The Knobstone Trail of Indiana —Mileage Data

Mileages are approximate—based on mapreading not field tested yet as of 3/04

0.0 Deam lake Trailhead on Wilson Smith Road N38-27.942 W85-50.655 (Next mile +200’ -90’)

0.9 First “knob” a little one

1.0 Milemarker (Next mile +130’ -140’)

1.1 Attain ridge/knobs

1.7 Knob

2.0 Mile Marker Saddle/ridge (Next mile +40’ -0’)

2.1 Knob before descending to seasonal creek

2.2 Ridge of knobs again

2.4 Pleasant beech grove on ridge where some have camped

3.0 Mile Marker Bartle knobs (Next mile +320’ -100’)

4.0 Mile Marker Continue on Bartle knobs along ridge (Next mile +430’ -430’)

4.6 side trail to LEFT to Jackson Road Trailhead N38-30.787 W85-52.382 (after descending)

4.7 Ascend steeply

5.0 Mile Marker after knob—steep hillside to your left (Next mile +350’ -270’)

5.3 Descend sharply to cross Bartle Creek (seasonal) JACKSON TRAILHEAD side trail to left

6.0 Mile Marker Round Knob @ carved limestone ledges (Next mile +230’ -160’)

6.2 Parallel Jackson Road to your LEFT

6.4 Nice flat ridge

7.0 Mile Marker Leave Jackson Road (on left_ descend steeply (Next mile +180’ -430’)

7.7 cross “Right Drain Creek”

7.8 Nice ridge

8.0 Mile Marker after long switchback(!) to left then back right (Next mile +260’ -190’)

8.1 cross Bartle Knob road (unimproved)

8.8 Cross Pixley Knob road

9.0 Mile Marker (Next mile +360’ -140’)

9.7 Ridge/knobs

10.0 Mile Marker on ridge-of-knobs (Next mile +200’ -310’)

11.0 Mile Marker STATE ROAD 160 after steep descent (L to South Boston/Salem, R to I 65) (Next mile +370’ -110’)

12.0 Mile Marker (Next mile +100’ -180’)

12.1 Sharp left turn with road on your Right & Tower

12.9 Cross road

13.0 Mile Marker Descend to :Bowen Run” (feeds lake to your right) (Next mile +100’ -130’)

13.1 Nice bench to Right before steep descent to hollow

13.3 Reach gentle “PCT grade” trail—sweet walking for next 3 miles

14.0 Mile Marker after descent to hollow then to another ridge (Next mile +100’ -130’)

15.0 Mile Marker end of ridge (Next mile +90’ -240’)

15.8 Descend to cross “S. branch” (seasonal)

16.0 Mile Marker on small knob (Next mile +120’ -360’)

16.8 Side trail to LEFT to NEW CHAPEL TRAILHEAD N38-34.460 W85.52.425

16.8 Road crossing

17.0 Mile Marker on top of first knob after creek (Next mile +100’ -0’)

18.0 Mile Marker –ridge-walking (Next mile +90’ -10’)

19.0 Mile Marker at unimproved road--Still ridge-walking (Next mile +180’ -420’)

19.1 Descend from ridge

19.9 Seasonal creek, turn right in hollow of easy walking

20.0 Mile Marker –still in hollow.. easy walking--4-wheelers ruining trail (Next mile +60’ -80’)

20.5 LEFT up another hollow—easy walking here

21.0 Mile Marker -- Still in hollow (Next mile +10’ -10’)

21.5 Sharp RIGHT up out of hollow to knob—leave cursed 4-wheelers trails

21.7 Descend

22.0 Mile Marker on way down to another hollow (Next mile +260’ -90’)

22.1 Cross seasonal creek—climb again from hollow

22.3 Knob(s)

23.0 Mile Marker Knobs/ridge (Next mile +180’ -160’)

23.7 Begin descending after long narrow ridge

24.0 Mile Marker (Next mile +280’ -210’)

24.1 Sharp left turn—descend

24.6 Road and LEOTA TRAILHEAD N38-38.497 W85-53.271

25.0 Mile Marker (Next mile +270’ -520’)

26.0 Mile Marker (Next mile +50’ -180’)

26.4 cross unimproved road

26.5 Seasonal creek

27.0 Mile Marker (Next mile +510’ -380’)

27.9 Cross seasonal creek

28.0 Mile Marker (Next mile +360’ -90’)

28.2 Seasonal Creek

28.5 Seasonal Creek

29.0 Mile Marker on knob (Next mile +400’ -310’)

29.7 Seasonal Creek after descending

30.0 Mile Marker --descend toward lake (Next mile +310’ -340’)

30.1 Power lines-- views of Elk Creek Lake below

30.5 Touch corner of Elk Creek lake in McKnight Hollow

30.8 Parallel arm of lake then cross feeder stream

31.0 Mile Marker (Next mile +390’ -230’)

31.2 High knob overlooking lake still

31.5 Side trail to RIGHT to Elk Creek Lake Trailhead—N38-39.044 W85.56.947(most hiker walk this and sit in sun near parking lot a while)

32.0 Mile Marker Still in hollow about to climb out (Next mile +0’ -230’)

32.1 Attain ridge

32.6 Cross Levall Road

32.7 Turn RIGHT sharply, then descend steeply

33.0 Mile Marker just after seasonal creek (Next mile +490’ -350’)

34.0 Mile Marker turn LEFT soon along ridge then descend toward road (Next mile +210’ -270’)

34.6 State road 56—Salem(LEFT) I65(Right)

35.0 Mile Marker on ridge after unimproved road (Next mile +240’ -240’)

35.5 Along ridge

36.0 Mile Marker just as descending from ridge (Next mile +20’ -220’)

36.1 To right immediately at bottom of hill—FAVORITE CAMPSITE OF BACKPACKING CLASS-USED EVERY YEAR—cross creek afterward.

37.0 Mile Marker as descending toward road (Next mile +230’ -240’)

37.1 Bane Hollow Road ( JOHN STEWARD OXLEY TRAILHEAD N38-40.860 W85-58.776

38.0 Mile Marker (Next mile +250’ -270’)

38.9 West Point Road

39.0 Mile Marker (Next mile +80’ -70’)

39.2 Seasonal Creek turn LEFT up the creek/hollow

40.0 Mile Marker (Next mile +300’ -300’)

40.2 Twin Knobs

40.5 descend from Twin knobs to WYE in trail—TAKE LEFT trail toward Spurgeon Hollow—the other trail is several miles longer and on a loop that ends the same place but is 47.5 miles long

41.0 Mile Marker down easy hollow—fastest trail on Knobstone—record time for record (Next mile +0’ -100’)

42.0 Mile Marker still on fast hollow trail (Next mile +0’ -60’)

43.0 Still on fast hollow trail (Next mile +0’ -60’)

43.2 Turn RIGHT at WYE..leaving edge of lake and climb (Going straight takes to to Spurgeon Hollow lake Traiolhead N38.42.808 W86-02.583—thence to paved road—if you turned right on that road, then right again at Delaney park entrance you’d get to the end of the trail-but it is longer—forget it.

43.8 Attain the top of your last knob ;-)

44.0 Mile Marker Begin final descent (Next mile +300’ -340’)

44.6 Trail comes in on right—stay LEFT

45.0 Final Mile Marker –take your picture (Next mile +0’ -40’)

45.5 Cross creek feeding Delaney Lake Trailhead N38-43.505 W??.??? -after crossing creek go LEFT on dirt road a piece and wait for the rest of the group. (If you want—down this road a half mile are restrooms, phone and sometimes showers.)

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN = 10,500

TOTAL ELEVATION LOSS = 9,620

TOTAL CHANGE = 20,020