Low Gap Trail, Morgan-Monroe State Forest

Morgan-Monroe State Forest Back Country Area, Indiana DNR Division of Forestry (south of Martinsville)

The Low Gap Trail is a roughly 10-mile loop through the Back Country Area of Morgan-Monroe State Forest, south of Martinsville. The Indiana DNR calls it “rugged” and allows overnight camping there with registration. Indianapolis Monthly describes rock shelters, creekbeds, tumbled boulders, and ridges and ravines stretching east.

A tornado hit the forest in June 2026, so check the trail’s condition before you go.

The hike

The DNR lists Low Gap at 9.8 miles, “a rugged loop through the Back Country Area where overnight camping is permitted with prior registration.” Indianapolis Monthly calls it 10 miles and describes the first 3.1 miles as the Rock Shelter Trail, which switchbacks down from ridge-top forest into a ravine with progressively higher cliffs and “cave-like” rock shelters, then follows creekbeds among tumbled boulders before the loop continues into the ridge and ravine country to the east.

Indianapolis Monthly also mentions Draper Cabin, a rustic rental with a fireplace and outhouse but no utilities, and notes that hunting is allowed in the forest, so wear orange in season. It says dogs are allowed.

On June 18, 2026, an EF-2 tornado hit Morgan-Monroe State Forest directly at the Scout Ridge campground, according to the DNR, which closed that campground and shelter and lists the Three Lakes Trail and several other trails as damaged. Commenters on Reddit’s r/Indiana said the storm crossed the Three Lakes and Low Gap trails and predicted months of cleanup.

The Tecumseh Trail begins at the same forest; see the Tecumseh Trail.

Tips

Ask about storm damage. Call the forest office before you go.
Register your trip. In person, by email, at the kiosk, or by phone, per the DNR.
Keep groups small. The limit is six people.
Treat creek water. Carry enough in case creeks are low.
Wear orange in hunting season.

Camping

The DNR allows overnight camping in the Back Country Area with prior registration. Register at the state forest office in person, by email (morgansf@dnr.IN.gov), at the kiosk, or by phone. Groups are limited to six people, stays to three nights per person, and all trash must be carried out. The Draper Cabin is a separate rental option.

Inside Intel: We didn’t find a camper account recommending a specific Low Gap campsite. Ask the forest office where backcountry camping is allowed when you register, especially while tornado cleanup continues.

Trail facts

Distance: About 9.8 to 10 miles
Route type: Loop
Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
Campsites: Backcountry camping in the Back Country Area by registration; Draper Cabin rental
Water: Creeks (treat); seasonal
Permits: Register with the forest office
Group size: Six maximum
Dogs: Allowed (Indianapolis Monthly)
Trailhead: Back Country Area, Morgan-Monroe State Forest
Last verified: October 7, 2026

The Lowdown

Creekbeds and rock shelters on Low Gap:

Low Gap drops into ravines and follows creekbeds among tumbled boulders, and a June 2026 tornado crossed the trail. Testers and owners weighed in on three rain shells.

Read the comparison →

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.