Backpack Trail Guide

Trails

Top Backpacking Trails in Indiana

7 routes. Each page shows when we last checked it. Updated October 2026.

Backpacking in Indiana means the hills and hollows of the southern third of the state. The trips on this site cover the Knobstone Trail, which the DNR calls rugged and difficult, on the Knobstone Escarpment north of Louisville; the Tecumseh Trail and the Low Gap loop in Morgan-Monroe and Yellowwood state forests; the Adventure Hiking Trail above the Ohio River at O’Bannon Woods; and the Charles C. Deam Wilderness and Two Lakes Loop on the Hoosier National Forest. Expect short, steep climbs rather than big mountains, old roadbeds, rock shelters, karst sinkholes, and creek or lake water that needs treating.

Water and storms shape most plans. The DNR says July through September are the worst months for water on the Knobstone, and the Adventure Hiking Trail’s karst country is often dry. Storms have closed trails: an EF-2 tornado hit Morgan-Monroe State Forest in June 2026, and the Deam’s Peninsula Trail has been closed since a June 2024 storm. Part of the Tecumseh Trail in Yellowwood is closed until further notice, and the DNR has posted a temporary closure on the Clark State Forest section of the Knobstone this fall.

Rules vary by managing agency. State forests ask you to register and set camping distances from roads and trails, while the Hoosier National Forest allows dispersed camping with 200-foot setbacks. Deer seasons run from fall into January, so wear bright colors in fall, and check for ticks.

Quick picks

Hoosier National Forest

Southern Indiana

Backpacking in Indiana: common questions

Do you need a permit to backpack in Indiana?

Usually not a paid permit, but state land often requires registration. The Indiana DNR asks overnight Knobstone Trail users to register with DNR Law Dispatch, and Morgan-Monroe State Forest requires backcountry campers to register with the forest office, with groups of six or fewer and a three-night limit per person. On the Hoosier National Forest, the Forest Service says there is no charge for dispersed camping, and the Deam Wilderness limits groups to 10. Rules vary by managing agency, so check with the property before you go.

Can you camp anywhere on Indiana backpacking trails?

No. On the Hoosier National Forest, dispersed camps must be at least 200 feet from trails, trailheads, roads, and water, stays are limited to 14 days in a 28-day period, and in the Deam Wilderness camping within half a mile of Monroe Lake is allowed only at designated sites. On the Knobstone Trail, the DNR requires camping on public land at least a quarter mile from roads, recreation areas, and trailheads and 100 feet from the trail, with no camping between mile markers 0 and 2. Camping or fires in rock shelters on the Hoosier is prohibited.

When is the best time to backpack in Indiana?

The agencies don't name a single best season, but they flag seasonal problems. The DNR says July through September are the worst months to find water on the Knobstone Trail, that spring rain and storms make low-lying sections wetter and bring down trees, and that daylight is shorter in late fall and winter. Fall overlaps with hunting seasons, and ticks are common in warm months, so plan around both.

When is hunting season in Indiana?

For 2026-27, the Indiana DNR lists deer archery season from October 1, 2026, to January 3, 2027, firearms season from November 14 to 29, 2026, and muzzleloader season from December 5 to 20, 2026. The Forest Service says hunting is allowed on most Hoosier National Forest land outside recreation areas, and the DNR advises wearing bright colors on the Knobstone Trail because it crosses public hunting areas. Check the DNR for other seasons.

Can you have a campfire while backpacking in Indiana?

Often yes, with limits. The Forest Service allows small open fires on the Hoosier National Forest except during fire bans, using only dead, downed wood. The DNR recommends a stove on the Knobstone Trail, says any fire must use dead and downed wood where fires are permitted, and notes that fires may be banned temporarily in dry conditions. Check current restrictions with the managing agency.

Where this comes from