Southern Indiana Business Report
BEDFORD – A phased opening for campsite reservations on the Hoosier National Forest for the period of the 2024 total solar eclipse (March 29 through April 10) is scheduled to begin Friday. These opportunities are provided by the Forest Service through a new agreement with campground concessionaire, BA Services. The reservation portal (www.recreation.gov) will “go live” at 7 a.m. Jan. 12.
The Forest Service stresses that all developed campground campsites will be by reservation only from March 29 through April 10 due to the high number of visitors to southern Indiana to view the eclipse. This includes campsites across the Forest which were previously designated as first come, first served. The sites are expected to fill quickly. Those looking to make reservations should have multiple options planned.
This first phase of reservations includes BA Services-managed campgrounds at Hardin Ridge, Indian-Celina Lakes, and Tipsaw Lake Recreation Areas. Hardin Ridge, in Monroe County, has 167 campsites. Indian-Celina Lakes (63 sites) and Tipsaw Lake (45 sites) are in Perry County. Reservations must be made through the website www.recreation.gov, and availability will be updated in real time.
Later phases will include reservation only sites at Blackwell, Hickory Ridge, Shirley Creek, Youngs Creek, Saddle Lake, German Ridge and Buzzard Roost campgrounds. A new announcement on the Hoosier National Forest Facebook page will precede these additional reservation openings.
This rare event is expected to draw upwards of 500,000 visitors from multiple states on April 8. On that afternoon, the eclipse – the first since the Great American Eclipse in 2017 and the last until August 2044 – will arc across Indiana from southwest to northeast. It will encompass most of the Hoosier National Forest.
BA Services, Inc. is based out of Maine and operates other Forest Service managed properties on the Bankhead National Forest in Alabama. The new managers, Eric and Dallas McCue, are eager to welcome new visitors during this exciting time. Many campground hosts from past partnerships will be returning to these campgrounds as well.
More information on the eclipse, the national forest, and related opportunities is available on the Hoosier National Forest website.