Indiana · Hiking · Charles C. Deam Wilderness

Peninsula Trail

Peninsula TrailPhoto: usfs_Eastern_Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
5.1 mi
round trip
909 ft
climb
850 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Apr, Jun–Oct
best months

Is Peninsula Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Hoosier National Forest. It doesn't name Peninsula Trail, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Hoosier National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Peninsula Trail is a 5.1-mile out-and-back hike in the Charles C. Deam Wilderness, part of the Brownstown Ranger District of Hoosier National Forest in southern Indiana. The trail rises from about 550 feet to a high point of 850 feet, with a total elevation gain of 909 feet over the round trip. The climb is steepest near the start, with a 14% grade at about 0.6 miles in. The trail is on natural surface and is open to horses. Bikes are not allowed. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is open year-round. A typical trip takes about two hours. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Bloomington show May highs around 74°F and September highs around 78°F, with September also seeing the fewest wet days of the year. Patton Cave Trail is about a mile away, and Martin Hollow Trail and Sycamore Trail are within about 2.3 miles. Blackwell Campground, about 2.7 miles off, offers a place to stay.

  • Best time to go · Apr, Jun–Oct

    Best time to visit Peninsula Trail

    Best months: April and June–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      37° / 21°

      11 wet · 4 snow

    2. Feb

      42° / 23°

      10 wet · 3 snow

    3. Mar

      52° / 32°

      11 wet · 1 snow

    4. Apr

      64° / 42°

      12 wet

    5. May

      74° / 53°

      13 wet

    6. Jun

      82° / 62°

      11 wet

    7. Jul

      85° / 65°

      10 wet

    8. Aug

      85° / 64°

      8 wet

    9. Sep

      78° / 56°

      7 wet

    10. Oct

      66° / 44°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      53° / 34°

      10 wet · 1 snow

    12. Dec

      41° / 26°

      11 wet · 3 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Bloomington Indiana Univ, IN, 12.2 mi away at 830 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

    Closures we've recorded since August 2026

    • Peninsula Trail Closed

      Hoosier National Forest · Order dated June 26, 2024; seen Aug 23, 2026, no lift recorded · Forest Service

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Wildflower TrailPhoto: Serge Melki, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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