Nearly every park in Hendricks County, Indiana, has shelters, picnic tables and often times, a grill. My family enjoys picking a spot where we can throw down the old-fashioned picnic blanket and enjoy the afternoon with kites, a soccer ball and sandwiches.

Be sure to bring along extra water, sunscreen and bug spray and enjoy the beautiful nature spots in our county.

Echo Hollow Nature Park Pond Reflection

Grab the fishing poles to enjoy the 5.5-acre fishing pond at this protected conservation area for the endangered Myotis sodalis bats that live in the park.

Keep your eye out for other wildlife on the nature trails and enjoy the shaded picnic areas at one of Hendricks County’s best kept secrets.

Splashing in Big Walnut Creek at McCloud Nature Park is a fun way to cool off during the summer.

McCloud is known for its beautiful scenery, and they do have a picnic pavilion on property. However, this park boasts so much more.

Visitors can come right up to Big Walnut Creek, wade in the water and enjoy fishing, canoeing and kayaking. Stop by the Nature Center to check out the live reptiles and interactive exhibits after enjoying your picnic.

After your picnic, have fun in White Lick Creek in Hummel Park.

Many parks in Hendricks County are known for their unique playgrounds and the several spots in Guilford Township's Hummel Park are one of them.

On the south and west side of the park, there’s plenty of green space to lay out the picnic blanket and room to run. Take a walk along the trails or hunt for turtles on the bank of the creek during your afternoon of sunshine.

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Playground at W.S. Gibbs Memorial Park (photo by Brad Poreda)

The park has only been open for a few years but if you haven’t visited Gibbs Memorial Park, you’re missing out. There are two ADA accessible park shelters available for rent, a beautiful playground and even an 18-hole disc golf course.

Pack up the picnic and enjoy an afternoon near one of the two ponds or take a walk through the 8-acre pollinator garden.

Blast Off Playground at Williams Park

Home to Brownsburg’s famous Blast Off wooden playground and a popular splash pad, Williams Park offers plenty of open greenspace for a picnic.

After the meal, have fun playing at the basketball courts, checking out the new outdoor classroom or taking a walk through the woods along White Lick Creek.

Ellis Park Stream

The Town of Danville’s Ellis Park has so much to offer for a day of outdoor fun, including pickleball, hiking trails, a large playground, and lots of shady, grassy areas to enjoy a quick lunch and relaxation.

During the summer months, if you want to make a day of it, you can pack swimsuits and towels and enjoy the Danville water park, Gill Family Aquatic Center, too.