Hoosier National Forest

Hoosier National Forest is the only national forest in Indiana, stretching across more than 200,000 acres of the rugged, unglaciated hills of south-central Indiana in two main units near Bloomington and Tell City. It is the largest publicly owned expanse of land in the state, a vast mosaic of hardwood forest, ridges, ravines, lakes and streams that offers some of the most diverse and rewarding outdoor recreation in the Midwest.

The forest encompasses the 13,000-acre Charles C. Deam Wilderness — Indiana’s only federally designated wilderness — as well as the Lake Monroe and Celina Lake recreation areas, the Hemlock Cliffs National Recreation Trail, scenic overlooks, extensive hiking and equestrian trail systems, campgrounds, and rich hunting and fishing. From the sweeping ridgetop vistas of the Crawford Uplands to the cool hollows and hemlock-shaded sandstone cliffs, Hoosier National Forest is a precious and expansive wild landscape in the heart of Indiana.

Hoosier National Forest offers an exceptional range of outdoor recreation across its two units: more than 260 miles of hiking trails, including the beloved Hemlock Cliffs loop and the challenging Knobstone Trail (Indiana’s longest trail); extensive equestrian and OHV trail systems; camping at developed campgrounds and dispersed backcountry sites; hunting and fishing across the forest; swimming, boating and fishing at Lake Monroe and Celina Lake; and backcountry exploration in the Charles C. Deam Wilderness. The vast forest is Indiana’s premier destination for multi-day hiking, backcountry camping and non-motorized wilderness recreation.

Spring brings wildflowers and rushing streams through the hollows, summer leafy green forest and lake recreation, and fall spectacular color across the hardwood ridges — the forest’s hills are among Indiana’s finest autumn destinations. Winter brings quiet beauty and excellent hunting. The Knobstone Trail is best hiked in spring and fall; summer can be hot and humid on the ridges, with ticks. Fall color and spring wildflowers are highlights. The forest rewards visits year-round, with each season offering its own character across the hills, hollows and lakes of southern Indiana.

Hoosier National Forest was established in 1935 during the Great Depression, assembled from lands that had been logged, farmed and largely exhausted in the rugged hills of southern Indiana, then acquired for federal conservation and restoration. The Civilian Conservation Corps built many of the forest’s roads, trails and facilities in its early years. Over decades, the cutover forest has recovered to a rich hardwood landscape, and the Charles C. Deam Wilderness was designated in 1982, honoring Indiana’s pioneer naturalist and botanist. The forest represents one of the great conservation-restoration success stories of the Midwest.

Hoosier National Forest occupies the unglaciated hill country of southern Indiana, where the last continental glaciers stopped short, leaving a deeply dissected landscape of steep ridges, hollows and ravines carved into ancient sandstone, limestone and shale. The Crawford Uplands and the Knobstone Escarpment — a long ridge of erosion-resistant shale — define the rugged terrain of the forest’s two units. The sandstone cliffs at Hemlock Cliffs, the limestone karst country, sinkholes and the varied geology underlie the forest’s diverse habitats and dramatic topography.

Hoosier National Forest is Indiana’s most important public land for wildlife, supporting white-tailed deer, wild turkey, black bear (occasional), bobcat, river otter, and a rich community of forest birds including neotropical migrants, owls, woodpeckers and raptors, while the streams and Lake Monroe support diverse fish and aquatic life. The large, contiguous forest block is critical for species that need extensive habitat, and the Deam Wilderness provides undisturbed backcountry. The forest is outstanding for hunting, fishing, birding and wildlife watching in southern Indiana.

Hoosier National Forest protects the largest expanse of hardwood forest in Indiana, a vast oak-hickory and mixed-hardwood landscape recovering from a century of logging and farming, now sheltering rich and diverse plant and animal communities across the unglaciated hills of southern Indiana. The Hemlock Cliffs preserve a cool, sandstone-canyon microclimate with eastern hemlock — rare in Indiana — and the Charles C. Deam Wilderness protects undisturbed backcountry. Managing the forest sustainably through timber harvest, prescribed fire, wildlife management and trail stewardship sustains both the ecology and the recreational values of Indiana’s only national forest.

Hoosier National Forest is named for the proud Hoosier identity of Indiana, and the Charles C. Deam Wilderness honors Charles Clemon Deam, Indiana’s first state forester and a pioneering botanist who documented the state’s flora. The forest’s recovery from logged and farmed-out lands to a rich, expansive woodland is a story of conservation success in the Midwest. The Knobstone Trail, the Hemlock Cliffs and the Deam Wilderness have become beloved backcountry destinations, and the forest anchors the outdoor recreation economy of southern Indiana.

Hoosier National Forest has two main units in southern Indiana: the northern unit near Bloomington (including the Deam Wilderness and Lake Monroe) and the southern unit near Tell City and Jasper (including the Hemlock Cliffs and Celina Lake). Access is via US-50, US-150, State Route 37 and local forest roads. The USDA Forest Service Supervisor’s Office is in Bedford. Many trails have trailhead parking; developed campgrounds are available; dispersed camping is permitted in most areas. Check the USDA Forest Service for maps, trail conditions, campground reservations and regulations before visiting.

The USDA Forest Service manages Hoosier National Forest under a multiple-use mandate, balancing timber harvest, recreation, wildlife management and the protection of the Charles C. Deam Wilderness and sensitive species and habitats. Visitors help by staying on trails to limit erosion, practicing Leave No Trace in the backcountry, respecting wilderness regulations in the Deam Wilderness (no motorized use), camping only in designated or dispersed sites, protecting water quality in the streams and Lake Monroe, packing out everything, and respecting wildlife. The forest’s ongoing recovery is sustained by responsible use and sound land management.

Hoosier National Forest’s rugged, hilly terrain demands preparation — carry a map and compass or GPS (cell service is unreliable in the hills), carry water and water treatment (surface water must be treated), plan for hot and humid summers with ticks and chiggers, and be prepared for remote conditions in the backcountry and the Deam Wilderness. The Knobstone Trail is strenuous; allow adequate time and supplies. Flash flooding can occur in the hollows; avoid creek-bed campsites in rain. Wear blaze orange during hunting seasons, and follow all hunting regulations.

National forest regulations apply: no fees for most trail and dispersed camping use, but developed campground fees apply. Camp at least 100 feet from water. Campfires in fire rings or safe areas only; follow fire restrictions in dry periods. Motorized vehicles and bikes are prohibited in the Charles C. Deam Wilderness. Follow hunting and fishing regulations (Indiana licenses required). Dogs must be under control. Pack out all trash. Check the USDA Forest Service for current regulations, hunting seasons, campground reservations and trail conditions before visiting.

Monroe Lake — Indiana’s largest inland lake — adjoins the northern unit near Bloomington, with the cities of Bloomington and Bedford, Brown County State Park, McCormick’s Creek State Park and the artistic village of Nashville all nearby. The southern unit lies near Tell City, Cannelton and the Ohio River, with the Hoosier Hills wine country and Lincoln Hills accessible. The forest anchors a vast outdoor recreation region across southern Indiana, the wildest and most extensive public land in the state.

Backpack the Knobstone Trail — Indiana’s longest trail at over 35 miles across the rugged escarpment — in spring or fall, and hike the Hemlock Cliffs loop in the southern unit for sandstone canyon scenery. Explore the Charles C. Deam Wilderness for true Indiana backcountry solitude, fish Lake Monroe and Celina Lake, and be ready for ticks, heat and humidity in summer. Carry a detailed forest map, treat surface water, and wear blaze orange in hunting seasons. The forest is Indiana’s best destination for multi-day backcountry adventure.