Knobstone Trail South: Deam Lake to Leota

Clark State Forest and Jackson-Washington State Forest, Indiana DNR Division of Forestry (north of Louisville)

The Knobstone Trail is Indiana’s longest footpath, following the Knobstone Escarpment north from Deam Lake, near Louisville, toward Salem. The DNR calls it rugged and difficult, and hikers call it “the Little AT” because, as one Dyrt reviewer put it, its “continuous ups and downs” challenge leg strength. This page covers the southern half, from Deam Lake to the Leota trailhead, about 26 miles by the DNR’s section distances.

Water is the main planning problem. The DNR says dehydration is the trail’s biggest hazard.

The hike

Indianapolis Monthly says the trail was laid out in 1973 under the Indiana DNR and runs about 58 miles today. The DNR’s map describes the Knobstone Escarpment rising more than 300 feet in places, which “makes for steep climbs and descents.” A Fastest Known Time route description estimates “close to 200’ of gain and loss per mile.”

The trail starts at the Deam Lake trailhead, mile marker 0, in Clark State Forest. The DNR says the first stretch to Jackson Road, about 5 miles, has “two very steep slopes,” then rolling terrain, and parallels the east shore of Deam Lake.

From Jackson Road to New Chapel is the longest section, about 12 miles. The DNR describes steep terrain and ridges with overlooks where “Louisville can be seen on a clear day,” including Round Knob. The DNR’s map says Round Knob was damaged by a 2012 tornado and has been restored, and Indianapolis Monthly notes tornado damage is still visible in Clark State Forest.

New Chapel to Leota, about 9 miles, has “steep ridges” and the “lush North Branch Valley,” which the DNR calls “one of the most scenic areas,” with “abundant ferns, wildflowers and very large trees.” Indianapolis Monthly also recommends the first 10 miles from Deam Lake as a rugged sampler.

In June 2025, a hiker on r/hoosierhikes covered Deam Lake to New Chapel in two days and called it “very beautiful and challenging.” A reply noted that this section “had a campsite or two close to the trail every .5 mile or so after the 4th mile.”

To continue north, see Knobstone Trail North.

Tips

Register your trip. The DNR asks overnight users to register with DNR Law Dispatch at (812) 837-9536.
Carry water. The DNR says water isn’t available from most streams, and July through September are the worst months. Treat anything you collect.
Skip the first two miles for camp. Camping is prohibited from mile marker 0 to 2.
Pace yourself. The climbs are short and steep, all day.
Watch for reroutes. Temporary reroutes have been marked with flagging tape.
Wear orange in hunting season. The DNR says to know which seasons are open.

Camping

The DNR says camping is backcountry only, and prohibited from mile marker 0 to mile marker 2. Elsewhere, camp only on public land, “at least a quarter-mile away from all roads, recreation areas, and trailheads, and a minimum of 100 feet from the trail.” The DNR recommends a stove over a campfire; if you build a fire, keep it in a pit 12 inches or less across, clear a three-foot ring to mineral soil, and burn only dead, downed wood. Dogs should be leashed. Pack out everything, and bury waste at least 200 feet from water and camp. Deam Lake has a campground with showers at the trailhead.

Inside Intel: Hiking the whole trail southbound in March 2021, Reddit user wingwalker93 pointed to “overlook campsites from about mile marker 12 to 5” and camped in “the hollow between miles 14 and 15, where the stream bends,” on “a nice little, flat isle with a fire ring,” though he found that area scenic but trashy. Remember the 100-foot setback from the trail.

Trail facts

Distance: About 26 miles, Deam Lake to Leota
Route type: Point-to-point
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation: Escarpment rises more than 300 feet in places; close to 200 feet of gain and loss per mile
Campsites: Dispersed; not between mile markers 0 and 2
Water: Reliable water at the Deam Lake trailhead (DNR map); creeks are seasonal. Treat all water.
Permits: Register overnight trips with DNR Law Dispatch
Dogs: On leash
Trailheads: Deam Lake (mile 0), Jackson Road, New Chapel, Leota
Last verified: October 7, 2026

The Lowdown

Constant ups and downs on the Knobstone:

The Knobstone Trail averages close to 200 feet of gain and loss per mile, and the first 5 miles from Deam Lake include two very steep slopes. Pole rhythm and length matter on terrain like that.

See the pole tips →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.