# McCloud Nature Park and Ray & Mary Benson Nature Center > Place to go for families in the Indianapolis–Carmel–Greenwood area (IN). Times are Eastern Time. - When: Park dawn to dusk daily. Ray & Mary Benson Nature Center Tuesday–Saturday 10 am–4 pm… - Where: McCloud Nature Park, 8518 Hughes Rd, North Salem, IN 46165 - Ages: All ages - Price: No admission fee listed - Schedule: Park dawn to dusk daily. Ray & Mary Benson Nature Center Tuesday–Saturday 10 am–4 pm (from May 1, 2026). - Organizer: Hendricks County Parks & Recreation - Official page: https://hendrickscountyparks.org/our-parks/mccloud-nature-park/ - Last checked: Sat, Oct 24 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Oct 24, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-10-24), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/mccloud-nature-park-and-ray-and-mary-benson-nature-center--listing-9d8c5746bd208e168f85c8f9 ## About A 232-acre Hendricks County nature park of woods, glacial ravines, prairie and Big Walnut Creek near North Salem. Families can hike more than 7 miles of marked gravel and natural-surface trails, wade, fish (Indiana license required for anglers) or paddle in the creek, cross a restored iron truss bridge more than 100 years old, and walk a wetland boardwalk with observation decks. A swing set has belt, tire, infant and ADA swings, and live honeybee hives can be watched from late spring to early fall. The Ray & Mary Benson Nature Center has live reptiles, amphibians and insects, a bird-viewing room, a resource library and a large accessible deck, and hosts regular nature programs. A GRIT Freedom Chair all-terrain wheelchair can be borrowed free. ## Similar picks in Indianapolis - [Fall Colors Festival at McCloud Nature Park](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/fall-colors-festival-at-mccloud-nature-park--listing-a4a7b042f7f98ae8e2313ebc) — Sat, Oct 24 · 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM · McCloud Nature Park, North Salem · Free · checked Oct 24. Hendricks County Parks' annual Fall Colors Festival fills McCloud Nature Park near North Salem with old-fashioned fall family activities: hayrides through the autumn woods, a… - [Halloween Night Hike at McCloud Nature Park](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/halloween-night-hike-at-mccloud-nature-park--listing-2b2abcd719f9ec1145189228) — Fri, Oct 30 · 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM · McCloud Nature Park, North Salem · Ages 10+ · From $5 · checked Oct 24. Hendricks County Parks naturalists lead a moonlit, intentionally spooky night hike through McCloud Nature Park, mixing stories of the park's history and haunts with a look at… - [Bat Chat at Fort Harrison State Park](https://grassyknees.com/indianapolis/activities/bat-chat-at-fort-harrison-state-park--listing-0c5f263317bdae69b18e5481) — Sat, Oct 24 · 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM · Fort Harrison State Park Visitor Center · checked Oct 24. 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