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German Ridge Recreation Area
The German Ridge Recreation Area includes a campground, a 24-mile multiple use trail, a short hiking trail around a scenic lake, a day use area for swimming and picnicking, and several historic buildings. It was established during the Civilian Conservation Corps days and has long been a popular get-away for people in southern Indiana.
At a Glance
| Operational Hours: | Open 24 hours/day, Quiet hours are 10 pm to 6 am. Beach/Day Use Area open Memorial Day through Labor Day. |
|---|---|
| Reservations: | No reservations are taken for this area. |
| Fees: | There are camping fees of $8/day paid in a self service fee tube, but no day use fees. |
| Permit Info: | Horses and mountain bike riders (age 17 years and older) are required to have a permit and stay on trails designated for that type of use. Permits are available from our offices and local vendors. |
| Open Season: | Year-round |
| Usage: | Light |
| Restrictions: | Firewood Restrictions
|
| Closest Towns: | Cannelton, IN |
| Water: | Water is not potable for human use, but available for horses. |
| Restroom: | Vault toilets, accessible for people with disabilities, are provided |
| Operated By: | USFS, Tell City Ranger District, 248 15th Street, Tell City, IN 47586; Phone: 812-547-7051 |
General Information
Directions:From I-64: Take I-64 to IN 37 south (Exit 79). Take IN 37 south approximately 18 miles to IN 70. Go east on IN 70. In less than 1 mile, turn right where the big "German Ridge Recreation Area" sign indicates. When that road Ts into another, turn right. You are now on Gerald Road. Watch for German Ridge Road on your left. Turn there, and the parking area is 0.9 mile south. Continue south to reach the campground and day use area.From I-66: Take IN 66 east from Tell City, through Cannelton, then watch for Forest Service signs. This will get you to the campground. From there, go north on German Ridge Road. The campground and trailhead is approximately 3/4 of a mile up this road to the left. GPS Coordinates: Lat- 37o 57' 18.427"N, Long- 86o 34' 52.512"W
General Notes:
Additional Resources
Activities
Sand Play
Campground Camping
The German Ridge Recreation Area includes a 20-unit primitive campground, trails, a scenic lake, a day use area for swimming and picnicking, and several historic buildings. It was established during the Civilian Conservation Corps days and has long been a popular get-away for people in southern Indiana.
| Site Number | Spur Width x Spur Length (ft) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 16 x 64 |
| 2 | 14 x 80 |
| 3 | 16 x 65 |
| 4 | 16 x 66 |
| 5 | 16 x 64 |
| 6 | 11 x 57 |
| 7 | 16 x 59 |
| 8 | 13 x 65 |
| 9 | 20 x 69 |
| 10 | 19 x 66 |
| 11 | 17 x 80 |
| 12 Pull-through Site | 10 x 183 |
| 13 | 17 x 71 |
| 14 Pull-through Site | 11 x 157 |
| 15 | 13 x 57 |
| 16 | 11 x 60 |
| 17 | 19 x 60 |
| 18 | 15 x 77 |
| 19 | 14 x 60 |
| 20 | 20 x 54 |
| No. of Sites | 20 |
| Reservation Info | No reservations taken |
| Fire Information | Each site has a campfire grill established where camp fires must be built. |
| No. of Accessible sites | 0 |
| Sleeping Shelter | no |
Lake and Pond Fishing
The German Ridge Recreation Area includes a campground, trails, a lake, a day use area for swimming and picnicking, and several historic buildings. It was established during the Civilian Conservation Corps days and has long been a popular get-away for people in southern Indiana. The lake is not large but is a fun place for families to fish.
| Fish Species | Variety of panfish and bass |
| Fishing Mode | Shoreline fishing |
| Fishing Platform | none |
| Cleaning Station | none |
| Accessible Platform | none |
| Water Temperature | Depends on season. |
| Fishing Method | Fishing pole with bait or lures |
| Water/Flow Level | Water fluctuates with rainfall and seasons. |
Horse Camping
The German Ridge Recreation Area includes a 20-unit primitive campground, trails, a scenic lake, a day use area for swimming and picnicking, and several historic buildings. It was established during the Civilian Conservation Corps days and has long been a popular get-away for people in southern Indiana.
| No. of Sites | 20 |
| Reservation Info | not reservable |
| Size Restrictions | none |
| Fire Information | fire rings or grills available |
| Corrals | none |
| Loading Ramp | none |
| Water Availability | water for horses available |
| Sleeping Shelter | none |
Horse Riding
Viewing Wildlife
The German Ridge Recreation Area includes a campground, trails, a lake, a day use area for swimming and picnicking, and several historic buildings. It was established during the Civilian Conservation Corps days and has long been a popular get-away for people in southern Indiana. The whole site is deeply wooded and gives the feeling of being tucked in amongst the forest and rocks. You will likely see many of the birds and animals that call the forest their home so bring your binoculars and tread softly!
| Species | woodland songbirds, water birds, deer and more |
Picnicking
The German Ridge Recreation Area includes a campground, a 24-mile multiple use trail, a short hiking trail around a scenic lake, and a day use area for swimming and picnicking which includes several historic buildings. It was established during the Civilian Conservation Corps days and has long been a popular get-away for people in southern Indiana. The picnic area is along the German Ridge Lake and is a very picturesque place to have your lunch.
| No. of Sites | 5 picnic sites and one historic shelterhouse |
| Reservation Info | not reservable |
| Fire Information | grills are available with each site |
| No. of Accessible sites | none |
Group Picnicking
The German Ridge Recreation Area includes a campground, a 24-mile multiple use trail, a short hiking trail around a scenic lake, and a day use area for swimming and picnicking which includes several historic buildings. It was established during the Civilian Conservation Corps days and has long been a popular get-away for people in southern Indiana. The picnic area is along the German Ridge Lake and is a very picturesque place to have your lunch.
| No. of Sites | 5 picnic sites and an historic shelter house |
| Reservation Info | not reservable, first come first served |
| Group Shelter | One Shelter house built by the CCC. |
| Fire Information | Grills are available with the picnic shelters and near every picnic table. |
Swimming
The German Ridge Recreation Area includes a campground, a 24-mile multiple use trail, a short hiking trail around a scenic lake, and a day use area for swimming and picnicking which includes several historic buildings. It was established during the Civilian Conservation Corps days and has long been a popular get-away for people in southern Indiana. The swimming area was once a popular destination but does not have a lifequard and is not maintained with a sand beach. People are allowed to swim at their own risk, but it is only for those more rugged individuals who like to swim in lakes!
| Clothing Requirements | Clothing required |
| Water Temperature | depends on air temperature |
| Pool Size | lake |
| Water/Flow Level | Varies |
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