SOUTHWESTERN LOWLAND DIVISION

COUNTIES LOCATED WITHIN REGION:                                                                                -Pike, Warrick, Putnam (portion), Daviess, Gibson (portion), Owen (portion), Vigo, Spencer, Vanderburgh, Perry , and Parke

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:                                                                                                             The Southwestern Lowland Division takes up the majority of the southwest corner of the state.  The ground is composed of mostly easily eroded siltstone and shale bedrock.  The major forest type is oak and hickory trees in the southwest and beech and maple trees in the northwest portion of the region.  There are pockets of wooded area that consist of sweet gum, pin oak, beech, and soft maple within this region.

  PROTECTED AREAS:

-Pike State Forest

Photo from Pike State Forest in Southwestern Indiana (courtesy of USFWS)

This forest is located in Pike County, four miles east of State Road 61.  The acquisition of this forest took place between the 1930’s up until the 1950’s.  It currently is comprised of 2,939 acres of land, and since 1997 has been under the management of the Ferdinand State Forest.  This forest consists of hilly uplands as well as low bottomlands.  Activities that you may partake in at this forest include horseback riding, picnicking, bird watching and hiking.  Fishing in the Patoka River is also an option, along with hunting such animals as the Whitetail deer, ruffed goose, turkey, squirrel, fox, and raccoon.

-Ferdinand State Forest

Photo of an Oak tree from Ferdinand State Forest in Southwestern Indiana (courtesy of USFWS)

This forest is located one hour southwest of Paoli and contains within it four lakes: the Ferdinand, Coyote, Campground, and Fossil Lakes.  In 1933, a conservation group within the state raised the money to purchase the 900 acres that make up this forest for the purpose of building a lake.  In 1934, the Indiana Department of Conservation gained management of the project, thereby establishing it as a state forest.  This area is well known for its abundance of hunting opportunities, especially for deer and squirrel.  You can also hunt for turkey, fox and raccoon.  Other activities that may be of interest at this park include camping, fishing, mountain biking, boating, swimming, picnicking, and hiking.

-Shakamak State Park

This park is located 17 miles south and 9 miles east of Terre Haute.  The majority of the land is devoted to lakes, but there are also four hiking trails.  The man made lakes found within the park include, Lake Shakamak, Lake Lenape, and Lake Kickappo, together comprising 462 acres of water.  Lake Shakamak, the first man made lake in Indiana, was completed in 1932 and spans 52 acres.  Lake Lenape was completed shortly after 1932 and more recently, Lake Kickappo was completed in 1969.  The park allows for numerous activities such as biking, hiking, swimming, and camping.

-Lincoln State Park

This park is located near Spencer County, 5 miles west of Santa Claus.  Established in 1932, it is one of oldest state parks in Indiana.  Covering about 1,750 acres of area, its main physiographic feature is the man made lake, Lake Lincole.  Some of the various activities offered this park include camping, picnicking, swimming, fishing, hiking, and a Nature Center.