CHARLESTOWN STATE PARK P.O. Box 38, 12500 State Road 62 • Charlestown, IN 47111 • (812) 256-5600 5,100 acres Established 1996 1 STATE ROAD 62 5K COURSE ance Entr Gatehouse 1 mile to Assistant This trail is a Charlestown Property Manager's 5k course loop Residence (3.1 miles) that k e leaves the central e r C area through 8” wide e l 1 i mowed trails. When m n returning to the e e t r central area, keep u o the uncut grass to F your right; until you 2K come to a new mowed trail. 3K 1m Oak 4K 2m 2 3m Shelter 5 Cedar Grove Campground START Picnic Area 5K 1K 5 4 3 Clark Shelter Park Office 5 k 2 4 ree ile C teenm Four Property Visitor Manager's Campground Parking Residence Control Station 4 3 CHARLESTOWN 7 LANDING & PARKING 3 Portersville T Rose h Maintenance i Bridge Parking is s Island p portio Buildings n o aved f 7 and T Parking s ra te il e 3 p. r e v Stream-bank i R Fishing o Sta i ging Area h O Boat Ramp arking arking P P arking P Ohio River arking arking P P Pull-Off Area Pull-Off arking P TRAIL TABLE TRAIL MILEAGE TRAIL TYPE 1 2.4 Rugged 2 1.4 Moderate 3 2.1 Rugged 4 2.9 Rugged 5 1.2 Moderate 6 2.3 Rugged 7 .9 Easy 6 LEGEND Boundary Picnic Area Road Shelter 6 Hiking Trail Playground Charlestown Landing 5K Course Dump Station & Parking (see inset) Restricted Area Pit Toilet Parking Restroom Riverside Overlook To Madison LOCATION MAP 3 62 r Gate Entrance e v i Charlestown R o To Louisvillei & h 265O 65 Indianapolis r • e v i R o N i North h O CHARLESTOWN Please carry out all trash you produce 0 1/4 1/2 STATE PARK • in order to keep your park clean and beautiful for others to enjoy. Approximate Scale in Miles 12/2018 time. Before the establishment of the plant, most of what DESCRIPTION OF HIKING TRAILS TRAIL & DESCRIPTION DISTANCE DIFFICULTY was to become the park was used for farmland or pasture land. Old aerial photographs show the park as open area TRAIL & DESCRIPTION DISTANCE DIFFICULTY Trail 5 1.2 miles Moderate with few trees. Prudent resource management during the Trail 1 2.4 miles Rugged Conveniently located in the campground near site 17, this last 50-plus years by the Army allowed and encouraged Begins at the Trail 1 parking lot and follows an existing trail is easily accessed. Descending a wooded ravine, reforestation of the rugged hills and deep ravines. paved road a short distance before turning to the left and the trail ultimately comes to a platform overlooking Recreational facility development began in 1995. The slowly descending into the Fourteenmile Creek valley. It Fourteenmile Creek. Winding back up the hillside, the trail park opened in 1996, with picnicking, fishing, and hiking then meanders through dense floodplain forest before ends where it started, so it’s a short walk back to your available. The modern campground opened in 1999 climbing up the valley wall to wind along rock outcrops campsite. Non-campers can enjoy this trail by parking in and expanded in 2002. Please visit again to watch this and abutments. A lower portion of the trail offers scenic the overflow lot and hiking the .3-mile leg to the main loop. young park mature as additional activities and facilities views of Fourteenmile Creek before climbing again as are added in the years to come. it returns to the parking lot. Spring wildflowers along Trail 6 2.3 miles Rugged portions of this trail will treat the hiker to stunning This scenic trail starts across the road from the Riverside RULES AND REGULATIONS displays. Wildlife, songbirds, and birds of prey may be Overlook and runs along the top of the river bluff. The seen along this trail. • Do not injure or damage any structure, rock, tree, bluff top offers glimpses of the Ohio River and Twelvemile flower, bird or wild animal. Do not gather limbs, brush Island, and overlooks the boat ramp. A bridge crosses a or trees (either dead or alive) for firewood because they Trail 2 1.4 mile Moderate natural waterfall and descends to the old Charlestown rebuild the natural humus. Begins in the picnic area and follows several stream Landing site, where locals used to send and receive goods by boat pre-1940s. From there it is a stroll back • Any firearm (except lawfully possessed handguns), ravines as it circles back to return to the picnic area. The middle section of this trail runs along hillsides heavily along the bluff bottom. Enjoy the towering bluffs. During BB gun, air gun, CO2 gun, bow and arrow, paint gun spring, there is an abundance of wildflowers. or spear gun in possession in a state park must be forested with mixed deciduous hardwoods, bridges unloaded or un-nocked and stored in a case or locked several small ravines, and offers scenic views of several within a vehicle, except when owner is participating in small cascading falls and rock-bottom streams. Rose Island Loop .9 miles Easy an activity authorized by written permit. To reach the Rose Island Loop Trail take Trail 3 • Dogs and cats must be attended at all times and kept Trail 3 2.1 miles Rugged southbound to Portersville Bridge. Notice Trail 3 on a leash no longer than 6 feet. The trail begins with a very steep road grade that once is a steep, paved .6 mile path. Those needing led to a footbridge over Fourteenmile Creek. The bridge ADA assistance can call the park office to arrange • Vending or advertising without permission of the transportation to Rose Island Loop Trail. Rose Island Department of Natural Resources is prohibited. provided access to Rose Island, a 1920s amusement park. The Rose Island facilities were damaged beyond repair by was an amusement park in the 1920s. The site boasted • Fires shall be built only in designated places. the 1937 flood, and the bridge was removed once the Army a small zoo, pony rides, merry-go-round, Ferris wheel, • Please comply with the Carry In/Carry Out trash policy bought the land in the 1940s. Good areas for stream-bank roller coaster, shooting gallery, cafeteria, swimming in all day-use areas. fishing can be reached by following the paved portion of pool, and more. After the Great Depression attendance • Motorists shall observe posted speed limits and park Trail 3 to Fourteenmile Creek. The middle section of this to Rose Island slowed, and the 1937 flood damaged only in designated areas. trail is very scenic with views of Fourteenmile Creek, rock the park beyond repair. Not truly an island but actually a peninsula, visitors could only reach the park by steamer, • Swimming is prohibited. cliffs high above the trail, abundant spring wildflowers, and mixed deciduous forests. bridge or ferry. Today park visitors can reach Rose Island • Drinking water should be taken only from pumps, across the historic Portersville Bridge. The bridge was hydrants or fountains provided for that purpose. This dismantled from Dubois and Daviess counties, and Trail 4 2.9 miles Rugged water is tested regularly for purity. rebuilt at its present site between 2008 and 2011. • Report lost or found articles to the park office. Trail 4 begins at same parking lot as Trail 3. Beginning on gently rolling land, this trail soon begins to descend • Vehicles shall stay on paved roadways and must 5K Course 3.1 miles Easy meet legal requirements under Indiana’s vehicle code. into mixed hardwood forests as it follows tributaries of Snowmobiles are prohibited. Fourteenmile Creek. At about the halfway point, hikers The course is designed as a 5 kilometer loop that will see commanding views of Fourteenmile Creek continuously leaves the central area through 8 feet wide • Use of metal detectors is prohibited. from a bluff more than 100 feet above the water. High mowed trails. When returning to the central area, keep • The park is closed from 11 p.m. until 7 a.m. quality woodlands and striking wildflower displays are the uncut grass to your right until you come to a new • Fossil, rock and mineral collecting is prohibited. found on this trail. mowed trail. The course is marked with posts at all 5 • Fireworks are prohibited. kilometers and at each mile. • All boats on Fourteenmile Creek are restricted to the use of electric motors only. This rule is strictly enforced. Please let wild animals remain wild. PLEASE STAY ON MARKED TRAILS. For a complete list of rules and regulations, inquire at park office. Feeding deer is prohibited. Feeding of wild animals can result in harm to both animals and people. Animals who THIS IS YOUR PARK depend on handouts become a nuisance to visitors and a Visitors shall follow our rules, which are designed to For a list of park events, visit danger to themselves. Please lock up all food and coolers fulfill the purpose for which state parks were established, interpretiveservices.IN.gov inside cars or campers. Roll up car windows tightly. namely, to preserve a primitive landscape in its natural condition for the public’s use and enjoyment. ACTIVITIES AND FACILITIES CENTRAL RESERVATION SYSTEM BOAT LAUNCH—Charlestown Landing Boat Ramp Reservations for all types of camping, family is available for Ohio River access and fishing. A cabins, and shelters at state parks, reservoirs DNR Launch Permit is NOT required. CAMP. and forests can be made online or by calling CENTRAL RESERVATION SYSTEM CAMPING—Campground equipped with flush toll-free.