Indiana / Monroe County / Hoosier National Forest

Hardin Ridge

Closed — Closed for the season. Campground opens April 15 and operates through October 15. The area remains open year-round for hiking and boat launch access, but camping facilities and bathhouses are closed until mid-April.

About

Hardin Ridge Recreation Area is a 1,200-acre recreational complex located on the shores of Monroe Lake within Hoosier National Forest. The campground features six shady loops with 197 total campsites, 36 of which are walk-in tent sites. Most loops offer electric hookups on approximately half the sites, with some sites also providing water hookups. Centralized facilities include modern restroom buildings with flush toilets and hot showers. The recreation area provides diverse amenities beyond camping. A 300-foot swimming beach offers a combination of sand shoreline and grassy hillside for sunbathing and water recreation. The three-lane boat ramp with 75-vehicle parking area provides year-round lake access for boating and fishing. Anglers target bluegill, striped bass, largemouth bass, and crappie along the lakeshore and in quiet inlets. Hiking opportunities include the 2-mile Hardin Ridge Trail connecting the day-use area to campground loops, and the 1.2-mile Ted T. Turtle interpretive trail that winds through hardwood forest and along a creek to the lake. Two picnic areas with three shelter houses, two of which overlook the lake and are available for reservation, provide group gathering spaces. The complex is managed by a concessionaire under Forest Service permit from mid-April through mid-October.

Directions

From Bloomington, travel south on SR 446 for 14 miles, turn west on Chapel Hill Road, and proceed 2 miles to the entrance on the right. From Bedford, go 7 miles east on US 50, then north on SR 446 for 12 miles, turn west on Chapel Hill Road, and travel 2 miles to the entrance.

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