Decatur County High Point Trip Report
Date: December 20, 2001
Author: Bob Schwab
Leave Interstate 74 at exit 134 and drive north on Indiana Route 3 for 1.25 miles to 300 N Road. Turn right
and drive east on 300N Road for 4.75 miles to the tiny town of Kingston. Turn right (south) on NE 80
Road for 1 mile, and then turn left (east) on 200N Road and proceed 0.5 mile to the intersection with 500E Road.
There is a large house which sits on the corner and is occupied by Todd and Allison Mauer (5029 E
200N Road). A large contour extends out into the cornfields north and south from this intersection (area 1)
with the house roughly in the middle. Allison did not know where the BM was, but I found it on the north
side of the road right next to a wooden gatepost. The BM has a listed elevation of 1097 feet, and hand level
checks seemed to confirm that this spot is very close to the highpoint for the entire contour. I actually
thought the highest spot was just east along the north side of the road near some trees.
From here, you can hike 0.5 mile northeast into the cornfield to a second, equally large contour (area 2).
Portions of this area rival area 1 in height, but I couldn't confirm that area 2 is higher. Area 2 rambles on for
roughly another 0.5 mile toward the northeast. There is a very small contour shown on the topo map to the
northwest of the western side of this contour (area 3) but it is not very discernible or prominent.
Return to your vehicle and continue east for 1 mile on 200N Road. Turn left (north) and drive 1 mile up
600E Road. Turn left again (west) on 300N Road and go 0.3 mile. Watch for a muddy field access pull-off
to the south near a fence line and park here. Hike south up the gentle rise (plowed ground when I visited) to
area 4. According to the topo map, this site has a BM at 1093 feet, but I didn't see it. Hand level checks
confirm that this site is lower than the area near the Mauer home (area 1) and area 2. There is a smaller
contour immediately to your west (area 5) but it is lower than area 4.
Once again, return to your vehicle and drive east to 600E Road. Turn left (north) and proceed 0.8 mile to a
house and grain bins on your right. Dean and Mindy Bennett live here (3770 N 600E Road) and Dean
granted me permission to wander around their yard in search of the highpoint of area 6. A large boulder in
their front yard appears to occupy the highest ground, but I think the ground there has been disturbed previously.
Continue north on 600E Road to 100N Road and turn right (east). In about 0.35 mile, you will see a low
rise out in the field to the south. This is area 7, but hand level checks indicate that it is lower than the
Bennett property to the southwest.
Like many other multiple-area counties I have visited in Indiana, these spots can best be visited and
evaluated during the time of year when the crops are harvested, the ground is relatively dry, and lines of
sight are maximized.