Clegg Botanical Gardens

You know you made the right decision to check a place out when, as soon as you step on the grounds you are overwhelmed with emotion, moved to tears and not sure why. The serenity and overall feeling of this place is amazing. Trails are well kept but still have a rugged feel. Some are more challenging than others. There are several resting platforms and observation areas sprinkled throughout that allow a person to sit, relax, reflect and take it all in.
I brought my dog-​dogs on leashes are allowed-​and she enjoyed it as well. We will definitely return. Can’t wait to see it in the fall! Note-​there are no attendants, staff, etc so come prepared.

A wooded area with several paved trail options that are light walking and short. There’s also a garden loop path but it was severely unkempt so I stopped following it halfway. Watch out for bugs.
Highlight of the walk: there are several elevated sitting areas if you follow the lookout trail that allows you to see a panoramic view.

Such a beautiful place that I think a lot of people are not aware exists which is sad. The place is so gorgeous and has a lot of good trails with benches overlooking the water throughout.

I have a very energetic pup and so I do a lot of walking! I was getting tired of my usual trails, and was looking for something new. This is a lovely walk– I’m sure it will look a lot prettier when the leaves and flowers come back in the spring. It involves a lot of up and down with stairs and inclines, so you need to be a little fit to enjoy the full range of trails. My dog loved having so many things to sniff, and was tired when we got home.
Parking is across the street, and wear old shoes if it’s been rainy lately because it can get muddy.

Once or twice a week my husband and I visit Clegg for some walking/​light hiking.
I’d call this a hidden gem of Lafayette, but people *do* know about it. they just *forget* sometimes what a peaceful and beautiful setting this is.
There’s a few different dirt/​woodshipped trails — some take you down to the edge of the creek and then back up for a soaring view from the top. All of them except the garden path feature steep stairs and inclines. Though this isn’t as vigorous a hike as you may expect at Shades, you may find yourself on one of the many benches on the trail catching your breath a bit.
And why not? A wonderful workout for your legs and beautiful views both combine to make this a fun nature walk/​hike for the family. Our ‘standard’ walk is around 40 minutes of uphill and downhill (mostly in the shade).
Do sign in at the front gate! You’ll see a lot of «Lafayette» and ‘West Lafayette’ residents, but you also will see visitors from out of state.
Leashed dogs are welcome here, so you don’t have to leave your canine at home. Let them walk in the beautiful woods and creek with you!

The parking lot is across the street from the entrance. There is a small informative kiosk with sign-​in book and map. A nice network of maintained, shaded out-​and-​back and loop trails along and overlooking Wildcat Creek. There are benches and lookout points throughout. A lot of work has gone into maintaining the trails. There is a Friends organization associated with the Gardens.