Backpack Trail Guide

Trails / Indiana / Southern Indiana

Knobstone Trail North: Leota to Delaney Park

Jackson-Washington State Forest, Indiana DNR Division of Forestry (near Salem)

North of Leota, the Knobstone Trail climbs to ridges near 1,000 feet before ending in Jackson-Washington State Forest near Salem. The Indiana DNR describes ridges reaching 1,000 feet, “geode-laden streams,” lakes at Elk Creek and Spurgeon Hollow, and a choice of ridge or valley routes. This page covers about 24 miles from the Leota trailhead to Delaney Park, including the Delaney Park loop.

It’s as steep as the south half. The DNR says the escarpment makes for “steep climbs and descents.”

The hike

The DNR describes the section from Leota to Elk Creek, about 7 miles, as rising “to an elevation of 1,000 feet” and passing “large clearings created by logging operations” that make “excellent wildlife habitat.” Indianapolis Monthly singles out Leota to Elk Creek Lake as one of the trail’s most rugged sections, with 850-foot ascents between knobs.

From Elk Creek to the Oxley Memorial trailhead, about 5 miles, the DNR says the trail crosses “geode-laden streams” with diverse vegetation. Between Oxley and Spurgeon Hollow, the distance is “about 5.5 to 7.5 miles, depending on route chosen”: a northern ridge-top route or a southern valley route through a “moist valley” with “easy walking.” Secret Falls describes the Spurgeon Hollow area as steep and rugged, with “sustained elevation changes” across the escarpment’s flat-topped ridges, and Spurgeon Hollow Lake near the trailhead.

The trail ends with the Delaney Park loop, which the DNR calls “about 6 miles” and “a rugged hike.” Indianapolis Monthly calls the Delaney Park Loop a moderate 6-mile option on its own. Delaney Park has camping and cabins, according to the DNR’s map.

A Dyrt reviewer, Maris H., wrote that “everywhere you hike there are lovely vistas and lots of fossils,” and warned about ticks in spring.

For the southern half, see Knobstone Trail South.

Tips

Camping

Knobstone rules apply: camp only on public land, at least a quarter mile from all roads, recreation areas, and trailheads, and at least 100 feet from the trail, per the DNR. Use a stove if you can; any campfire must be in a small pit with a cleared ring, using only dead, downed wood. Keep dogs leashed, pack out everything, and bury waste at least 200 feet from water and camp. Delaney Park offers campground camping and cabins at the north end.

Inside Intel: We didn’t find a camper account recommending a specific site on this half of the trail. Because camping must be a quarter mile from trailheads, the water stops at Elk Creek and Spurgeon Hollow are places to fill up before hiking on to camp, not campsites themselves.

Trail facts

The Lowdown

850-foot climbs from Leota to Elk Creek:

Between Leota and Elk Creek Lake, one magazine describes 850-foot ascents between knobs, and the DNR says the escarpment means steep climbs and descents. Here's how to set your poles for terrain like that.

Get the trekking 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.