Morgan–Monroe State Forest in south-central Indiana covers about 24,000 acres across Morgan and Monroe counties, making it the state’s second largest state forest. Created in its present form in 1929 from worn-out farmland with thin, rocky soil, it helped curb erosion and restore land unsuited to agriculture. In May 1933, Indiana’s first Civilian Conservation Corps camp opened here, linking the forest to New Deal conservation efforts. Long used for recreation and research, it offers hiking, camping, fishing, biking, hunting, and limited gold panning. It also includes historic and scientific sites such as the Draper Cabin, a fire tower on the National Register, research towers, and an observatory.