Owen-Putnam State Forest Fire Tower Technical Loop

The fire tower road climbs 400 feet in less than two miles through Owen-Putnam State Forest, switchbacking up limestone ridges that drop off into deep ravines carved by tributaries of Mill Creek. The abandoned steel tower at the summit once watched for smoke across three counties, but now it’s just a rusty landmark for navigating the maze of old logging roads that spider off the main route. The technical challenge comes on the descent through Rattlesnake Hollow, where the track drops steeply through a series of creek crossings that wash out the roadbed each spring, leaving boulder gardens and off-camber turns that’ll test your line choice.

Difficult rating earns its keep — this isn’t casual Sunday driving. You need 4WD low range for the climbs and controlled descents, plus good ground clearance for the rock sections in the creek beds. Avoid it during spring runoff when the crossings get dangerous, and summer’s best for traction on the clay-over-limestone surface. No permits needed, but the state forest gets busy during deer season. The reward is genuine Indiana backcountry with ridge views stretching toward Brown County, plus solitude that’s hard to find this close to Indianapolis.