Parke County High Point Trip Report
Date: October 27, 2001
Author: Bob Schwab
The five high points of Parke County are clustered right along the eastern boundary with Putnam County.
Drive east from the center of Rockville on US 36 about 11 to 12 miles and watch for the county line sign.
Immediately after you pass this sign, watch for a drive going off to the right (south). Pull in and find a flat
area on the western shoulder where you can park. Walk back along the highway to the county line sign,
cross the road, and hike north along the eastern edge of a bean field (recently harvested when I visited).
Soon the field opens to the east, but an obvious ridge caused by years of plowing the adjacent fields marks
the county line. Walk up the ridge and watch for two rises that comprise areas 1 and 2. I took a GPS
reading on the northernmost one (area 1 is located at coordinates [39.759383 deg N, 87.010916 deg W]).
When you return to your car, proceed down the drive (south) as it drops and then rises to the farm of David
and Mary King. I believe these folks are Amish, given their conservative dress and demeanor. I talked with
their son, Gideon, who was friendly and gave me permission to wander around in search of the high spots on
their property. One confusing thing you will encounter is that the pumpkin field immediately to the east and
southeast of the house appears to be higher, but it is in the adjacent Putnam County. Two corn cribs off to
the north and west of the barns sit on the edge of area 3. This area spills out into a pasture to the north.
Area 4 is basically the front yard of their house (the access drive now passes the house on the east),
and area 5 (which seems to be the highest area) stretches from the donkey pasture southwest of the house to
the pumpkin field and the county line.
This county is well-known for its covered bridges (about 30 still survive) and if you have time,
they are well worth visiting. You can get a free map that will help you find them from the Chamber of Commerce
in Rockville (located in the old train depot).