Trails / Indiana / Hoosier National Forest

Two Lakes Loop Trail

Hoosier National Forest, Tell City Ranger District (Indian Lake and Celina Lake, off State Highway 37 south of I-64)

The Two Lakes Loop circles Indian Lake and Celina Lake in the hill country of southern Indiana, a National Recreation Trail on the Hoosier National Forest’s Tell City district. The Forest Service lists it at 15.7 miles, hiking only, with white blazes on the main trail and orange-marked spurs. Backpacker calls it a chance to “camp next to forest lakes and rock-hop across clear streams.”

The Forest Service warns that much of it is on steep slopes, and there’s no drinking water on the trail.

The hike

Backpacker’s 2011 route, a 12.4-mile loop from the trailhead off County Road 501, passes a red pine stand at mile 2.4, crosses Tige Creek at 2.5, and fords the Anderson River at 2.8, where it says wading can be ankle- to knee-deep depending on the season. It meets the American Discovery Trail at mile 4.3 and reaches its suggested camp by Indian Lake at mile 5.1, which it describes as a low-lying forested spot next to the 152-acre lake. It also mentions Jason Falls, about a mile’s bushwhack west of Indian Lake.

The route crosses Celina Lake’s dam at mile 7.6 and reaches the Celina Interpretive Trail, with limestone outcroppings, at 9.7. Indianapolis Monthly recommends adding that 1-mile trail for the Rickenbaugh House, a limestone home built in 1874, and describes rock formations jutting over the path and streams to ford in high water.

The Outbound’s Colin Stouffer calls it “a great loop trail about 1 hour from Louisville, Kentucky” and “ideal for a weekend backpacking trip,” noting that the figure-eight shape allows two shorter loops of about 8 miles around each lake. The Fastest Known Time route description warns of “fallen trees and persistent mud,” plus tall grass, briars, and ticks in season, and counts about 1,850 feet of climbing on its 12.3-mile version.

For a wilderness trip farther north in the same forest, see the Deam Wilderness.

Tips

Carry or filter water. The Forest Service says none is available on the trail. Backpacker suggests letting lake water settle 30 minutes before filtering.
Plan to wade. The Anderson River ford can be knee-deep.
Expect mud and blowdowns. Maintenance varies.
Wear orange in hunting season. Backpacker notes hunting on nearby private land through December.
Hikers only. Horses and bikes aren’t allowed on this trail.

Camping

No permits are needed. Forest Service rules for the Hoosier say dispersed campsites must be at least 200 feet from trails, trailheads, roads, water sources, rock shelters, caves, and historic structures, unless at a designated site, and camping isn’t allowed in campgrounds, day-use areas, or parking areas. Stays are limited to 14 days in a 28-day period. Use only dead, downed wood for fires, and follow the forest’s firewood rules. The Indian-Celina recreation area also has developed campgrounds.

Inside Intel: The Outbound’s Colin Stouffer recommends the open grassy area on Indian Lake’s southwest shore near the dam for its lake views. Backpacker’s suggested camp is in the woods by Indian Lake at about mile 5.1. Either way, pick a spot that meets the 200-foot setback from the water and trail.

Trail facts

Distance: 15.7 miles with connectors (Forest Service); about 12.4 for the main loop
Route type: Loop (figure eight)
Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
Elevation: About 1,850 feet of gain on the main loop (Fastest Known Time)
Campsites: Dispersed; 200-foot setbacks
Water: Lakes and streams only; treat everything
Permits: None
Trailheads: Several in the Indian-Celina Lakes recreation area, off State Highway 37
Last verified: October 7, 2026

The Lowdown

Wading the Anderson River on Two Lakes Loop:

Backpacker's route fords the Anderson River at mile 2.8, ankle- to knee-deep depending on the season, just after crossing Tige Creek. Five tips for wading it with less worry.

Get the five tips →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.