Sugar Creek runs through the edge of Crawfordsville and provides the entry point for canoe trips downstream into two of Indiana's finest state parks: Shades State Park, about 25 km southwest, and Turkey Run State Park, a further 20 km on. Both have forested ravines carved out of sandstone, clear creek water, good hiking trails, and a quiet that is genuinely restorative.
Canoe rentals are available near the put-in points, and the creek is accessible for beginners on most summer days. Turkey Run is the more developed of the two parks and has better facilities; Shades is wilder and quieter. A full day on the creek between the two parks is one of the better outdoor experiences in this part of Indiana.