No matter if you are beginning backpacking or an expert, Indiana has a few trails that will challenge everyone. Whether you are wanting to camp on a lake or deep in the thick forest, Indiana has a trail for you. Below is a list of the best and most popular backpacking trails.
Charles Deam Wilderness
One of the most popular places to backpack and camp is Charles Deam Wilderness. Open year-round Charles Deam offers over 36 miles of hiking and horseback trails. All sites at Charles Deam are first come first serve basis. While dispersed camping is allowed, the peninsula is the most popular camping area in the wilderness. If you are lucky enough to secure a site on the Peninsula you are in for an amazing camping experience. Here you are camping while looking right over beautiful Lake Monroe. Once you visit Charles Deam you’ll be planning your trip back before you leave.
Tecumseh Trail
While it’s not the Appalachian or the PCT trail, Indiana offers long-distance thru-hikes and the most popular is the Tecumseh. This 40+ mile one-way trail starts at Morgan Monroe Headquarters and ends in a remote area of Brown County. This trail runs through thick forests, ravines, and lakes. This trail is open year-round and heavily marked and maintained. There are currently three shelters along the way as well as Yellowwood State Forest Campground. There’s even a hotel near the end in Belmont. This trail can be strenuous so pack plenty of food and water as water may be scarce during hotter months. Visit the link below and the Hoosier Hiker Council website to better prepare for your thru-hike on the Tecumseh Trail.
More on the Tecumseh Trail Below
Knobstone Trail
Another popular yet the longest thru-hiking trail coming in at 48 miles one way is the Knobstone Trail. The Knobstone is a strenuous trail as you are hiking up and down rugged ridges and slopes. The trail goes through Clark and Jackson State Forest while weaving around private property lines. It’s been said that the Knobstone is the perfect training area for the smoky mountains. Like the Tecumseh, this trail is very well marked and maintained. As well as scarce on water sources so please be prepared. For more info on this trail visit the Hoosier Hiker Council for Maps and more.
The Adventure Hiking Trail
This popular backpacking trail is a 25-mile loop hike located in southern Indiana along the Ohio River. The Adventure Hiking Trail runs through Harrison-Crawford State Forest and O’Bannon State Park. While this trail is steep and rugged it has shelters along the way to camp at. These shelters are first come first serve and are small so don’t solely rely on these shelters. Water on this trail is very very scarce so caching water is a very popular practice to prepare for. Again for more information on the trail visit the Hoosier Hiker Council website.
Shades State Park Backpack Trail
If you are a beginner backpacker or just want to test new gear the Shades Backpack Trail is for you. Shades offer a 2.5-mile one-way backpacking trail through the forest and canyons. There is a first come first serve with only seven sites available so plan accordingly. You can call ahead to see if any sites are available before heading to Shades. You will pay for a site at the gate and then find an available site once arriving at the campground. This trail is open only from May – to October. What makes this a perfect beginner trail is there is firewood for purchase, pit toilets, and a water spigot.
While there are more places to backpack in Indiana these are the most popular among hikers and backpackers. Do research and plan accordingly to stay safe while on the trail. If you are new to backpacking, review the new backpacker page below.
