But it’s an option for cold-weather campers who might like to take advantage of half-price or non-existent gate fees at Indiana State Parks this winter. Like every year, many state parks this year are offering half-price entrance fees, while others eliminate the fees altogether.

Some parks will keep their grounds open but may opt to close the campground to vehicle traffic, such as Mounds State Park in Anderson. Mounds Park changes its regular camping to primitive during the winter months.

"There’s no electricity, no water," said Jody Heaston, an interpretive naturalist at Mounds. "It’s very primitive out there. We shut down the restrooms because the pipes could freeze and break."

The roads to the campground will be closed at the first sign of ice or snow, but that really depends on the weather.

"When we get the risk of snow and ice, we just block off the road so no one can get out there," she explained. "Last year, the weather was so mild that we only closed the road off twice, but then we opened it up again. It’s pretty steep and hilly in certain areas so we do this for safety."

Even when the weather does get icy, diehard primitive campers can go back there on foot.

The park has Boy Scout troops who come out in the cold weather. Scouts can get a "polar bear" patch by sleeping two nights in below-freezing weather. Mounds has also had some outdoor clubs from Anderson University who come and camp in the cold.

"We get a lot of people going to Florida from Michigan and north Indiana," she said. "They often stop here on their way. They don’t mind the primitive because they have everything they need in their RVs."

The primitive camping still includes electricity, so the RV owners can hook up to electric and heat their water and their campers.

"There’s one faucet – a frost-free faucet – they can use to fill up their campers," she said. "But there are no restrooms."

Because it’s primitive, the camping cost is half price of the regular warm-weather price.

Like most state parks Mounds stays open year ‘round for walkers and joggers.

"The park is open every day of the year," she said. "People come out here to jog or walk their dogs. A lot of people, as soon as it snows, will come out and do cross country skiing. People who walk regularly have told me they bought skis so they can cross country ski in the winter. Winter is just so quiet here so it’s really peaceful. And it’s just so pretty and quiet."

For the past two years, the nature center has been under construction. But it will have its grand opening on March 21.

"We’re really excited about getting that place open," Heaston noted. "Next winter, it will be a nice place to warm up and watch the birds."

OTHER WINTER FUN

While most state parks stay open for walking and jogging, another stays open for something a little faster: toboggans.

The Pokagon State Park in Angola offers a quarter-mile, side-by-side toboggan track that runs all winter long.

"There’s a lot of activity at Pokagon," said Becky Weber, editor of the Indiana Recreation Guide for the Department of Natural Resources. "The run is refrigerated, so we don’t have to depend on Mother Nature. It’s been in existence since the ‘30s."

The toboggan track runs Friday through Sunday after Thanksgiving, then during the week around Christmas.

"It’s a quick quarter-mile down, then you have to walk the toboggan back up," Weber said. "But what’s nice is there’s a heated shelter with a fireplace and big window to watch, so if moms and dads are cold and the kids are still going, they have a place to thaw out."

ALTERNATIVE "CAMPING"

Weber said that the state park inns are a great place for people to get away from it all in the winter months –- without the primitive camping.

"The inns are open all year ‘round," she said. "But you’ll have to call for availability. They fill up fast during the fall and winter."

There’s more good news for winter travelers: the price for staying at the inns during the cold months has been reduced. The following inns are run by the Indiana State Park system:

Abe Martin Lodge, Brown County State Park, 1-877-265-6343

Canyon Inn, McCormick’s Creek State Park, 1-877-922-6966

Clifty Inn, Clifty Falls State Park, 1-877-925-4348

Potawatomi Inn, Pokagon State Park, 1-877-768-2928

Spring Mill Inn, Spring Mill State Park, 1-877-977-7464

Turkey Run Inn, Turkey Run State Park, 1-877-500-6151

The Fort Golf Resort and Conference Center, Fort Harrison State Park, 1-877-937-3678

For more information on the Indiana State Parks, call 1-800-622-4931.

Reservations website:

PO Box 67, Paoli, IN 47454-0067

Phone: 812-723-4696; Fax: 812-723-2300; Snow Phone: 812-723-4696 #3

FYI: Highest Lift Elevation:  900 ft.; Vertical Drop: 300 ft.

Other Features: Terrain Park, Snowbiking, Snowshoeing, Outdoor Pool, Sleigh Riding, Recreational Racing; Indoor Features: Child Care, Restaurants, Lounge, Sports Center, Indoor Pool, Health Club, Shopping

674 N. Meridian, Valparaiso, IN 46385

Phone: 219-477-5993 Snow Phone: 219-477-5993

Highest Lift Elevation:  850 ft.

Vertical Drop: 150 ft.

Other Features: Half Pipe, Snowtubing; Indoor features: restaurants

19074 Perfect Lane, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025

Phone: 812-537-3754; Fax: 812-537-3352; Snow Phone: 812-537-3754

FYI: Highest Lift Elevation:  800 ft.; Lowest Base Elevation:  400 ft.; Snowmaking: 100%

Vertical Drop:  400 ft.

Other Features: Night Skiing; Indoor Features: Restaurants, day lodge, cafeteria, rental shop and pro shop.

2887 West State Road 46, Nashville, IN 47448

812-988-6638; 812-988-6694; 812-988-6693; 800-521-0687

FYI: Highest Lift Elevation:  975 ft.; Lowest Base Elevation:  600 ft.; Snowmaking: 100%; Vertical Drop:  375 ft.

Other Features: Night Skiing, Snowtubing; Indoor Features:  Lounge, Shopping

Mad River Mountain
PO Box 22, Bellefontaine, OH 43311

Phone:937-599-1015; Fax: 937-599-4225; Snow Phone: 800-231-7669

FYI: Highest Lift Elevation: 1460 ft.; Snowmaking: ,100%; Vertical Drop:  300 ft.

Other Features: Terrain Park, Night Skiing, Snowtubing, Recreational Racing

Indoor Features: Restaurants, Lounge

Spicy Run
PO Box 240, Latham, OH 45646

Phone:740-493-8888; Fax: 740-493-3433; Snow Phone: 740-493-8888

FYI: Highest Lift Elevation: 1250 ft.; Vertical Drop:  601 ft.

Indoor Features: Restaurants

Clear Fork Ski Area
PO Box 308, Butler, OH 44822

Phone:419-883-2000; Fax: 419-883-2225; Snow Phone: 800-237-5673

Vertical Drop:  300' ft.

Other Features:  Half Pipe, Terrain Park, Night Skiing; Indoor Features: Restaurants, Lounge, Shopping

Gobles, Mich.

Phone: 616-694-9449; Fax: 616-694-6004; Snow Phone: 616-694-9158; Out-of-MailState: 800-285-6525;

Other Features: Terrain Park, Night Skiing; Indoor Features: restaurants, lounge