Location:
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Southwest Indiana
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Knox County, Indiana
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DeLorme
Page 55, Grids A-9 & A-10 (Labeled "Ouabache Trs Park")
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GPS: 38º 43' 26.16" N 87º 30' 30" W
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Description:
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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.
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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.
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The best places to bird are along the main road shortly after entering the park, the
River Fishing Trail
(if not flooded due to high water on the Wabash River), the
Upper Shelter House
area near the Nature Center, and the road going up to the
Camping Area
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Typical Time to Bird Site: 45 Minutes
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Birds:
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Overview:
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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.
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Specialty Species:
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Barred Owls
are year-round residents at Ouabache Trails, as are Pileated
and Red-headed Woodpeckers
. Pine Warblers
, which are among the first warblers to return each spring, are fairly reliable from late March through
September. Northern Parulas
nest in the park and are most easily found mid-April 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.
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Noteworthy Records:
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None.
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General Information:
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Ownership:
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Knox County Parks and Recreation
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812-882-4316
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Hours:
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Dawn to dusk year-round.
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Fees:
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None.
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Restrooms:
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Pit toilets are located near the Upper and Lower Shelter Houses. Indoor facilities can be found at
the Nature Center.
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Lodging:
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Forty-four campsites are available in the park. Hotel / motel accommodations can be found throughout
greater Vincennes.
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Special Considerations:
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Terrain: The park is quite hilly, thereby making the trails at least "moderate" in difficulty.
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Temporal Considerations:
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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.
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Directions:
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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.
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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.
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References:
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Seng, Phil T., and David J. Case.
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Indiana Wildlife Viewing GuideM.
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Helena, MT: Falcon Press, 1992.
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Links:
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North Knox School Corporation - Ouabache Trails Park Presentation
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Created by elementary students from the North Knox School Corporation, this wonderful slide presentation
chronicles Ouabache Trails Park from its inception back in the early 1980s to the present.
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Credits:
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Author:
Gary & Lisa Bowman
Editor:
Darel Heitkamp
This guide was developed through the collaborative efforts of Phil Kelly, Joanne Kelly, and Darel Heitkamp.
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