Greene-Sullivan State Forest advisories
- This section of trail on Greene-Sullivan State Forest will be temporarily closed on or shortly after January 9. The trail will reopen after the completion of reclamation activities.
For a day of fishing, camping, hunting or just rest and relaxation, Greene-Sullivan State Forest is one of the most beautiful and serene places to visit. Greene-Sullivan was founded in 1936 when various coal companies donated more than 3,000 acres of property to the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry. But that was just the beginning. Now the forest boasts almost 9,000 acres of beautiful woodland and rolling hills dotted with more than 120 lakes, making it one of the most unique areas in Indiana.
If you're not fishing or camping, there's still something for you at Greene-Sullivan State Forest. Other favorite activities include hunting, picnicking, mushroom hunting, horseback riding, photography and wildlife viewing.
Camping
Primitive (class C) camping is available for a fee; campsites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Self-check-in stations are located in each campground or at the forest office. Sites have pit toilets and seasonal drinking water available. There is a picnic table and grill located on each of the 100 family campsites of Narrow Lake, Wampler Lake, and Reservoir #26. An additional 20 sites for horse campers only are available in the Horseman's Campground near Ladder Lake. A dumping station is also available. Reservoir #26 has a wheelchair accessible campsite, pit toilets, and playground.
Rent-a-Camp Cabins
Greene-Sullivan State Forest has 24 rent-a-camp cabins, which are available April 1-mid-November.. Each cabin has a front porch with a swing. Inside there are two small rooms. The front room offers a small table with bench seats, a corner shelf, a chair, a rocking chair, and a loft. The backroom offers a bunk bed (single) and a double bed (NO LINENS or MATTRESS PROVIDED). Air or cushioned mattress recommended. The cabins feature ceiling fans with light, a heating/cooling unit, and electrical outlets. Reserve cabins online at Camp.IN.gov. (NOTE: On-site sales only during off-season/winter months, contact the property for details). No pets, smoking, or cooking permitted in cabins
Fishing
With more than 120 lakes scattered throughout Greene-Sullivan State Forest's 9,000 acres, you'll never fall short of fishing opportunities! In fact, the forest offers some of the finest fishing in the state.
Most of the lakes are stocked with largemouth bass, bluegill, and redear sunfish. The state record bluegill, weighing 3 lbs. 4 ounces was taken from Reservoir #26 in 1972. In some of the lakes, you can find channel catfish, bullheads, crappie, and warmouth. Airline Lake is also stocked annually with rainbow trout as part of a statewide put-and-take trout program.
Reservoir 26 campground has a wheelchair-accessible fishing pier.
For those who enjoy the serenity of fishing, several of the lakes are "walk-in only" to provide a more secluded fishing experience. Approximately 60 of the lakes have easy access from county roads and have dirt or gravel launching ramps; boating limited to electric trolling motors.
Muskellunge were stocked in Bass Lake in the fall of 1997. These fish should reach a harvestable size limit of 36" by the year 2000.
Creel Fishing Surveys
A partial list of some of the most popular lakes (many are not listed because data is not available):
| Lake | Acres | Max. Depth | Avg. Depth | Best Fishing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airline | 25 | 67' | 26' | rainbow trout, bluegill, redear, catfish |
| Alder | 3 | 12' | 8' | bluegill, largemouth bass present |
| Benefiel | 60 | 40' | 20' | largemouth bass, bluegill, redear, bullheads |
| Big Fry | 4.5 | 10' | 7' | bluegill, channel catfish, buffalo |
| Catfish | 3 | 14' | 7' | Unknown |
| Chapel | 3 | 20' | 9' | bluegill, warmouth, redear |
| Clear | 3 | 24' | 13' | bluegill |
| Cottonwood | 5 | 24' | 13' | bluegill |
| Downing | 33 | 40' | 20' | bluegill, catfish |
| Ellis | 4 | 22' | 11' | bluegill, redear |
| Goodman | 3 | 30' | 17' | bluegill, redear, channel catfish |
| Graveyard | 48 | 50' | 18' | largemouth bass, carp, buffalo, crappie, catfish |
| Hammond | 6 | 28' | 10' | bluegill |
| Ladder | 5 | 12' | 8' | bluegill *Note: a long, narrow pit with steep shoreline. Drops sharply to 12' |
| Lonnie | 4 | 28' | 10' | largemouth bass, bluegill, redear, catfish |
| Lower Fry | 2.4 | 10' | 6' | Unknown. Renovated and restocked in 1991 with largemouth bass, bluegill, redear |
| Narrow | 9 | 24' | 8' | largemouth bass, crappie, redear |
| Reservoir #26 | 42 | 15' | 4' | largemouth bass, bluegill, redear, catfish |
| Scott | 16 | 55' | 26' | largemouth bass, bluegill, redear, channel catfish, buffalo, carp *Note: almost entire shoreline drops off sharply to 15' deep |
| Shake #2 | 5 | 25' | 12' | unknown |
| Smedley | 6 | 30' | 15' | bluegill *Note: walk-in fishing only |
| Spencer | 5 | 22' | 12.5' | Unknown. Largemouth bass, bluegill, redear, crappie, channel catfish present |
| Star | 5 | 26' | 16' | largemouth bass, redear, crappie |
| Todd | 9 | 38' | 15' | redear, largemouth bass, bullhead |
| Tree | 6 | 16' | 10' | largemouth bass, bluegill |
| Trimble | 9 | 25' | 11' | bluegill |
| Trout | 4 | 20' | 14' | bluegill, redear |
| Walnut | 5 | 18' | 10' | Unknown. Largemouth bass, redear, bluegill present |
| Wampler | 80 | 38' | 7.5' | largemouth bass, bluegill, redear, catfish, crappie |
Hunting
Whitetail deer, turkey, squirrel, fox, and raccoon. A valid hunting license is required. Hikers and horseback riders are advised to wear hunter orange or other bright clothing while on trails during hunting season.
Picnicking
There are picnic areas and four picnic shelter houses available for day use. Picnic tables and grills are located at the picnic sites. Wheelchair accessible picnic tables are available at Narrow Lake, Reservoir 26, and the Orion shelters.
Horse Trails
All horses brought, driven or ridden onto the State Forest must have a valid annual horse use tag.
