Orienteering in Morgan-Monroe State Forest

Do you often find yourself lost? Wish you had a better sense of direction? Practice reading a map and blazing your own trail on a two part beginner and advanced course that'll teach us how to get unlost! We'll visit and practice our navigational skills on the permanent Orienteering courses in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest.

Morgan-Monroe Pathfinder Trail Orienteering Course is a great way to ease into orienteering as this is a two part course. The compass course is set up to learn and practice how find our bearings and count our paces with 9 controls set along an established trail. Once you get the hang of how to find your way, the last control of the compass course becomes the first of the 16 control advanced course that is all off trail.

Can we find our way?

Plan to meet at East Side Lowe's at 8:00 AM (CST). We'll carpool to the Forest where we'll spend the day. Orienteering begins by 10:45a (CST). Bring a picnic lunch. We'll wrap up around 3:00pm.

WHERE/WHEN TO MEET:
== ALL TIMES LISTED IN CENTRAL STANDARD (CST) ==
8:00a - Meet at Lowe's to carpool
10:30a - Arrive at Forest
10:45a - Discuss routes and begin orienteering
12:00p - Lunch at Picnic area
3:00p - Finish course
5:30p - Arrive in Evansville

WHO SHOULD JOIN:

• Adventurers who don't mind getting a little bit lost.
• People who like to blaze their own trail.
• People who hate modern technology and want to pretend it's pre-1990 again.
• Cartographers (map-lovers)
• Competitive people. (Remember, this IS a sport, and sometimes a race!)

WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING:

• a compass (REQUIRED)
• a printed map (REQUIRED -- see links below)
• your favorite trail shoes (expect some mud off-trail)
• water (for drinking) and snacks
• Picnic lunch (in a cooler in the car)
• Sunscreen and Bug spray
• walking stick or hiking poles (optional)

WHAT TO CONSIDER LEAVING BEHIND:

• your cell phone
• your GPS (no cheating!)

OTHER THINGS TO NOTE:

• Terrain is moderate, there will be hills.
• There may be upwards of 150ft of elevation gain between points.
• Only the compass course is near a trail. The advanced course is entirely off trail.
• Compass Course is approx. .75 miles.
• Advanced Course is approx. 4 miles straight line distance (Our distances will be greater depending on navigation) .
• There is a vault toilet at the Scout Ridge Shelter House.

COST:

• None

GROUND RULES:

• No children
• Dogs permitted on a six-foot leash only.

MAPS / INFORMATION:

• Lowe's Oak Grove (Carpool): https://goo.gl/maps/EzL8AnkaUQSeXAMg8
• Trailhead Parking: https://maps.app.goo.gl/7fktZLktFuNeMnQG7
• Control Point Map (IN DNR) (this is best printed in full color!): https://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/files/fo-MorganMonroeOrienteeringMap.pdf
• Morgan Monroe Trail Map (IN DNR): https://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/files/fo-morgan-monroe-map.pdf
• Park Website: https://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/properties/morgan-monroe-state-forest/