Hardin Ridge

Hosted by USDA Forest Service

New listing

Hardin Ridge is a 1,200-acre recreational complex located on the shores of Monroe Reservoir in Hoosier National Forest. The complex includes six shady campground loops, two picnic areas with shelters, and two rental cabins. The area offers something for everyone, with camping, picnicking, boat launching, swimming, nature walks and interpretive programs in a forested environment. A 300-foot swimming beach on Lake Monroe offers a place for children to play and swimmers to sunbathe and enjoy the water, with a combination of sand and sun and a shady grass-covered hillside above. There are no lifeguards on duty, and no glass containers or pets are allowed in the beach area. The Hardin Ridge Trail is a 2-mile hiking and bicycle trail running from the day use area to the various campground loops; it roughly follows the main campground road and provides a safe surface for families to hike or bike, as well as a scenic overlook. On the Ted T. Turtle interpretive trail, visitors travel 1.2 miles through a scenic hardwood forest, along a small creek and down to Lake Monroe and back, learning about the history, geology and wildlife common to southern Indiana. Fishing is allowed anywhere along the lakeshore within the complex, and several quiet inlets provide secluded fishing holes; popular catches include blue gill, striped bass, large mouth bass and crappie. For boaters, the lake has a 3-lane launch ramp open year-round, a 75 vehicle/trailer parking area, and a fully accessible loading dock at the boat ramp. There are 197 camp sites at Hardin Ridge, 36 of which are walk-in tenting only. With the exception of the Eads and Southern Point loops, about half the sites have electric hookups (walk-in sites do not). Centralized water, flush toilets and showers are provided. In addition to the campground loops there are two picnic areas with numerous tables and three shelter houses, two of which overlook the lake and two of which have electricity and lights; if the shelters are not reserved, they may be available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is ample space in the fields around the picnic sites for games. Two primitive cabins are available for rent, each with 6 bunk beds — one a double — for a total sleeping capacity of 7. The cabins sit on the shores of Lake Monroe between the boat launch and swimming beach, with a picnic shelter nearby and a shared toilet between them. Monroe Reservoir spans 10,750 acres and is the largest lake in Indiana. There is an overlook on Hardin Ridge Road that is spectacular in any season and gives visitors a high vantage point of the lake, colorful marinas across the water and a vast expanse of forest. The entire area is forested with hardwoods and is well-shaded, giving visitors the feel of being in the deep woods. In spring, the dogwoods and redbuds bring bright color to the forest, and in fall the foliage offers vibrant hues of yellow, orange and red. Special places elsewhere on the Hoosier National Forest include Brooks Cabin, Buffalo Trace, Carnes Mill Site, Clover Lick Barrens, Hickory Ridge Lookout Tower, Initial Point, the Lick Creek African American Settlement, the Jacob Rickenbaugh Homestead and Wesley Chapel Gulf.

Pet friendly

Pet friendly

Location

084

BLGL · STANDARD ELECTRIC · Overnight

Max Num of People: 8
Pets Allowed: Yes
Capacity/Size Rating: Single
Max Vehicle Length: 50
Campfire Allowed: Yes
Shade: Full

Reserve on Recreation.gov

Campsites195

Heltonville, IN

To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking

Amenities

Accessible campsites
3 sites
BBQ
Campfires allowed
Electric hookups
Fire pits
Picnic tables
Shade
Water hookups

Rules & policies

Check-in
2:00 PM
Check-out
12:00 PM
People per site
Up to 8
Vehicles per site
Up to 2
Camping equipment required
Pets allowed

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USDA Forest Service

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