Charles C. Deam Wilderness

The Charles C. Deam Wilderness, the only designated Wilderness area in Indiana, offers 36 miles of trails for hiking, backpacking, and horse riding through scenic hardwood forest and varied terrain with views of nearby Monroe Lake. Tower Ridge Road divides the Wilderness into a smaller northern section and a larger southern one. As recently as fifty years ago, 81 farms dotted the landscape, every ridge was planted with corn or hay, and 57 miles of roads traversed the higher ground. While the area still shows signs of human alteration, the Wilderness is gradually returning to its natural state. Bird species such as flycatchers, scarlet tanagers, red-eyed vireos, hawks, and woodpeckers now thrive in the thickening forest. Among the reptiles, you may encounter the poisonous timber rattlesnake and the copperhead. The north border is Monroe Lake, Indiana's largest reservoir. Because the purpose of the reservoir is flood control, water levels fluctuate and some campsites may experience flooding and be unusable for periods of time. In the summer months, visitors should expect to encounter chiggers, ticks, and poison ivy. Following the wilderness designation in 1982, visitor use increased to a point that significant damage was occurring, so special restrictions are in place to protect wilderness character. Group size is limited to 10 people. Camping within 200 feet of trails, trailheads, roads, water sources, rock shelters, caves, and historic structures is allowed only in designated sites, as is camping within half a mile of the Monroe Lake shoreline. Campsites must be occupied the first night, may not be left unattended more than 24 hours without permission, and camping is limited to 14 days. Horse riders must stay on designated trails and must have a permit.