Delaney Park and Spurgeon Hollow Trailheads to Oxley Memorial Trailheads on The Knobstone Trail in Indiana

Delaney Park and Spurgeon Hollow Trailheads to Oxley Memorial Trailhead
on the Knobstone Trail in Indiana
(6 to 10 miles)

Delaney Park Loop (approximately 6 miles; distance to Spurgeon Hollow Trailhead is approximately 2, 7, or 9 miles depending on the route chosen) The Delaney Park Trailhead is located inside Delaney Creek Park, near the beach house. The trail heads east from the beach house 1/4 mile where another trail intersects. At this point, the hiker has a choice: the trail to the right (southeast) connects to the Spurgeon Hollow Loop (see description below); continuing straight is the Delaney Park Loop, a rugged 3 1/2-mile hike which connects to the Spurgeon Hollow Loop (following the Spurgeon Hollow Loop back to the Delaney Park Loop turnoff completes the Delaney Park Loop [approximately 6 miles]). Following the Delaney Park Loop around to where it meets the Spurgeon Hollow Loop, the hiker can turn right (west) and continue 2 miles to Delaney Park, or 3 miles to Spurgeon Hollow Trailhead. Turning left (east), the hiker can follow the south side of the loop around to the Spurgeon Hollow Trailhead (5 miles) or continue 2 1/2 miles to the turnoff to the Elk Creek Trailhead. It is approximately 9 miles to the Elk Creek Trailhead from the turnoff.

Sorry, no descriptions of Oxley Memorial Trailhead or the sections of the Knobstone Trail adjacent to it are currently available.

Below is a picture of the road you need to take to get to the Delaney Trailhead. You will need to enter Delaney Creek Park and then proceed all the way to the back of the park. Once you are there you will find several parking spots. The parking spots are on the grass and they are way back in the back end of the park. The road that you see below actually loops around, but as you it goes downhill and through a little tiny streamlet. You will find rowboats for rent, a boat launch facility, a restaurant, and a campground at Delaney Creek Park, BUT YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY TO GET IN!

Description of Spurgeon Hollow Trailhead

There is plenty of room to park at the Spurgeon Hollow Trailhead, I took a nice panoramic picture (80K) of the parking situation. There is a nice little wooded place to cook out and a decent little boat launch that would be perfect for a johnboat or other small craft. It looked like a great place to go fishing, so I took a nice panorama shot of the ramp and the view (below). The water looked a bit low (imagine that).

Spurgeon Hollow boat ramp (pic taken on 5-4-2000)

Directions to Delaney Park and Spurgeon Hollow Trailheads (supplied by Indiana DNR)

Delaney Creek Park is located about 2 miles east of SR 135 and 9 miles northeast of Salem; by road it is about 1 mile north of the Spurgeon Hollow Trailhead.

The two trailheads are located east of S.R. 135 between Brownstown and Salem. To reach the trailheads from State Road 135, EITHER drive south from Brownstown (17.1 miles from the S.R. 50 intersection) OR north from Salem (3.8 miles form the SR 56 intersection) to Rooster Hill Road/Old SR 135. Turn east onto Rooster Hill Road/Old 135, veer right and follow the road 1.6 miles. Turn right onto Winslow Road, veer left. and follow the road 0.6 mile. EITHER turn left onto Delaney Park Road to reach the Delaney Creek Park entrance (0.2 mile), OR turn right to reach the Spurgeon Hollow Trailhead (0.3 mile). Delaney Creek Park, is operated by the Washington County Park Board and is connected to the Knobstone Trail. Delaney Park requires an admission fee for all park users and Knobstone Trail hikers. To proceed to the Spurgeon Hollow Trailhead, turn right (south) from the Winslow Road/Delaney Park Road intersection and continue for 1/2 mile to the trailhead entrance road (gravel) on the left (east)-watch for the "KT" post. Turn left (east) onto the entrance road to get to the trailhead.

To drive from Delaney Park to the Spurgeon Hollow Trailhead, turn left (south) from the Delaney Creek Park entrance road onto the road it intersects and follow for approximately 3/4 mile to the trailhead entrance road on the left (east)-watch for the "KT" post. Turn left (east) onto the entrance road (gravel) to get to the trailhead.