind Hoosier destination.

>> Brown County State Park and the nearby town of Nashville are often compared to Gatlinburg and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

We have the forest and the hills and the views.

Nashville has the restaurants and the art galleries and the museums.

And together, it is a pretty excellent little Hoosier vacation.