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Charles C. Deam Wilderness
The Charles C. Deam Wilderness offers 36 miles of trails for hiking, backpacking, and horse riding through scenic hardwood forest and varied terrain with views of nearby Monroe Lake. The area was designated a wilderness in 1982 and encompasses nearly 12,953 acres of the Hoosier National Forest. Wilderness designation places this area in a special legal status (subject to the 1964 Wilderness Act). It is managed to preserve a natural condition and provide opportunities for solitude.
Since its designation as a wilderness, visitor use in the area increased to a point that significant damage was occurring. Special restrictions are in place to protect the wilderness character. Visitors to this special place are asked to follow these restrictions to lessen your impact and share responsibility in preserving this unique natural resource.
Visitors should be aware that due to Monroe Lake’s purpose of flood control, water levels fluctuate and some campsites may experience flooding and be unusable for periods of time.
At a Glance
| Current Conditions: | Closures:
|
|---|---|
| Permit Info: | Horse riders age 17 years and older require a trail use permit |
| Usage: | Heavy |
| Restrictions: |
|
| Closest Towns: | Bloomington, IN |
| Water: | none |
| Restroom: | Vault Toilets at nearby Blackwell Horse Camp and Brooks Cabin Wilderness Welcome Center |
| Operated By: | Brownstown Ranger District |
General Information
Directions:From east State Route 46 in Bloomington, take State Route 446 south to Tower Ridge Road. You will see a sign for the Charles C. Deam Wilderness and the Maumee Boy Scout Camp. This gravel road is after the lake and on the left as you are heading south. The Wilderness boundary begins just a few hundred feet down this road and continues for several miles.
Please get a map before visiting this area, as the boundaries are not clearly marked.
General Notes:
Additional Resources
- Map of the Charles C. Deam Wilderness (GeoPDF)
- Charles C. Deam Wilderness Recreation Guide
- Charles C. Deam Wilderness on Wilderness Connect
- Charles C. Deam Wilderness History
- Wildflowers in the Wilderness
Welcome Center
Before you enter the Wilderness, stop by the Welcome Center at Brooks Cabin. Here you can learn why a federally designated Wilderness area is a special place with special rules.
Best Practices for Wilderness Recreation
To reduce natural and cultural resource damage, erosion and maintain wilderness character:
Prevent trail damage - avoid trail use when muddy. Stay in the middle of wet areas. Never make detours or cut throughs.
Damage from user detours.
Protect historical sites. This land was previously inhabited by Native Americans and early European settlers. Practice Leave It As You Find it, and do not move or remove artifacts.
An historic homesite illegally turned into a makeshift hut.
The Deam Wilderness has 25 designated campsites marked with small signs and a site number. All other campsites must set up at least 100 feet from water and trails, and 300 feet from trailheads. User-made sites too close to the water cause erosion and degrade the wilderness experience.
Signage marks designated sites.
Avoid building rock structures or leaving evidence of your visit in order to preserve the Wilderness experience for everyone. Keep your campsite natural.
Sites should appear as if no one was there.
Stay in areas already impacted - if possible use designated sites which have small rock fire rings and bare ground for your tent. When dispersed camping put the area back as you found it.
Designated sites are designed to minimize impacts.
Bury human waste 6-8 inches and cover with soil. Travel at least 200 feet from water and other campsites to avoid creating a health hazard.
Group size is limited to 10 to preserve the Wilderness experience.
Use a fire blanket, fire pan, or camp stove to minimize impact. A small campfire has less impact on the environment, burns better and is easier to put out upon leaving.
Never cut live trees for firewood - gather small pieces of dead and downed wood away from your site. Remember the 4 D's - dead, down, dinky and at a distance.
Cutting live trees harms area resilience.
Carry out your trash instead of dumping it or burning it. Pack it in, pack it out.
Trash is dangerous to wildlife and people.
Parking:
Parking along Tower Ridge Road is not allowed.
Parking on or along Tower Ridge Road is prohibited. Park only in the lots provided at:
- Blackwell Campground
- Grubb Ridge Trailhead
- Hickory Ridge Lookout Tower
Deam Wilderness experiences heavy use, especially on nice weekends. If parking areas are full, please consider an alternate location. Some nearby areas for backpacking and dispersed camping include:
Activities
Day Hiking
Within the Wilderness are 37.3 miles of trails which are provided for hiking, backpacking, and horse riding. the 4.9 mile Sycamore Loop trail is a hike-only trail, the rest of the trails also allow for horses. Groups are limited to 10 persons or less and hikers are asked to yield to horseback riders.
| Fire Information | some designated sites and old fire rings |
Areas for Day Hiking at Charles C. Deam Wilderness
Backpacking
Within the Wilderness are 37.3 miles of trails which are provided for hiking, backpacking, and horse riding. the 4.9 mile Sycamore Loop trail is a hike-only trail, the rest of the trails also allow for horses. Groups are limited to 10 persons or less and hikers are asked to yield to horseback riders. With many loops to choose from there are a variety of distances that a backpacker can choose for their hike.
| Fire Information | you may see old fire scars, and some designated sites along the trails are provided. |
Horse Camping
Within the Wilderness are 37.3 miles of trails which are provided for hiking, backpacking, and horse riding. People are allowed to camp within the wilderness but there are several restrictions.
- Stock may not be tied within reach of any living tree.
- Camping within 100 feet of ponds, Monroe Lake, trails, or streams is allowed only in designated sites.
- Campsites must be occupied the first night, and may not be left unattended for more than 24 hours without permission.
- Camping is limited to 14 days.
- Do not cut trees for firewood.
- No not build permanent structures while camping.
| No. of Sites | There are designated sites near the trails. |
| Reservation Info | not reservable |
| Size Restrictions | none |
| Fire Information | none |
| Corrals | none |
| Loading Ramp | none |
| Hitching Rails | none |
| Water Availability | water in streams and the lake only |
| No. of Accessible sites | None |
| Sleeping Shelter | none |
Horse Riding
The 4.9 mile Sycamore Loop trail is a hike-only trail, but the rest of the trails allow for horses. Groups are limited to 10 persons or less and we ask that you keep your horse under control. With many loops to choose from there are a variety of distances that a rider can choose from.
The Blackwell Horse Camp is at the edge of the Wilderness and the Hickory Ridge Horse Camp is within an easy ride so longer rides are possible from either of these sites which have loading ramps and corrals and more amenities.
| Size Restrictions | no |
| Corrals | no |
| Loading Ramp | no |
| Hitching Rails | Yes |
| Water Availability | Streams and Lake |
Viewing Wildlife
The Wilderness is a large area that gives people an opportunity to see many types of wildlife in their natural home. Along the lake you can see eagles and other birds. Walk softly, bring your binoculars, and enjoy the opportunity for some solitude and a chance to experience the backcountry experience that Wilderness is intended to provide.
Though horse riders must stay on designated trails, hikers are allowed to walk cross-county, but get a map because it's easy to get lost!
| Species | woodland songbirds, eagles, water birds, deer and more |
Viewing Plants
The Wilderness is a large area that gives people an opportunity to see many types of ecosystems and plants. There are beautiful wildflowers, stands of trees approaching old growth size, and a variety of forest types from pine to oak. Enjoy the opportunity for some solitude and a chance to experience the backcountry experience that Wilderness is intended to provide.
Though horse riders must stay on designated trails, hikers area allowed to walk cross-county but get a map because its easy to get lost!
| Species | Central Hardwood ecosystems plus some introduced pine and other species around old farmsteads. |
| Special Feature | old homesites |
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