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Rivers





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  Indiana
 River
County
Reach
Length (miles)
Description
Potential Classification
ORVs
Watershed (HUC Code 8)
Year Listed/ Updated
Other StateBig Blue River
Johnson, Shelby, Rush
Carthage to Freeport Dam (13 river miles); Freeport Dam to Shelbyville (21 river miles); Shelbyville to Edinburgh (21 river miles)
51
A central Indiana River located near the Indianapolis SMSA. Flows through area predominantly in agriculture. Has good recreation potential with heavy existing fishing and floating use. Recommended by the state for study for State Natural Scenic and Recreation Rivers System. The river banks and adjacent lands are ideal for wildlife. Known habitat of Indiana bat. Popular hunting area.

Fish, Recreational, Wildlife
Driftwood
1982Big Pine Creek
Warren
Pine Village to S.R. 55 crossing near mouth (20 miles)
20
Winds through an area of interesting glacial geology activity with deeply cut channels in sandstone creating steep cliffs. Several species of plants on state rare and endangered species list, relict stands of white pine and hemlock and remnant prairie. Abundant fish and wildlife populations. Good recreational values. Under study by the state for possible inclusion in State Natural, Scenic and Recreational River System.

Geologic, Recreational, Scenic
Middle Wabash-Little Vermilion
1982Big Walnut Creek
Putnam, Hendricks
Rte. 236 Hendricks County to Rte. 43 (U.S. 231) above Green Castle in Putnam County
27
Passes through a glaciated landscape with scenery varying from dense forests to open pastures. Passes through Big Walnut Canyon National Natural Landmark. Relict stands of hemlock and some of the nations largest hardwood are located nearby. Exceptional hunting, fishing and other recreational activities. Recommended by the State for inclusion in State Natural, Scenic and Recreation Rivers System.

Geologic, Recreational, Scenic
Eel
1982Blue River
Crawford, Harrison
Washington County line to confluence with Ohio River
47
A highly scenic stretch of river through the spectacular Indiana hill country with good floating and fishing potential. Receives moderate use. Flows through Wyandotte State Recreation Area and Harrison Crawford State Forest. Watershed is mostly forested with some bottomland farming. A designated component of State Natural, Scenic and Recreation Rivers System.

Recreational, Scenic
Blue-Sinking
1982Laughery Creek
Dearborn, Ohio, Ripley
Headwaters Washington County line to confluence with Ohio River
81
Flows through scenic southeastern Indiana hill country and Versailles State Park. Offers good fishing and floating opportunity. The corridor and watershed are generally wooded with some bottomland farming. Recommended by the state for study for inclusion in State Natural, Scenic and Recreational Rivers System.

Recreational, Scenic
Middle Ohio-Laughery
1982Little Blue River
Crawford
Town of English downstream to intersection of the flood pool (from Cannelton Navigation Dam on the Ohio River) with the river bottom at mile 7.65 up the river from its outlet on the Ohio
37
Meanders through wooded, rolling hills occasionally adjacent to rock bluffs. The river banks are tree lined, although small fields can be seen along the valley through the trees. River banks are mostly mud and may extend as much as 8 feet above the stream. Logs across the river and shallows at low water levels preserve the natural atmosphere and provide a challenging experience.
Recreational/Scenic
Geologic, Recreational, Scenic, Other
Blue-Sinking
1982/ 1993Lost River
Martin, Orange, Washington
headwaters SE of Campbellsburg to rivers mouth at the East Fork of the White River
88
The river is an internationally known example of karst topography . Water enters the system through literally thousands of sinkholes. In addition, the surface river loses water into a system of swallow holes draining portions of the surface river. About 22 miles is then dry except during periods of flooding. With the exception of the dry bed portion, the entire river is canoeable. Frequent log jams and slow meandering flow make for a challenging experience.
Recreational/Scenic
Geologic, Historic, Other
Lower East Fork White
1993Mud Pine Creek
Warren
Benton-Warren County Line to confluence with Big Pine Creek (10 miles)
9
Winds through an area of interesting glacial geology activity with deeply cut channels in sandstone creating steep cliffs. Several species of plants on state rare and endangered species list, relict stands of white pine and hemlock and remnant prairie. Abundant fish and wildlife populations. Good recreational values. Under study by the state for possible inclusion in State Natural, Scenic and Recreational River System.

Geologic, Recreational, Scenic
Middle Wabash-Little Vermilion
1982Muscatatuck River
Jackson
Confluence with Graham Cr. and Big Creek to mouth at East Fork White River
54
Meanders through a scenic, heavily wooded corridor in southern Indiana hill country. Agricultural lands often lie adjacent to the river providing excellent wildlife habitat. Considered to be a good fishing stream and offers a highly scenic floating experience. Recommended for study for State Rivers System.

Fish, Recreational, Scenic, Wildlife
Muscatatuck
1982St. Joseph River
St. Joseph, Elkhart
MI/IND boundary in Elkhart County to City of South Bend eastern limit (30 river miles); I-80/90 and HWY 31/33 interchange to MI/IN boundary (3 river miles)
30
Flows through two major metropolitan areas in northern Indiana. Offers good boating and sportfishing. Historical significance relating to early French explorer, LaSalle. Indiana and Michigan are working on joint projects to run coldwater species to Mishawaka metro area.

Recreational
St. Joseph
1982Sugar Creek
Parke, Montgomery
State Rte. 32 at Crawfordsville to confluence with Wabash River
43
This popular canoe stream flows through Shades and Turkey Run State Parks on its way to Wabash River. Area is noted for stands of glacial relict hemlock forest and steeply dissected topography. Recommended by the state for designation in State Natural, Scenic and Recreational River System.

Geologic, Recreational, Scenic
Sugar
1982Tippecanoe River
Kosciusko, Marshall, Fulton, Pulaski, Starks, White
Headwaters at Lake Tippecanoe to Monoquet ( 7 river miles); Channelization near Monoquet to Winamac ( 36 river miles) to Lake Shafer (Norway) (118 river miles); Oakdale dam to mouth at Wabash River
153
A northern Indiana tributary of the Wabash River flowing through a heavily farmed portion of the state. Banks are generally wooded with some forested areas in corridor. Tippecanoe State Park is located on river. Upper half recommended by the state for inclusion in State Natural, Scenic and Recreational Rivers System. Has great value as a fishing (particularly small mouth bass), floating and swimming stream.

Fish, Recreational, Wildlife
Middle Wabash-Deer
1982Wabash River
Posey (White & Gallatin, IL)
I-64 bridge crossing in Posey County to confluence with Ohio River (includes part of river in 11a-d)
55
River forms boundary between Illinois and Indiana. It meanders sluggishly through a valley which averages six miles in width. Pastoral scenes interspersed with occasional timber stands are common along the river. Drains a large portion of the Indiana and the Illinois.

Fish, Recreational
Lower Wabash
1982
ILWabash River
Gibson, Knox ,Sullivan, Vigo, Vermillion, Fountain
Covington to city of Terre Haute's northern limit Covington (excluding approximately 10 mi within city); city of Terre Haute's southern limit to Merom; Sullivan/Knox County line to confluence with White River.
153
The Wabash has the largest watershed in the state draining 73 of the 92 counties. It starts in the NE part of the state and empties into the Ohio River in the extreme SW on the Illinois border. One of the largest rivers in eastern U.S. Has very little overall cultural impact. Supports a rich diversity of fish species. Many parks and other shoreline activities. Flows through predominately agricultural areas of Indiana but has wooded sections in corridor and has been proposed for designation for a State Scenic River. Receives heavy fishing and floating use. Several rock outcroppings along river. Merom bluff rises 200' above water, providing picturesque views. Rich in history; it was the site of many military campaigns including the Battle of Tippecanoe.

Fish, Recreational
Lower Wabash
1982
ILWhite River, East Fork
Daviess, Pike, Jackson, Bartholomew
Columbus to New Elizabethtown (40 river miles); Just east of Hudsonville (11 ad boundary) to confluence with White River (15 river miles)
53
A fairly large river tributary of the White River flowing through very scenic south central portion of state in a 1-2 mile wide valley bordered by hills. Fairly well wooded banks and some heavily wooded areas along corridor. Recommended by the state for inclusion in State Natural, Scenic and Recreational Rivers System. Good recreation potential. Rare blue ordovician limestone outcroppings. Segments pass through Hoosier National Forest near Beaver Bluff and McBrides Bluffs. An outstanding canoe route. Excellent fishing.

Fish, Geologic, Historic, Recreational, Scenic
Lower White
1982White River, West Fork (White River)
Randolph, Delaware, Madison, Hamilton, Marion, Johnson, Morgan, Monroe, Owen, Green, Daviess
East Anderson to Riverwood PP to Noblesville to North River Road (43 rm); Hapgood/S Port Rd (24 rm) to Bluff Road (9 rm) to Martinsville (24 rm) to Spencer (82 rm) to Edwardsport (24) to HW 50-150 near Washington (10 rm) to confl. with E. Fk R
248
A large tributary of the Wabash River covering a large portion of south central Indiana. A broad river which flows through heavily farmed rolling to hilly watershed. Used extensively for fishing. Excellent fish production potential. Banks generally wooded with farming to waters edge in some places. Some forested area along the corridor. Recommended by the state for study in State Natural, Scenic and Recreational Rivers System. Flows through Indianapolis SMSA. Several historic sites such as Old Town Hall, an early Indian settlement, Rees Cemetery and Mounds State Park. State planning 11,000-acre recreation area near Indianapolis.

Fish, Historic, Wildlife, Other
Upper White
1982
 Last updated: November 30, 2016
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