A main street with 17 rooms that evokes the 1890s is an unusual introduction to the Dubois County Museum. Nearby, discoveries lead in other directions: to mountain bike trails in Ferdinand State Forest, a loop around Patoka Lake, the history of a monastery and an annual market. Here, landscape, history and seasonal tradition take distinct forms.

Forests, Water and Trails

Ferdinand State Forest offers 8.8 miles of designated mountain bike trails. At Patoka Lake, the Main Trail is a 6.5-mile loop. Ferdinand State Forest has designated mountain bike trails, while Patoka Lake has a single loop trail. So when choosing, both the type of route and its length matter. If you’re looking for designated mountain bike trails, Ferdinand State Forest is clearly identified; for the Main Trail, its loop format is the defining feature.

Patoka Lake covers 8,800 acres and provides habitat for freshwater jellyfish. Its size and the habitat it provides describe two different aspects of the same body of water: its extent and an unusual species that makes its home there. This gives the lake a natural highlight that goes beyond its size. The Main Trail complements this perspective with a specific type of route—another way to include the lake in your travel plans.

Museum and Monastery History

The main street at the Dubois County Museum evokes the 1890s with its 17 rooms. If you’d like to explore the exhibit with a guided tour, you can arrange one in advance. This lets you plan your museum visit with a specific focus, without limiting the historical presentation to a single year.

Monastery Immaculate Conception was founded in 1867 by four young Benedictine sisters. Visitors are welcome on the grounds, and tours can be arranged. Visitors can also attend Sunday Mass with the sisters. The monastery’s founding story and current visitor options offer two different perspectives: a look at its origins and the opportunity to combine a visit with a tour or Mass.

Ferdinand’s Christkindlmarkt

Ferdinand’s Christkindlmarkt takes place annually on the third full weekend in November. More than 200 booths offer handmade items; regional foods and wine are also part of the market. This makes the November date a clear seasonal highlight among the experiences described in Dubois County. If the market is part of your trip, check the specific event dates in advance and plan around the third full weekend of the month.

Routes in Different Formats

The Trail of Faith is an 85-mile self-guided driving tour of 19 historic churches. It differs from a single museum stop: the churches are the focus of a longer drive that you can take on your own. Here, you can explore history on a driving tour, while the Dubois County Museum offers exhibits and guided tours.

The Spirit of Jasper route runs south from Dubois through Jasper to Huntingburg and is part of the Dubois County Railroad. Current excursion operations may vary; check in advance if you’re planning a ride. Together with the Trail of Faith, the route description shows how differently journeys through the region can be organized: as a self-guided driving tour or a railroad route.

Explore More Destinations

Explore more destinations: Jasper, Huntingburg, Ferdinand, Newton County, Grant County, Gibson County, Jennings County, Monroe.

For the main travel overview: Indiana.