Backyard Adventures

BACKYARD ADVENTURES 2017 PIKE PUBLISHING 5D Who knew a mower COULD LOOK SO GOOD? 7yr LIMITED WARRANTY PRINCETON LAWN and POWER CENTER, INC. 715 E. Broadway • Princeton 812-386-6679 SALES AND SERVICE Introducing the Used Fifth Wheels, Travel Trailers and Motorhomes Owners: Rob & Millie Hansen SALES • SERVICE • PARTS AND REPAIRS REPAIRS OF ALL KINDS MONROE CITY RV SR 61 SR 61 Vincennes Petersburg SR 241 812-743-5267 4091 S. SR 241 • Monroe City 12 miles from Petersburg on SR 241 No job too big or too small! ONSITE SERVICE CALLS STATE PARK ENTRY FEES Indiana State Park charges an entrance fee. Visitors can pay for the day or purchase a yearly pass. $7.00 IN-STATE DAILY ENTRANCE FEE For noncommercial vehicles with Indiana license plates, every day including holidays. This applies to all State Parks and state- managed lakes, excluding Falls of the Ohio State Park's Interpre- tive Center and Prophetstown State Parks. $9.00 OUT-OF-STATE DAILY ENTRANCE FEE For noncommercial vehicles with out-of-state license plates, every day including holidays. Admits driver and passengers. This applies to all State Parks and state-managed lakes, excluding Falls of the Ohio State Park's Interpretive Center and Indiana Dunes and Prophetstown State Parks. $50.00 ANNUAL ENTRANCE PERMIT Admits noncommercial vehicles, driver and passengers to DNR properties that charge a gate fee. Good from January 1, un- til December 31, of the year issued. You can buy annual permits from The Mother Nature's Mercantile or at state park offices. $70.00 NON-RESIDENT ANNUAL ENTRANCE PERMIT Admits non-Indiana resident noncommercial vehicles, driver and passengers to DNR properties that charge a gate fee. Good from January 1, until December 31, of the year issued. $25.00 GOLDEN HOOSIER PASSPORT For Indiana residents who are at least 65 years of age or a resi- dent eligible for Social Security disability payments under 42 U.S. C. 401 (proof of eligibility must be presented at time of purchase and disabled individual must be present in the vehicle at time of use); admits noncommercial vehicle, driver, and passengers. Good from January 1 until December 31 of the year issued. Price is 1/2 the Resident Annual Entrance Permit. GOLDEN HOOSIER PERMIT SPECIAL CASES: Indiana residents who are former POW's or their surviving spouses are entitled to a free Indiana Golden Hoosier Permit. These are mailed automatically at the beginning of each year. Direct questions to jplanck@dnr.in.gov PATOKA LAKE 3084 N. Dillard Road, Birdseye, IN 47513 Phone: 812-685-2464 An 8,800 -acre lake provides habitat for freshwater jellyfish and bald eagle nesting sites. River otters and osprey were reintro- duced at Patoka by the DNR. HIKING TRAILS Main Trail – Moderate – 6.5 miles: Aver- age hiking time is three to four hours. Visitors enjoy walking to Totem Rock, a large rock shelter that was used by Indians and early settlers. "Short cuts" back to the Visitor Center are available for those familiar with maps and hiking. Many of these are marked with location signs. Wildlife Management Demonstration Trail – Easy – 2 miles: A loop trail beginning at the Visitor Center illustrates habitat requirements of wildlife as well as wildlife management techniques. Garden Rock Loop – Moderate – 1 mile: A short loop trail begins just across from the Visitor Center's front door. This trail is hilly and has some great rock over- hangs, ferns and pines. HOOSIER NATIONAL FOREST The Hoosier National Forest trail system has nearly 266 miles of hiking, horseback riding and mountain bike trails. Hikers are to yield to horses, and mountain bikers are to yield to horses and hikers. Southern Indiana's state recreation areas also have some world-class hiking and outdoor opportunities. German Ridge is a popular area for hikers, equestrians and other campers from Southern Indiana and Kentucky. There are two trailheads for the 25 -mile German Ridge multiple use trail lo- cated in the campground. The campground is open year-round. Use is heavy on holiday weekends and during hunting season. The nearby German Ridge Lake and picnic area provides a lake for fishing and a swimming beach. Horse riders and mountain bikers are required to have a trail permit and stay on trails designated for their use. Annual is $ 35 and day-use $5. Permits are available from Hoosier National Forest offices and several local vendors. Celina Lake and Tipsaw Lake charges an entrance fee. An annual pass is $ 35; a daily pass is $5. Seniors are half price. Ninety-five percent of the revenue col- lected at recreation fee sites remains on the Forest to operate, maintain and improve the facilities. For more information about the Hoosier National Forest, visit the Hoosier National Forest website at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/ hoosier or contact Nancy Myers at (812) 547-9241. HIKING TRAILS BIRDSEYE TRAIL – MULTIPLE USE 10 miles – 3.5-4.5 hours – Difficult, Intermediate Shaded trails, scenic hardwood forest winding through a variety of terrain. Day use parking is available with one large park- ing area to the north, and a smaller spot on the west. Nearest public phone is in Birds- eye. Nearest hospital is in Jasper. Buzzard Roost Trail – Hiking 0.8 mile – 0.5 hour – Intermediate The trail begins on the bluff overlooking the Ohio River and descends to the river adjacent a creek. There are several sand- stone rock outcrops, and the trail winds past bluffs, hardwood forests, waterfalls, and views of the Ohio River and Kentucky. There are some rocky, steep sections, but this is one of the most scenic trails in the Hoosier National Forest. Benches are located on the bluffs overlooking the Ohio River and on the bluff where the trail meets the river. A primitive camping/picnic area with tables and grills is available. Nearest hospital is in Tell City. CELINA INTERPRETIVE TRAIL – HIKING 0.8 mile – 0.5 hour – Easy The trailhead is located at the Celina boat ramp area, directly behind the historic Rickenbaugh House. It has approximately 12 interpretive stops which are related to the Rickenbaugh family and the historic stone house and post office. One of the Hoosier's Watchable Wildlife Areas is also located in the Indian-Celina Lake Recreation Area. Two Lakes Loop Trail is an approximately 15.7-mile-long trail encircling both Indian and Celina Lakes. This trail winds through many acres of natural and peaceful forests. The main trail is marked in white, with spur trails marked in orange to offer short, day hikes. Much of this trail is on steep slopes and could take 4-5 hours to hike half the distance. Tipsaw Trail-Hiking and biking Tipsaw, 5.9 -mile hike, is open to mountain CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE > Weather Rock Campground 12900 S. Weather Rock Dr. , Haubstadt (812) 867-3401 weatherrockcampground.com Vanderburgh 4-H Center 201 E. Boonville New Harmony Rd., Evansville (812) 867-6217 vanderburgh4hcenter.com Yellow Banks Recreation Center 12733 Yellowbanks Trail, Dale (812) 567-4703 yellowbanks.net Rocky Falls Campground 11901 Deer Run, Evansville (812) 985 -9100 rockyfallsevansville.com Lynnville Park Office 405 W. State Route 68, Lynnville (812) 922-5144 Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort 78 N Holiday Blvd., Santa Claus (877) 478 -3657 lakerudolph.com Historic Santa Claus Campground 16670 N. 625 E., Stanta Claus (812) 937-2103 historicsantaclauscampground.org Camp Illiana 723 E. 450 S., Washington (812) 254-3322 • campilliana.org Dubois County Park 561-899 E. 450 S., Huntingburg (812) 482-2434 duboiscountyin.org Prides Creek Park Campground 1045 E. Co. Rd. 400 N., Petersburg (812) 354-6798 Camping spots

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