Scott County High Point Trip Report

Date: November 10, 2001
Author: Bob Schwab

Scott County sits astride the Knobstone escarpment, which is a dramatic (for Indiana) drop off on the eastern edge of some rather flat tableland. The actual slope is wooded and quite steep, and provides some of the best views and hiking in the state. The Knobstone Trail runs for over 50 miles through this terrain, and portions of this trail are needed to access the high spots in this county.

one area with BM Finley (1,026 ft)

This northernmost area must be accessed from the Knobstone Trail because private property owners along the road will not permit visitors to cross their lands.

From Exit 29 on Interstate 65 in Scottsburg, drive west on Route 56 for 3.4 miles to an intersection with Finley Firehouse Road. Turn left (south) and drive 2.4 miles to a covered bridge in the tiny settlement of Leota. Do not cross the bridge, but turn very sharply to your right and drive west on West Leota Road another 2.4 miles to the top of the ridge. Watch for an intersection with Saylor Road that goes off to the right. Turn right (north) and drive just a few hundred feet to a dirt road on the right for the Knobstone Trail and the Leota Trailhead parking lot. Pull in to the end and park.

You will find a trailhead on the south that descends and crosses the paved road you just came up. Continue down the trail to the bottom of the hollow and watch for arrows and white blazes on the trees to stay on track. Cross the stream on a single log and then begin the ascent up the other side, eventually topping out on a nice ridge that runs southwest. As you hike along, you will pass a small pond of water on the ridge. At this point, you've crossed the edge of the highest contour, which covers an extensive area in the woods and out in a field to the south. Hike down the trail until you can clearly see the field and then bushwhack west to the eastern edge of the field. The highest area appears to be opposite where the woods stops on the west side, out in the field a bit. I found BM Finley 3 in the edge of the woods on the east side of the field, but I didn't find BM Finley, which is probably buried in the field near the highest ground. This hike is typical of the Knobstone region, with steep ups and downs. You'll love the ascent out of the hollow back up to the trailhead parking area, especially on a hot day.

three areas (1,020+ ft)

The three remaining areas are near the high points of Clark County, so efficient visitors may want to plan accordingly.

Leave Interstate 65 at exit 19 and drive 4.3 miles west on Route 160 to the Washington County line and Casey - South County Line Road. You can also get to this point from the Leota Trailhead - Saylor Road intersection (see above) by driving 5 miles south on New Salem Road to Route 160, and then east 3.4 miles on Route 160 to the Washington County line. Turn north on Casey - South County Line Road and drive 0.8 or 0.9 mile to where the pavement stops and you cross a stream on a culvert. Watch for a dirt road that breaks off to the right and runs parallel to the road. Take this dirt road to the right and drive to a gated area with parking.

You are in the Clark State Forest and this fire access road/horse trail heads up a gentle ridge to the northeast. Hike up this road, do not follow the Knobstone trail when it crosses in about 0.25 mile, and keep to the right at a major trail junction on top of the ridge. Your route basically ascends a ridge and then horseshoes to the right. Eventually the road tops out on a gentle ridge near a tipped over dead tree and a mangled white sign marking the edge of the forest. This is area two, and while there are no vistas to enjoy, the ridge and woods walk is pleasant.

Return to your car and backtrack down Casey - South County Line Road to Route 160. Just before you get back to Route 160, notice a good gravel road that goes off to the left (east). This is the same gravel road that I used to access two of Clark County's high points, which are only 2.3 miles to the east. Drive east on this road about 1.3 miles to an intersection where a communications tower is located. Bear left and park at a second tower just 0.1 mile to the north. The topo map seems to indicate that the highest ground is just to the east, near the back of the fenced tower you just passed, but physical and visual inspection (including a hand level) indicates the highest spot in area 3 is just to the west of this more northerly tower.

Backtrack 0.1 mile to the intersection in front of the fenced tower and continue east another 0.4 mile to a second radio tower on the left side of the road. Park at the tower and circle around to the highest natural area on a low ridge to the northeast. This is area 4.

All four Scott County areas are located in the Clark State Forest so access should normally not be a problem. When you visit, remember that the high points of Clark County are very close by (two of them are only 0.6 mile east of area 4, and the other two are moderate hikes from Route 160), so good planners should be able to visit them as well.