Martin State Forest

Hiking Trails

Hikers are advised to wear hunter orange or other bright clothing while on trails during hunting season.

• Hardwood Lake Trail -  An easy hike around Hardwood Lake with access points to fishing spots around the lake. Benches have been placed for visitors to rest and enjoy the mixed hardwood forest of beech, oak, maple, and hickory.
• Martin Lake Trail -  An easy walk around Martin Lake leading through a planted pine stand on a portion of the trail. It includes several access points to the lakeside to try to catch the blue gill, catfish, and bass stocked in it.
• Arboretum Trail - Established in an existing wooded area, the arboretum, which comprises about 3 acres, has a winding loop trail next to the office. Additional species have been added to those that were already naturally present. The collection currently contains about 60 different species identified by signs along the trail. There is a shorter segment of the trail that is wheelchair-accessible in dry weather.
• Woodland Education Trail - The trail is approximately 1-1/4 miles long, or about one hour of easy walking.  This is a self-guided trail that will return you to your original starting point.  Located on the trail are informational signs, which point out some interesting facts about the woodland environment.  Hiking this trail will allow hikers an opportunity to better understand the philosophy of multiple-use management of Indiana’s state forests.
  
  

  Besides the abundant natural beauty of the forest, you will see the interactions between people and the forest. Some examples include the picnic areas, an old demonstration timber harvest, a campground, and Martin lake.  Also easily accessible from the trail via short spur trails are the Willow Valley Fire Tower and the Tower Hill Shelterhouse, structures that were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930’s.

  We hope this trail will “whet your appetite” to explore and enjoy the entire forest.  Further information is available at the forest office.

• Cookshack Trail - MODERATE, (.9/.5 MILES) – Starts behind the Cookshack Shelter and heads east; then drops downhill and follows the contour around to the north before dropping downhill almost to the creek; (a spur trail takes off to the east at this point, crossing firelane 6 and ending at firelane 19); the Cookshack Trail continues on to the north and then west until it intersects with the Woodland Education Trail. This portion of the trail is .9 miles long. To return to the Cookshack, turn south (left) on the Woodland Education Trail and follow it .5 miles to the spur trail that leads back to the Tower Hill Shelter and Cookshack Shelter area.

• Tank Spring Trail - Tank Spring Trail is a moderately rugged hiking trail situated in the hills of eastern Martin County. The trailhead is located along a county road approximately three miles from the Martin State Forest office. It can be reached by going straight south out of the forest entrance on State Road 650 and following the signs to the trailhead.

  Tank Spring, which is the focal point of the trail, has an interesting history. It is thought that the spring, originally known as Green Spring, became known as Tank Spring because water from the spring was used to fill a tank along the old Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. At that time, train locomotives used the water in their steam engines. The tank was near the spot where the old town of Willow Valley once stood. Willow Valley was a regular railroad stop, but like many other similar towns, it has disappeared with the passing of the steam locomotive from the railroad system. Now only the name Tank Spring remains as a reminder.

  The hiking trail was initially established in 1979 and led directly to Tank Spring. In 1980-81, a second section of trail was constructed which began at the Spring and followed a different route back, thus completing a loop and bringing the total trail length to three miles. Several Young Adult Conservation Corps (YACC) crews supplied the labor to build the trail.

  Although the area is undeveloped except for the trail, it is not a backcountry area, and no camping or fires are allowed.

  Sixty acres surrounding Tank Spring were dedicated as a Nature Preserve in 1997. This area contains a high-quality example of mesic (moderately moist) upland forest community, sandstone cliffs, and a permanent freshwater spring.

  For more information, please contact the DNR Division of Nature Preserves at 317-232-4052.

Mountain bike trails

Martin State Forest offers seven miles of mountain bike trails. Mountain bikes are only permitted on those designated trails. For more details and a trail map, click the loop you are interested in riding.

• LOOP A , MODERATE, (2.0 miles) – Begins at the mountain bike trailhead, climbs the hill to firelane 1. Turns right on firelane 1 and follows the ridgetop until it drops into the valley and intersects with firelane 8. Turns left on firelane 8 for .2 miles until it intersects with firelane 2. Turns left and follows firelane 2 for 1.1 miles, fording the creek several times before climbing a steep hill back up to the ridgetop and intersecting again with firelane 1. Follows firelane 1 for .3 miles back to the trailhead trail, then .1 miles down that trail to the trailhead.
• LOOP B , MODERATE, (2.6 miles) – Begins at the mountain bike trailhead, climbs the hill to firelane 1. Turns right on firelane 1 and follows the ridgetop until it drops into the valley and intersects with firelane 8. Turns left on firelane 8 and follows it .4 miles along the creek and then up the hill to firelane 11. Turns left on firelane 11 and goes .6 miles to firelane 4, passing Pine Lake on the way. Turns left on firelane 4, following it .2 miles across the ridge and then down a short, very steep segment to firelane 2. Turns right on firelane 2, climbing the hill and following the ridgetop .5 miles back to firelane 1. Follows firelane 1 for .3 miles back to the trailhead trail, then .1 miles down that trail to the trailhead.
• LOOP C , MODERATE TO RUGGED, (4.2 miles) – Begins at the mountain bike trailhead, climbs the hill to firelane 1. Turns right on firelane 1 and follows the ridgetop until it drops into the valley and intersects with firelane 8. Turns left on firelane 8 and follows it .4 miles along the creek and then up the hill to firelane 11. Turns right on firelane 11, following the ridge .3 miles to firelane 12. Turns left on firelane 12 and goes .8 miles to firelane 10. Turns left on firelane 10 and goes .9 miles, dropping into a creek and then climbing the hill before intersecting with firelane 11. Turns left on firelane 11 and follows it .2 miles to the intersection with firelane 4.  Turns right on firelane 4, following it .2 miles across the ridge and then down a short, very steep segment to firelane 2. Turns right on firelane 2, climbing the hill and following the ridgetop .5 miles back to firelane 1. Follows firelane 1 for .3 miles back to the trailhead trail, then .1 miles down that trail to the trailhead.
• LOOP D , MODERATE TO RUGGED, (5.1 miles) – Begins at the mountain bike trailhead, climbs the hill to firelane 1. Turns right on firelane 1 and follows the ridgetop until it drops into the valley and intersects with firelane 8. Turns left on firelane 8 and follows it .4 miles along the creek and then up the hill to firelane 11. Turns right on firelane 11, following the ridge .3 miles to firelane 12. Turns left on firelane 12 and goes .3 miles to firelane 18. Turns right on firelane 18, following it .9 miles across the ridge and then down the hill before intersecting with firelane 10. Turns left on firelane 10 and goes .5 miles up the hill before crossing firelane 12. Continues another .9 miles, dropping into a creek and then climbing the hill before intersecting with firelane 11. Turns left on firelane 11 and follows it .2 miles to the intersection with firelane 4.  Turns right on firelane 4, following it .2 miles across the ridge and then down a short, very steep segment to firelane 2. Turns right on firelane 2, climbing the hill and following the ridgetop .5 miles back to firelane 1. Follows firelane 1 for .3 miles back to the trailhead trail, then .1 miles down that trail to the trailhead.
• ADDITIONAL LOOPS AND TRAILS – Firelane 7 may also be used for mountain biking, giving additional loop opportunities. However, please do not use mountain bikes on the Hardwood Lake Dam at the end of firelane 7. For bike treks that would include county roads, the west ends of firelanes 10, 11 and 12 intersect with Chicken Farm Rd.; while the east ends of firelanes 2, 3, 5 and 12 intersect with Williams Rd., which runs through the forest. Mountain bikes are not allowed on any other firelanes.

Firelanes

Easy. Numbered and mapped firelanes.