AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Paynetown State Recreation Area

Lake Monroe–Blue Bird Trail, 4 sights

2.8 mi · ▲ 265 ft · 1 hr 4 min

Lake Monroe–Blue Bird Trail, 4 sights is a 2.8-mile out-and-back in Paynetown State Recreation Area near Knight Ridge, IN. The route reaches Lake Monroe at the turnaround, 1.2 miles in. It climbs 265 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade. It scores 22/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi545 – 742 ft · steepest grade: 16%2.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Pate Hollow Trail 39.09251, -86.42439
Nearest town Knight Ridge, IN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lake Monroe–Blue Bird Trail, 4 sights

2.8 mi · ▲ 265 ft · 1 hr 4 min

Elevation 545–741 ft

Out & Back · Paynetown State Recreation Area

Trailhead: Pate Hollow Trail · 39.09251, -86.42439

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:32 AM · sunset 7:48 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Pate Hollow Trail, heading NW.
  2. 100 ftTurn left onto Whitetail Trail, heading SW.
  3. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Blue Bird Trail, heading W.
  4. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Tree Trek Trail, heading SW.
  5. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  6. 0.1 miReach Lake Monroe, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  7. 0.2 miBear left onto Blue Bird Trail, heading N.
  8. 0.4 miBear left onto Pate Hollow Trail, heading N.
  9. 1 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/lake-monroe-blue-bird-trail-out-back-4-sights-4-km

Weather

Sunrise 7:32 AMSunset 7:48 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.0 mi in (~29 min). Leave by 6:59 PM for the 7:48 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:31 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Knight Ridge, Indiana