Pike State Forest was placed under the management of Ferdinand State Forest in July 1997. The Pike State Forest consists of 4,444 acres in southwestern Indiana. Acquisition of the land that makes up Pike State Forest began in the 1930s, and continued through the 1950s. Most of the buildings on the property were constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) using material cut from local timber stands.
Topography at Pike State Forest varies from hilly uplands to the low bottomlands of the Patoka River. Because of the diversity of sites, a wide variety of plant and animal life make their homes at Pike. Several recreational opportunities are available at Pike State Forest, including hunting, horseback riding, picnicking, bird watching and hiking.