Hoosier National Forest

Hoosier National Forest
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources)

Sycamore trail in Hoosier National Forest
Map showing the location of Hoosier National Forest
Location Indiana, United States
Nearest city Bloomington, IN
Coordinates 38°27′40″N 86°29′38″W / 38.461°N 86.494°W / 38.461; -86.494Coordinates: 38°27′40″N 86°29′38″W / 38.461°N 86.494°W / 38.461; -86.494
Area 202,814 acres (82,076 ha)[1]
Established October 1, 1961[2]
Governing body U.S. Forest Service
Website Hoosier National Forest

The Hoosier National Forest is a property managed by the United States Forest Service in the hills of southern Indiana. Composed of four separate sections, it has a total area of 202,814 acres (821 km2; 317 sq mi).[1] Hoosier National Forest's headquarters are located in Bedford, with a regional office in Tell City. Prominent places within the Forest include the Lick Creek Settlement, Potts Creek Rockshelter Archeological Site, and Jacob Rickenbaugh House.

History

Hoosier National Forest was first touched by humanity 12,000 years ago, when Native Americans in the United States hunted in the forest. Europeans reached the forest in the late 17th century, and began building villages in the forest. Actual lumbering began in the 19th century, with the cutting of more difficult terrain occurring after 1865. By 1910 most of the area had been cut. In the early 1930s the governor of Indiana pushed for the federal government to do something with the eroding lands that saw its residents leaving, with the act being accomplished on February 6, 1935.[3]

Within Hoosier National Forest, two miles (3 km) south of Chambersburg, lies the former Lick Creek Settlement Site, a settlement of free blacks led by the Quaker Jonathan Lindley from around 1819 to around 1865.[4] Pioneer Mothers Memorial Forest near Paoli contains an excellent example of virgin forest. Hemlock Cliffs Recreation Area in Crawford County contains one of the most scenic hiking trails in Indiana.

Most of Thomas Hines' Hines' Raid was within the present-day Hoosier National Forest.

Hickory Ridge Lookout Tower is the sole remaining fire tower out of eight that once stood within Hoosier National Forest. When built, there was a two-room house for the ranger and his dependents to live within, but it has since been destroyed. Visitors may still climb the tower, but are recommended to be cautious when climbing.[5]

Science

Forested hills in Orange County near Lake Patoka

Much of Hoosier National Forest is over karst, responsible for the many caves in southern Indiana.[6]

Included in Hoosier National Forest is the Charles C. Deam Wilderness Area, the only recognized wilderness area left in Indiana. This means that no motorized vehicles are allowed in the area, and instead mules and horses must be used to maintain hiking trails.[7][8]

In the Clover Lick Barrens, in the southern portion of Hoosier National Forest near the Ohio River and the vegetation more typical of prairies on the Great Plains is found. This was discovered by a botanist and a biologist from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, who later found that in the first recorded survey of the area in 2005, the land was described not as forest, but as "a mile of poor barrens and grassy hills". It is believed that the inability of tall oaks to grow in the area allows for this prairie vegetation to persist in such an unlikely location. In 2006 a conscious effort was made to keep the barren look to the area; previous federal efforts on renovating Hoosier National Forest meant adding nonnative species to low-growth areas.[9] It was around Clover Lick in 1972 that Indiana decided to reintroduce wild turkeys back to Indiana, dedicated 6,000 acres (2,400 ha) for the purpose.[10]

Also in Hoosier National Forest is Sundance Lake, a 5.3-acre (2.1 ha) lake; not only is fishing offered, but every year Native Americans perform a spiritual dance near the lake.[11]

Hoosier National Forest lies in parts of nine counties in southern Indiana.

Recreation

The trail system has almost 266 miles (428 km), and allows horseback riding and mountain bikes, along with hiking. Hikers are to yield to horses, and mountain bikers are to yield to both of them.[12] Within the Hemlock Cliffs Valley, located within the central portion of the National Forest, there is the 1.2 mile Hemlock Cliffs trail. The trail is noted as access to sandstone cliffs and seasonal waterfalls as well as Hemlock trees and rare wintergreen plants.[13]

Hoosier National Forest Trail System

All trail locations are within the state of Indiana.

Trail Location Uses Length (miles)
Birdseye Trail[14] Birdseye Hiking, horse riding, and mountain biking 12.1
Brown County D Trail Elkinsville Hiking and horse riding 2.1
Buzzard Roost Trail[15] Magnet Hiking 0.8
Celina Interpretive Trail[16] Indian-Celina Lake Recreation Area Hiking 0.8
Fork Ridge Trail[17] Norman, north of Kurtz Hiking 3.5
German Ridge Trail[18] Derby Hiking, horse riding, and mountain biking 24.0
German Ridge Lake Trail Derby Hiking 1.9
Hardin Ridge Trail Lake Monroe; Hardin Ridge Recreation Area Hiking and biking 2.0
Hemlock Cliffs Trail[19] English Hiking 1.0
Hickory Ridge Trail[20] Norman Hiking, horse riding, and mountain biking 48.7
Lick Creek Trail[21] Paoli Hiking, horse riding, and mountain biking 7.7
Mogan Ridge West Trail[22] Derby Hiking, horse riding, and mountain biking 12.3
Mogan Ridge East Trail[22] Derby Hiking 6.7
Nebo Ridge Trail[23] Nashville Hiking, horseriding, and mountain biking 8.6
Oriole West Trail[24] Sulphur Hiking, horseriding, and mountain biking 7.2
Oriole East Trail[24] Sulphur Hiking, horseriding, and mountain biking 6.5
Pate Hollow Trail[25] Lake Monroe; Paynetown State Recreation Area Hiking 7.7
Pioneer Mothers Trail[26] Paoli Hiking 1.3
Saddle Lake Trail[27] Gatchel; east of Derby Hiking 2.2
Shirley Creek Trail[28] West Baden Springs Hiking, horse riding, and mountain biking 19.4
Spring(s) Valley Trail[29] Paoli Hiking, horse riding, and mountain biking 12.7
Tipsaw Trail[30] Branchville; Tipsaw Lake Recreation Area Hiking and mountain biking 5.9
Twin Oaks Interpretive Trail Lake Monroe Hiking 1.4

Two Lakes Loop National Recreation Trail[16]

 Indian-Celina Lake Recreation Area Hiking 15.7
Wilderness West Lake Monroe; Charles C. Deam Wilderness Hiking and horse riding 32.4
Wilderness Sycamore Lake Monroe; Charles C. Deam Wilderness Hiking 4.9
Youngs Creek Trail[31] Paoli Hiking, horse riding, and mountain biking 11.0

Source: "Hoosier National Forest: Trail Information" (PDF). United States Forest Service. Retrieved December 31, 2014. 

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Land Areas of the National Forest System" (PDF). U.S. Forest Service. January 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  2. ↑ "The National Forests of the United States" (PDF). ForestHistory.org. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  3. ↑ Mohlenbrock, Robert. This Land: A Guide to Eastern National Forests (University of California Press, 2006) pg.97
  4. ↑ Mohlenbrock pg.100,101
  5. ↑ Mohlenbrock pg.99
  6. ↑ http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/hoosier/project_docs/cavesandkarst.htm
  7. ↑ http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/hoosier/docs/sp_features.htm
  8. ↑ http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/hoosier/recreation/ccdw.htm
  9. ↑ Mohlenbrock pg.103,104
  10. ↑ http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/hoosier/docs/barrens.htm
  11. ↑ http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/hoosier/recreation/sundance_lake.htm
  12. ↑ http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/hoosier/trail_chart.htm
  13. ↑ Hemlock Cliffs, United States Forest Service Information
  14. ↑ Birdseye Trail Map
  15. ↑ Buzzard Roost Trail Map
  16. 1 2 Two Lakes/Celina Trail Map
  17. ↑ Fork Ridge Trail Map
  18. ↑ German Ridge Trail Map
  19. ↑ Hemlock Cliffs Map
  20. ↑ Hickory Ridge Trail Map
  21. ↑ Lick Creek Trail Map
  22. 1 2 Mogan Ridge Trails Map
  23. ↑ Nebo Ridge Trail Map
  24. 1 2 Oriole Trail Map
  25. ↑ Pate Hollow Trail Map
  26. ↑ Pioneer Mothers Memorial Forest Map
  27. ↑ Saddle Lake Trail Map
  28. ↑ Shirley Creek Trail Map
  29. ↑ Springs Valley Trail Map
  30. ↑ Tipsaw Trail Map
  31. ↑ Youngs Creek Trail Map

External links

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