Upcoming Events
Summers Day at Rose Island Video Presentation
Come to the Nature nook for this 1-hour video presentation featuring stories of Rose Island told by those who were there!
Spring Scavenger Hunt
Pick up a Scavenger Hunt sheet from the Nature Nook and see how many items you can find in one hour.
Habitat Restoration
Learn about the work happening at the park to improve the habitat and what you can do to help.
Spring Wildflower Hike
Meet at the Ohio River Overlook for this guided 2.4-mile hike on trail 6 in search of wildflowers.
Rose Island Guided Tour
Meet at the Trail's 3 and 4 parking lot for this 2-hour guided tour of Rose Island. Transportation provided down and back up the steep hill for those in need. We recommend you arrive 10 minutes prior to start time.
Spring Wildflower Hike
Meet at the trail's 3 and 4 parking lot for this guided, 3-mile hike on trail 4 in search of wildflowers.
May Full Moon Hike
Meet at the Trail 1 parking lot for this Rugged, 2.4-mile hike under the light of the full moon. We recommend good shoes, a hiking stick and a red flashlight for all full moon hikes.
Friends Gathering
Meet at the park office to discuss upcoming events and opportunities.
Once in a Blue Moon Hike
Join us for a special "Once in a Blue Moon' hike to Rose Island! Meet at the trail's 3 and 4 parking lot. We recommend good shoes, a hiking stick and a red flashlight for all Full Moon Hikes.
Friends Gathering
Meet at the park office to discuss upcoming events and opportunities.
Raptor Day
See live bird's of Prey from the Dwight Chamberlain Raptor Center. Other bird themed activities throughout the day.
June Full Moon Hike
Meet at the Clark Shelter for this month's full moon hike on trail 2, our easiest full moon hike at 1.5-miles, this is great for first timers! As always, good shoes a hiking stick and a red flashlight are recommended for all full moon hikes.
Friends Gathering
Meet at the park office to discuss upcoming events and opportunities.
July Full Moon Hike
Meet at the Trail's 3 and 4 parking lot for this Rigged, 2.1-mile hike on trail 3. As always, a hiking stick, good pair of shoes and a red flashlight are recommended.
Friends Gathering
Meet at the park office to discuss upcoming events and opportunities.
August Full Moon Hike
Meet at the Campground Gatehouse for this 2-mile moderate hike on trail 5. We recommend good shoes, a hiking stick and a red flashlight for all full moon hikes.
Friends Gathering
Meet at the park office to discuss upcoming events and opportunities.
September Full Moon Hike
Meet at the trail 1 parking lot for this Rugged, 2.4-mile hike on trail 1. Good shoes, a hiking stick and a red flashlight are recommended for all full moon hikes.
Friends Gathering
Meet at the park office to discuss upcoming events and opportunities.
A Haunting Good Time
Our Annual Halloween weekend! Details will be posted closer to event date.
October Full Moon Hike
Meet at the Clark Shelter for this month's Full Moon Hike on trail 2, a moderate 1.5-mile trail, great for first time night hikers. We recommend good shoes, a hiking stick and a red flashlight for all full moon hikes. Note Special Start time due to our Halloween weekend activities.
Friends Gathering
Meet at the park office to discuss upcoming events and opportunities.
November Full Moon Hike
Meet at the trail's 3 and 4 parking lot for this rugged, 2.1-mile hike on trail 3. Good shoes, a hiking stick and a red flashlight are recommended for all full moon hikes.
Friends Gathering
Meet at the park office to discuss upcoming events and opportunities.
Spring Wildflower Hike
Meet at the Campground gatehouse for this guided, 2-mile hike on trail 5 in search of wildflowers.
Plant this, not that
Many popular landscape plants are actually invasive. Come to the Nature nook and learn what makes them bad, as well as what native plants are better choices!
Spring Wildflower Hike
Meet at the Oak shelter for this guided, 2-mile hike on trail 2 in search of wildflowers.
City of Charlestown Tree Planting
Click the image below to sign up for this event. Volunteer hours for this event can be applied to the state park volunteer hours as well!
Trail 6 Maintenance
Meet at the river road entrance to trail 6. (The paved road section of the trail)
Trail 5 Maintenance
Working with park staff on trail 5, fighting invasives. Bring loppers, gloves and hearing protection if preferred. Chainsaws will be used by certified personnel. Meet at the trailhead of trail 3.
Campground Cleanup
Help remove invasive plants and prepare the campground for the opening of the 2026 season. Meet at the campground overflow lot.
Trail Maintenance: Trail 3
Hike trail 3 with Park staff and removal of hazardous dead trees and cut invasives back. Chainsaws will be in use so you might need hearing protection, gloves and loppers.
Friends Gathering
First meeting of the year. Review and set goals, budget and start planning for the year!
Are you a social media genius? We’d love to find someone to help us with our accounts. Come meet with us!
Trail Maintenance: Trail 2
Trail Maintenance removal of dead/hazard trees. A park employee will use a chainsaw so bring hearing protection,loppers,and gloves.
Trail Maintenance: Trail 1
Trail Maintenance removal of dead/hazard trees. A park employee will use a chainsaw so bring hearing protection,loppers,and gloves.
September Monthly Meeting
Join us at the park office for a monthly update on what’s going on at the park, how you can help, and upcoming events. Hike a trail if weather permits immediately following our short gathering.
August Monthly Meeting
Join us at the park office for a monthly update on what’s going on at the park, how you can help, and upcoming events. Hike a trail if weather permits immediately following our short gathering.
Volunteer Action Day
A day of service. We will be prepping and installing an Interpretive Panel on Trail 3 telling the story of the Hay Family Farm. Work will consist of weeding cutting small brush, etc... Meet at the trail 3 and 4 parking lot.
July Monthly Meeting
Join us at the park office for a monthly update on what’s going on at the park, how you can help, and upcoming events. Hike a trail if weather permits immediately following our short gathering.
June Monthly Meeting
Join us at the park office for a monthly update on what’s going on at the park, how you can help, and upcoming events. Hike a trail if weather permits immediately following our short gathering.
May Monthly Meeting
Join us at the park office for a monthly update on what’s going on at the park, how you can help, and upcoming events. Hike a trail if weather permits immediately following our short gathering.
Fire Ring Cleanup
Meet at the campground parking lot. We will be cleaning out the campground fire pits and picking up trash to help the park prepare for camping season.
April Monthly Meeting
Join us at the park office for a monthly update on what’s going on at the park, how you can help, and upcoming events. Hike a trail if weather permits immediately following our short gathering.
Bring in the Green
Every year we gather during St. Patrick's Day weekend to Bring in the Green at Charlestown State Park. This annual clean-up event helps get the park ready for Springtime visitors. We let Mother Nature determine how we serve. Some years we collect trash and debris from along the river trails and some years we clear invasive plants from public use areas. You'll need to dress for dirty work, bring gloves and yard equipment like hand pruners or bow saws if you have them. We're looking for sponsors for trash bags, water, and snacks for volunteers, and swag or gift items to thank them for their laobr. Please call/text Treva at (812) 896-5647 or email treva@mayortreva.com if you have any questions or would like to sponsor. Let's get our park ready for Spring!
Annual General Meeting
Join us in the park office to learn more about what we do and how you can help at our upcoming events. We need you! We are a 100% volunteer group, and if you volunteer 40 hours in a year with us or at the park you can get a free DNR Annual Entrance Pass!
Devil's Backbone Guided Hike
It's that time of year again for our Devil's Backbone Hike Series! This guided hike takes you beyond the public trails to a protected site known as The Devil's Backbone" a fantastic geological site full of mystery and lore! Each hike is limited to 12 people. YOU MUST PREREGISTER FOR THIS HIKE VIA EMAIL@ JBeavin@DNR.IN.GOV
Devil's Backbone Guided Hike
It's that time of year again for our Devil's Backbone Hike Series! This guided hike takes you beyond the public trails to a protected site known as The Devil's Backbone" a fantastic geological site full of mystery and lore! Each hike is limited to 12 people. YOU MUST PREREGISTER FOR THIS HIKE VIA EMAIL@ JBeavin@DNR.IN.GOV
Devil's Backbone Guided Hike
It's that time of year again for our Devil's Backbone Hike Series! This guided hike takes you beyond the public trails to a protected site known as The Devil's Backbone" a fantastic geological site full of mystery and lore! Each hike is limited to 12 people. YOU MUST PREREGISTER FOR THIS HIKE VIA EMAIL@ JBeavin@DNR.IN.GOV
Full Moon Hike
Great for first time Full Moon Hikers, Trail 2 is our easiest hike at 1.5 miles. We still recommend a hiking stick, good shoes and a red flashlight for this hike. Meet at the Clark Shelter.
Devil's Backbone Guided Hike
IT's that time of year again for our Devil's Backbone Hike Series! This guided hike takes you beyond the public trails to a protected site known as The Devil's Backbone" a fantastic geological site full of mystery and lore! Each hike is limited to 12 people. YOU MUST PREREGISTER FOR THIS HIKE VIA EMAIL@ JBeavin@DNR.IN.GOV