Take Action: HNF has proposed closing Tower Ridge Road to bicycles.
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Hoosier National Forest has proposed closing Tower Ridge Road to bicycles.
Take Action: Submit Your Comments by September 24, 2026
We hope local stakeholders can reach a balanced solution that protects the area while preserving bike access to these beautiful, quiet backroads.
History and Fact: Dedicated by federal law in 1982, the Charles C. Deam Wilderness has a long history of balanced land use. Federal wilderness areas are required to be roadless—a unique fit for Indiana. During its creation, local opposition ran high because the proposed boundaries included Tower Ridge Road, a vital access point for Lake Monroe and the surrounding forest. Ultimately, Tower Ridge Road was kept out of the official Wilderness boundary, leaving boundary adjustments strictly to Congress. Below are two helpful links:
Recent Expansion Push: Recently, the Indiana Forest Alliance (IFA), working with then-Senator Mike Braun, pushed to add the Nebo Ridge area into the Deam Wilderness.
Initial Proposal: The addition would have immediately stripped mountain bike access from Nebo Ridge and Combs Road.
Proposed Compromise: Facing opposition from the cycling community, proponents offered "corridor carve-outs" inside the wilderness for bikes.
Procedural Issues: Historically, wilderness designations arise from Regional Forest Planning led by the Forest Service. In this case, the IFA bypassed the Hoosier National Forest (HNF) entirely, resulting in legislation that would be nearly impossible for local staff to manage effectively.
Why Local Cyclists Hesitated: The Hoosier Mountain Bike Association (HMBA) declined to support the IFA proposal. Bypassing HNF meant there was no realistic implementation plan. The risk remained extraordinarily high that bike corridors would either be stripped from the final bill, rejected by forest managers as unworkable, or targeted by advocacy groups for complete removal down the road.
Tower Ridge Road Today: Those initial concerns are now playing out. HNF is considering a proposal to close roughly three miles of Tower Ridge Road (between Todd Cemetery and Grubb Ridge Trailhead) to motor vehicles and bicycles. HMBA President Jason Wise highlighted the broader impact in a recent newsletter:
"HMBA supports responsible management of our public lands... However, we do not believe managing Tower Ridge Road in a manner that eliminates bicycle access is the right solution. Tower Ridge Road is bigger than mountain biking. It is an important connection for mountain bikers, gravel cyclists, road cyclists, and events such as the Gravel Grovel and Death March."
National Context: The History of Bikes in Wilderness: The situation in Indiana reflects a 35-year national debate over mechanical transport on public lands:
Legislative Hurdles: Direct efforts to amend the Wilderness Act to allow bicycles date back to 1989 (H.R. 3172) and continued with bills like the Human-Powered Travel in Wilderness Areas Act (S. 1695). None have passed Congress.
Shifting Regulations: Bikes were actually permitted in wilderness areas from 1964 until 1977, when the Forest Service introduced a blanket administrative ban.
Alternative Designations: Rather than altering the Wilderness Act directly, groups like IMBA have had success negotiating companion designations—such as National Recreation Areas or National Conservation Areas—which protect land while preserving trail access.
What does this mean for cyclists: The current 3-mile segment has been closed to cars for over a year. More importantly, it serves as a critical link to a much larger network of low-traffic gravel roads, losing these three miles effectively isolates that entire network.
Bicycle Indiana believes the best outcome is a sensible compromise: close the road to motor vehicles while keeping it open to cyclists, hikers, and horseback riders. Closing Tower Ridge Road would also impact iconic Indiana cycling events like Gravel Grovel and Death March hosted by D.IN.O. (Do INdiana Off-Road). Owner Brian Holzhausen notes in their recent letter to the HNF,
You can view their full statement on social media here.
What we ask: Take Action: Submit Your Comments by September 24!
The Forest Service is accepting public feedback on the proposed bicycle and vehicle closure of Tower Ridge Road through September 24th. We strongly encourage mountain bikers, gravel riders, road cyclists, event participants, local businesses, and everyone who values responsible access to our public lands to speak up. Explain how you use Tower Ridge Road, why bicycle access matters to you, and what losing this vital connector means for outdoor recreation in Southern Indiana.
Electronic comments can be emailed to Stacy.Duke@usda.gov with “Forest Plan Amendment Tower Ridge Road Project” as the subject.
Hard copies of your comments may be mailed or delivered to:
Attn: Forest Plan Amendment Tower Ridge Road Project
Is it time for your to renew your car registration/plates? Did you know you can become a Bicycle Indiana Member by doing this?
You can give the gift of a Bicycle Indiana Membership. You can obtain your “I Share The Road” license plate from the BMV & proudly display your pedal passion even when you’re driving. (Note: We are under Indiana Bicycle Coalition)
A portion of the license plate fee goes to Bicycle Indiana, which promotes safe bicycling; educates bicyclists, motorists, and policy-makers; and advocates for laws, policies, and infrastructure to increase bicycling in Indiana.
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