This 7.7 mile hike-only trail is a nice hike through mixed hardwoods with views of Lake Monroe. An old road serves as an inner connector for those desiring a shorter hike. The trailhead is located directly behind the Paynetown State Recreation Office, just west of the Indiana Conservation Officer Headquarters.
The trailhead parking lot and the first few feet of the trail are located at the Paynetown State Recreation Area managed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resource (DNR). That facility offers camping, swimming, a boat ramp and marina, a nature center, and additional hiking trails. This trail is a joint effort between the Hoosier National Forest and the Indiana DNR. The parking lot trailhead is administered by the DNR and offers access not only to the Hoosier National Forest Pate Hollow Trail, but also to the DNR White Tail Trail. The White Tail Trail intersects just a few feet into the trail and takes off to your left. Have fun on both trails but please be aware that different rules apply for each agency.
Combining the mileage of Pate Hollow and the White Tail trail you can get enough to make a nice backpack experience. Note that backcountry camping is permitted ONLY on Hoosier National Forest land, NOT on DNR land.
This trail is operated by:
US Forest Service
Brownstown Ranger District
811 Constitution Avenue
Bedford, IN 47421
Phone: 812-275-5987
Hoosier National Forest website
