Warrick County High Point Trip Report
Date: February 18, 2002
Author: Bob Schwab
spot elevation in section 34-3S-8W (658 ft)
Leave Interstate 64 at Exit 39 and drive north on Route 61 through the town of Lynnville for exactly 1 mile.
Turn right into Kiddie Lane (it looks like a driveway) and drive all the way to the end of the road. Along the
way, you will twist, turn, and pass a large tower. Brent and Cathy Hocker live at the top of the hill, and
their house and yard occupy the 658 foot spot elevation site shown on the topo map (area 1). Cathy was
cordial and very interested to know that she lived on a county highpoint.
After visiting all nine sites in this county, I believe this is probably the highest area.
three areas in section 34-3S-8W (650+ ft)
From Exit 39 on Interstate 64, drive north on Route 61 through the town of Lynnville for 0.65 mile.
The road will bend right, then bend left after passing through town. As the road bends left, turn right on 4th
Street and head east for another 1.5 miles. In just a few blocks you will pass the school and will intersect
with Clutter Road. Continue east on Clutter Road as it bends north, then east, then north again. As the
road ascends this hill, Clutter Road turns off to the right, but continue traveling north for 0.2 mile on
Spurgeon Road. Watch for a long driveway up the hill to the left which heads toward a log cabin. Drive up
and meet David Ash, who has turkeys, deer, and even bear on his property. He gave me permission to visit
and accompanied me to the two small areas that are located south of his cabin on the ridge. The northern
spot (area 2) is somewhat west of his guest house, and the southern spot (area 3) is in the woods to the south.
Area 3 is actually owned by the neighbor, Bob Bunner, and appears to be the higher of the two spots.
Continue another 0.3 mile north on Spurgeon Road from David Ash's driveway. Look for an intersection on
the right and a woods that switches over to a field on the left. The woods are posted, but the field is not.
Hike east 0.25 mile along the southern edge of the field and then head south into the woods to the top of
Dyson Knob (area 4). There is a lot of brush and briars as you get near the top, but you'll find a trail running
east to west right on the crest of the hill.
The highpoint is just south of this trail, near a stump and a fallen tree.
four areas including BM Chapman (650+ ft)
Return to the intersection of Spurgeon Road and Clutter Road. Proceed east on Clutter Road for 2.75 miles.
The road will bend north, then east, then north, then east again. When the road bends north a third time,
pull off and park on the right near some ATV trails that run east into a field, and south into the woods.
Hike south on the trail into the woods, passing a house off to your right, until you crest the ridge. At the crest,
look for a small trail going into the woods to your left. Follow the trail, and in a short distance it joins
another ATV path that continues along the ridge in a southeastern direction. Hike for roughly 0.25 mile
until the ATV trail splits on a fairly high, flat area, with one branch going east, while the other heads south.
You have arrived at the southernmost highpoint on this ridge (area 5). The highpoint is very close to the
ATV intersection, just a bit north and east into the woods. As you walk back toward your car along the
ridge, watch for area 6 which you passed as you walked down the ridge. This area is just north of the path,
and is crossed by a trail going off to the north. When you return to the main ATV trail that goes back to
your car, stop off at the house you passed on the way in. Jeff and Sally Kirby live here (435 Clutter Road),
and you should ask their permission to cross their property and visit area 7. Do not be confused by the high
bank near their parking pad. At first, I thought this was the high spot, but a hand level check revealed the
true highpoint to be in the woods just west of their shed. From this point, continue hiking northwest and
you will come to a grassy knoll with a camping trailer and a picnic table on it. Right next to the parking pad
at the top of the hill is a concrete monument with BM Chapman (area 8). Data sheets indicate this marker
is exactly 650 feet above sea level. Descend north on the long drive and return to your car by hiking east on
Clutter Road.
one small area in section 25-3S-7W (650+ ft)
From Route 68 in the tiny town of Selvin, find the Yellowbanks Trail intersection and turn north. In one mile,
turn left (west) on Vincennes Road. Drive all the way to the end of this road. Just before you get to
the turn around area, notice that the land on both sides of the road is posted. Brett Deskin owns a great deal
of this mined-out land, and he maintains a camp over on Coles Creek Road. I showed him my topo maps
and he told me that mining had continued in this area until about six years ago. The road now stops about
0.25 mile south of the county line, but there is still a trail that runs up across the county line and through the
mine dump area where four Pike County highpoints can be found. There is also one high spot in Warrick
County which is located east of this trail, just south of the county line.
I hiked up the trail from where I parked and almost immediately came upon the dump piles. They extend
somewhat south of the county line on the east as well as the west side of the path. Watch for an orange
surveyor's ribbon tied to a tree on the right. This marks the county line (confirmed by Mr. Deskin).
Make your way east into the mine dumps and search for the Warrick County spot just south of the county line.
According to the topo map, this used to be a natural area, but the mine dump seems to be all that remains today.
I found a likely spot (with trees growing on it!) and took a GPS reading to satisfy myself that I was
in the right area. I don't believe this high spot in Warrick County is a natural area.
Future visitors can judge for themselves.