Farm Indiana // may 2013
B11
Much can be said about the beauty of Brown County in southern Indiana, but if you ask Brad Schneck, the views and vistas to be found in Jackson-Washington State Forest and Starve-Hollow State Recreation Area rival the often-touted hills and hollers of Brown. And—even better, says the property manager for the forest and recreation area—Jackson-Washington’s offerings are hidden treasures. Not many people know the beauty of what they’ll find until they get there, he explains. Please forgive us, then, while we spoil the surprise. Jackson-Washington State Forest There’s a lot of ground to cover at Jackson-Washington State Forest, what with the nearly 18,000 acres of it. With breathtaking views and unique topography, known as “knobs,” the forest offers visitors a variety of things to do and see. Five forest lakes (stocked with largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish and channel catfish) offer fishing. Washington County has 12-acre Spurgeon Hollow Lake, 10-acre Potter Lake and 8-acre Plattsburg Pond; Jackson County offers 7-acre Knob Lake and 1-acre Cypress Pond. Boat ramps (bring your annual lake use permit if you’re using a boat) are located on Knob Lake and Spurgeon Hollow Lake. Plattsburg Pond and Potter Lake are walk-in lakes. If horseback riding is more your thing, saddle up (and bring your bridle tag) to enjoy the two trail systems for horseback riding. Though people do occasionally hike and mountain bike on these trails, Schneck says, the majority of users enjoy leisurely rides along the nine miles of trails off Skyline Drive and the five miles of trails off State Road 250. The forest also offers a total of nine trails that are free to use and that connect with one another for hikers and mountain bikers, Schneck says. “The trails go from rugged to easy to moderate,” he adds. “There are a variety of op-
tions. Some are short as a quarter of a mile and some are as long as five-and-a-half miles.” If you plan on staying overnight in the forest, you have 50-plus campsites (some are waterfront sites on Knob Lake; others sit among hardwoods or towering eastern white pines) to choose from, Schneck says. The primitive sites offer no electricity, and there are “water points throughout the property for campers to use,” he explains. It costs $10 to camp overnight, and firewood is available for purchase at the forest office for $5. Find a map of the forest, as well as information on all of the available activities, at the main office, which is located 2.5 miles southeast of Brownstown on State Road 250.
Starve-Hollow State Recreation Area With 280 acres of its own, Starve-Hollow State Recreation Area is considered its own entity, though it’s carved out of Jackson-Washington State Forest. Guests to the area will find a regularly stocked 145-acre lake, a sandy beach, and a fully staffed Nature Center that’s open on the weekends from May through November. Shelters (which, as of this year, can now be reserved in advance) and playgrounds are available for family reunions and picnics. Hiking and mountain biking trails are available, as well as a number of
options for camping. “Starve-Hollow is a modern recreational facility,” Schneck says. The area offers “90 electric campsites, as well as 55 full hook-up campsites” that have electric, water and sewer lines available. There are also 10 non-electric campsites, which have comfort stations where visitors can take warm showers. For the first time this year, cabins are also available for rent. “They will have electric, ceiling fans, a double bed, and a single bunk bed,” Schneck says, but with the loft and space throughout the cabin, there are “a lot of sleeping options in the cabins to sleep approximately six.” Some of the cabins are lakefront sites, and all offer electricity, but no running water, he adds. Prices for the various camping options vary, depending on the weekends, holidays and amenities, and guests to the area can also take advantage of boat and canoe rentals, a concession stand and more. Call the Starve-Hollow office at (812) 358-3464 for more information. From May to November, StarveHollow is gated and costs $5 to enter, Schneck says. “It’s a security thing,” he explains. If you purchase an annual Indiana State Park entrance permit, the permits will allow you to enter for free, he adds. *FI
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