Shades State Park is right next to Turkey Run State Park.

And after finding this list of 10 best hikes for the state I wanted to make sure we checked it out!

It was a really pretty place to hike and we only saw a few people while there.

It was one of our hikes that I would consider more of a fail though.

The gnats were crazy!!!!

And the hike that was recommended was closed.

There were a lot of steps.

I thought if we walked along Sugar Creek a bit in the open the gnats would not be as bad.

I was wrong.

I was ready to through a blanket over my face and call it good.

My boys liked the trail we took back up though.

You pretty much are hiking up a stream.

Which made for a difficult but beautiful hike.

Little bit did great!

I was trying to smile…

Ha!

But if I opened my mouth at all the gnats would get it in.

I did find the Devil’s Punchbowl to be really pretty!

You can actually park really close to it but we did not know that so we stumbled upon it after already doing a lot of steps.

I took the three with me that wanted to check it out and Nick stayed with the other two.

It was nice and cool down there which was nice.

Now to go back up all those steps 😉

I would like to go back to this park when the gnats are not as bad.

I think it would be amazing in the fall.

Has anyone been to this park?

When is the best time to go in your opinion?