Morgan-Monroe State Forest Beanblossom Bottoms Technical Loop

The Beanblossom Bottoms loop drops you into the heart of Morgan-Monroe’s 24,000 acres where limestone creek beds and 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps infrastructure tell the story of Depression-era forest management. This technical circuit follows old fire roads and logging traces through deep hollows where Beanblossom Creek carves through bedrock, creating multiple water crossings that range from ankle-deep summer fords to tire-deep spring challenges. The route passes the ruins of a CCC stone bridge at mile 4.2, now just moss-covered abutments guarding a particularly gnarly creek crossing.

This is legitimate 4WD territory requiring decent ground clearance and functional four-wheel drive for the creek crossings and steep climbs out of the bottoms. Wet weather turns the clay sections treacherous and the creek crossings dangerous. Best tackled April through October when water levels are predictable. No permits needed, dispersed camping allowed with landowner permission on adjacent private parcels. You’ll earn solitude in some of Indiana’s most rugged terrain and glimpses of why early settlers avoided these broken lands.