Location:

Southwest Indiana

Knox County, Indiana

DeLorme Page 55, Grids A-9 & A-10 (Labeled "Ouabache Trs Park")

GPS:   38º 43' 26.16" N     87º 30' 30" W

Description:

Bordered on the west by the Wabash River, Ouabache Trails Park is a 254-acre county park comprised mainly of wooded, rolling hills. With a low elevation of 416 feet and a high elevation of 528 feet, the park contains an interesting juxtaposition of steeply rolling hills and low open fields. Because these lower areas lay in a flood plain they have remained largely undeveloped to date.

The park has approximately four miles of moderate trails that are well marked throughout. These trails course over hills and around creeks as they meander through the park, allowing birders very good coverage of the area. The large picnic and playground areas may be crowded, especially on weekends in the warmer months. The park also has camping facilities with a shower house. Obtain a park map from the Nature Center located at the top of the hill on the first road to the right as you enter the park.

The best places to bird are the River Fishing Trail (if not flooded due to high water on the Wabash River), especially the area at the Archery Range, along the fence by the railroad track at the north end the large open area, the Upper Shelter House area near the Nature Center, and the road going up to the Camping Area .

Typical Time to Bird Site: 45 Minutes, but during migration you may want to linger much longer.

Birds:

Overview:

Regularly occurring raptors include Barred Owls and Red-tailed, Cooper's, and Red-shouldered Hawks. Many warblers, vireos, thrushes, and other passerines occur during migration--some staying to nest in the summer. A few migrant shorebirds show up along the river's edge if the water is not too high.

Specialty Species:

Barred Owls are year-round residents at Ouabache Trails, as are Pileated and Red-headed Woodpeckers. Northern Parulas nest in the park and are most easily found mid-April through May but can be found through October. Nesting Yellow-throated Warblers also arrive at Ouabache Trails around mid-April but typically leave by mid-September. Kentucky Warblers can be found late April through September. Wild Turkeys are becoming more common than in the past.

Noteworthy Records:

None.

General:

Ownership:

Knox County Parks and Recreation

812-882-4316

Hours:

Dawn to dusk year-round.

Fees:

None.

Restrooms:

Pit toilets are located near the Upper and Lower Shelter Houses. Indoor facilities can be found at the Nature Center.

Lodging:

Forty-four campsites consisting of both tent camping and RV sites with electricity are available in the park. Five cabins are also available for rental. Hotel / motel accommodations can be found throughout greater Vincennes.

Special Considerations:

The park is quite hilly, thereby making the trails at least "moderate" in difficulty.

Temporal Considerations:

The best time is to visit Ouabache Trails Park is between early April and mid-May when migrant passerines are heading north. Fall migration can also be quite rewarding. During the summer, weekends tend to very crowded beyond the early morning hours.

Directions:

From the North: Take US 41 south to the northeast side of Vincennes, where it changes names to 6th Street. Do not continue south on US 41 when you reach the intersection with US 50; instead, stay on 6th Street into Vincennes. At the first traffic light you come to on 6th Street, turn right and go past the Executive Inn parking lot, continuing to the T-intersection at the end of the block. There is a brown park sign here showing the way to Ouabache Trails Park--turn right. The road will immediately curve to the left, and you will go about 0.5 miles until you turn left at the first road coming from the left. There is no street sign at this intersection but there is another brown park sign. Go nearly 0.5 miles on this road and turn right on CR NE 1000 N immediately before reaching the railroad tracks. Again, there is a brown park sign at this intersection pointing the way. Take this road along the railroad tracks for nearly 2 miles and you will run directly into the park entrance.

From the South or East: Coming either from the south on US 41, which by-passes Vincennes, or from the east on US 50, continue until these roads merge on the east side of Vincennes. Stay on US 50 when US 41 branches off and heads north toward Terre Haute. Immediately after that exit, take the 6th Street exit into Vincennes. At the first traffic light you come to, turn right and go past the Executive Inn parking lot, continuing to the T-intersection at the end of the block. There is a brown park sign here showing the way to Ouabache Trails Park--turn right. The road will immediately curve to the left, and you will go about 0.5 miles until you turn left at the first road coming from the left. There is no street sign at this intersection but there is another brown park sign. Go nearly 0.5 miles on this road and turn right on CR NE 1000 N immediately before reaching the railroad tracks. Again, there is a brown park sign at this intersection pointing the way. Take this road along the railroad tracks for nearly 2 miles and you will run directly into the park entrance.

References:

Seng, Phil T., and David J. Case.

Indiana Wildlife Viewing GuideM.

Helena, MT: Falcon Press, 1992.

Links:

Ouabache Trails Park website

Credits: