DIRECTIONS: From the junction of I-465 and I-69 in Indianapolis, drive north on I-69 for roughly 77.4 miles. Veer right onto Exit # 78/S.R. 5/Bluffton-Huntington. Turn left (north) on S.R. 5.  Drive north on S.R. 5 for 1.7 miles.  At the flashing red 4-way stop, turn right (east) on S.R. 124.  Drive east roughly 18.7 miles on S.R. 124 (several turns are required to stay on S.R. 124 through Bluffton).  Turn right (south) on S.R. 201 South (a brown rectangular "Ouabache State Park" sign will signal this turn).  Follow S.R. 201 south 1.6 miles to the entrance of Ouabache State Park.

If you are coming from the end of the Loblolly/Limberlost Tour at Rainbow Bottom: From the parking lot of Rainbow Bottom, turn left (west) on Covered Bridge Road.  Drive west 9/10 of a mile and turn left (south) on Second Street.  Drive south 1/10 of a mile and elbow right (west) at C.R. 950 S.  Drive west 1/10 of a mile to the stop sign at S.R. 27.  Turn left (south) on S.R. 27.  Drive south 1.1 miles to the yellow flashing signal.  Turn right (west) on S.R. 116.  Drive roughly 13 miles northwest on S.R. 116.  At the T-section, turn right (north) on S.R. 301/C.R. 700 E.  Drive 4/10 of a mile to the 4-way stop and turn left (north) on S.R. 301/C.R. 310 S. Drive north on S.R. 301 for 2.1 miles.  Turn left (west) on C.R. 100 S.  Drive west 2 miles to the stop sign at S.R. 201.  Turn left (southeast) on S.R. 201.  Follow S.R. 201southeast into Ouabache State Park.

                                    

DIRECTIONS: From the entrance gate, drive southwest on the main park road.  Start car-birding from this point forward.  Drive southeast on the main park road for 1.5 miles.  The main park road will elbow northeast and lead you to a T-section/yield sign.  Turn right (east), following the brown "Campgrounds" arrow sign.  Drive south 2/10 of a mile.  Just before the campground registration house, turn right and park in the paved parking spaces.  Search the trees around the shelter for migrating passerines.  When finished, turn around and drive northwest on the main park road.  Drive 1 mile northwest to the paved dead end/loop around.  From this dead end/loop around, drive east 2/10 of a mile and turn right (south) at the brown "Lodge" arrow sign.  Drive south 2/10 of a mile and park in the gravel lot, in front of the treated wood posts.  Walk south to the edge of Kunkel Lake.  Scan the lake for waterfowl.  When finished, return north to the main park road.  Turn right (east) at the T-section/yield sign.  Drive 1/2 mile east and turn right (south) at the T-section (following the brown "Exit Hwy. 201" arrow sign).  Follow the main park road northwest for 1.5 miles back to the entrance gate and exit Ouabache State Park.

 

                   

A mountain bike is a great way to bird an area. Compared to walking, you can cover 100 times the distance and expend far less energy. Birding by ear is better because you don't have the engine noise drowning out bird songs or chip notes. I am puzzled that "Bike-Birding" has not become more popular. The only downfall is that you can't take bikes on state park trails. In a fish and wildlife area, you need to get out your mountain bike when your 2 wheel drive can go no further.

From the entrance gate house of Ouabache State Park, drive northwest on S.R. 201. Drive northwest 8/10 of a mile to the 4-way stop. Turn left (south) on C.R.450 E.  Drive 3/10 of a mile south across the Wabash River Bridge.  At the T-section/3-way stop, turn right (west) on River Road.  Drive west 1/10 of a mile and turn right, into the paved parking lot next to the Wabash River.  Walk east back to C.R. 450 E.  Walk north across the Wabash River Bridge and turn right (east) on the paved bike trail.  As you bike or walk east, grassland habitat will be on the left (north). Riparian habitat along the Wabash River will be to your right (south).  After 1/4 mile you will encounter forested areas.  At roughly 1/2 mile, you will reach the entrance gate house.  You will have to show your annual pass or pay the fee to continue into Ouabache State Park.  The paved bike trail is 2.68 miles long and ends at the main park road, just south of the campgrounds.  When you reach the end of the bike trail, turn left (north).  "Bike-Bird" all the paved major roads in the park.  When finished, return northwest on the main park road back to the entrance gate house. From the entrance gate house, access the bike trail once again, on the left (south) side of the road.  Follow the bike trail southwest, back to White Bridge and your vehicle.