Madison County

Mounds State Park

4306 Mounds Road, Anderson, Indiana 46017

Phone: (765) 642-6627

INTRODUCTION: Mounds State Park is best known for the 10 mounds and earthworks built by the Adena and Hopewell Indians around 150 B.C. The mounds were built for religious ceremonies, as calendars to track the seasons and to bury the dead. The Bronnenbergs bought and farmed this land in the early 19th century. Frederick Bronnenberg Jr. built a 2 story brick farm house in the 1840's. This farm house is on Trail 1, next to Mounds Road. It will be restored in the near future and will be open to the public. The Indiana Union Traction Company bought the land in 1897 and operated it as an amusement park. Bankrupted by the Great Depression, Indiana Union Traction Company sold the land to the Madison County Historical Society. The Society donated the land to the state of Indiana. It became a State Park in October, 1930. [Reference: The above information was gleaned from the Mounds State Park Brochure Map and the Visitors/Nature Center]. For more information about the rich history of Mounds State Park, visit the Nature Center inside the park. The Nature Center is the first road left (south) after the entrance gate house.

I started my Birding career at Mounds State Park. In the late 1980's, I could hear Cerulean Warblers singing from the tree tops all summer long. Sadly, the Cerulean Warbler no longer nests at Mounds. A sign of the times, I guess. The park is at the eastern edge of Anderson. To it's north is S.R. 32 and the Anderson Airport. The White River serves as it's western border. The entrance of the park and Mounds Road (S.R. 232) serve as the eastern border. Most birders use this park as a spring and fall songbird migration site. The trails along the White River provide great riparian habitat for migrating warblers. The picnic areas of the park provide woodland edge, which is also good for warblers and other songbirds. Sparrows seek refuge in the dense brush at the woodland edge. Although Mounds does not have a marsh or lake, ducks can sometimes be found swimming in the White River. The sand bars and islands in the White River can harbor migrating shorebirds.

DIRECTIONS: From the intersection of I-69 and I-465, drive north on I-69 to the 2nd Anderson Exit. Veer right on Exit # 26/S.R. 9/S.R. 109 S. At the stop light, turn left (north) on S.R. 9 North. Drive north to the 2nd stop light and turn right (east) on S.R. 236 East. Drive east 1 mile. Turn left (north) on C.R. 200 E./C.R. 67. Drive north 2.4 miles. At the 4-way stop light, turn left (west) on C.R. 100 S. Drive west 1/10 of a mile. Turn right (north) on S.R. 232 East. Drive north 4/10 of a mile and turn left (west) at the Mounds State Park entrance sign. Once you are past the gate house, drive north 3/10 of a mile. Turn left (west) into the paved parking lot. Park at the west end of the lot. Bird the woodland edge at the playground area and north to the modern restrooms. When finished, turn left (north) onto the main park road. Drive north 2/10 of a mile and veer right at the yellow and brown "Campground/No vehicles on Grass" arrow sign. Park in this paved lot and walk west across the main park road. Bird the woodland edge of the Circle Mound for warblers and other migrating passerines. Return to your vehicle when finished. From this parking lot, turn right (northwest) and follow the main park road down the hill. Drive north 3/10 of a mile to the dead end/T-section {a right (east) turn takes you to the campground-the Youth Tent Area is directly in front (north) of you}. Turn left (west) at the T-section. Drive west 2/10 of a mile and veer left (south) at the dead end. You are at the Canoe Launch Parking Lot. From the Canoe Launch, a trail leads northwest (a right turn) along the White River. This trail extends beyond the State Park boundaries and all the way to the White River bridge, at S.R. 32. You will see a trail on the left (east) side of the Canoe Launch Parking Lot. It leads you east along the White River. Always stay on the trail next to the river. This trail will turn right (south) and become Trail 3 (For those who do not want to walk 2 miles, turn around when the trail becomes Trail 3 and return to your vehicle). Stay next to the river when this becomes Trail 2. Near the south end of the park this trail will become Trail 1. It will loop you back north and along side Mounds Road (S.R. 232). You will see the "Great Mound" along this section of the trail. When you reach the Gate House work your way north, birding the woodland edge all the way back to the Youth Tent Area. Turn left (west) at the T-section and return to your vehicle at the Canoe Launch.