Falls of the Ohio State Park

Falls of the Ohio State Park jimmysoda (Atlas Obscura User)

The Ohio River’s exposed riverbed at the falls of the Ohio State Park reveals a multitude of marine fossils from the Devonian period, including more than 250 species of corals. The park allows visitors to keep fossils from designated collecting rock piles in the parking lot behind the interpretive center.

The park is also along the Lewis & Clark National Historical Trail. William Clark, Meriwether Lewis, and York met at the falls where they began forming a crew for their westbound expedition. A statue at the interpretive center commemorates this encounter.

The park also features the 0.7-mile Woodland Loop hiking trail and is adjacent to the 7.5-mile Ohio River Greenway mixed-use trail for bicycles and pedestrians.

Know Before You Go

The Falls of the Ohio State Park is a short drive across the river from downtown Louisville, Kentucky. Take I-65 northbound to exit 0 or US 31 northbound.

The drive from Indianapolis is a little over an hour on I-65 southbound to exit 1. There is a parking fee of $2 and the park grounds are open from 7 am to 11 pm.

There is an additional per-person entrance fee for the interpretive center: $9 for ages 12 and up, $7 for ages 5 to 11, and free for ages under 5.

The interpretive center is open Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Indiana's Annual Entrance Pass is valid for parking but does not cover the interpretive center's entrance fee.