Reviews of Hoosier National Forest (Park)

Nicole Deri

This review is based on tent camping at site 47 in Hardin Ridge Recreation Area in Heltonville, IN in the Hoosier National Forest overnight on October 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th of 2019. WOW WOW WOW! This was the best campground/campsite we've ever had. Site 47 is located on the Southern Point loop and it is designed for tent campers with no electric or water at each campsite, but there are water spigots nearby and electricity in the nearby bathhouse with flush toilets and hot showers. There is a picnic table, lantern pole, tent pad and in the ground fire rings with a nice grill attached at each site. The campsites are nicely spaced apart on a beautiful ridge. Most campsites have a nice gravel spot for your vehicle and the a few wooden steps down lead you to your fire ring, picnic table and tent pad. This was very nice bc your site is even further down off the road. There were zero bugs, tons of potential firewood and temps were 70s for highs and 50s for lows. There are hiking trails that lead down to Lake Monroe, one with a beach, swimming, fishing and boating opportunities. We'll definitely be back and hopefully will get site 47 again!! ⛺♨❤⛺♨❤⛺

Kim Hight

Our family loves it here beautiful place and lots of activities for the family

Lag OwO UwU

Nice and clear air, very open, and I should say it was very pretty!

Diana Brown

Peaceful and relaxing, see nature at it's finest

Alex Rittenhouse

The Hoosier National Forest is a quick and easy getaway from home that can be easily accessible from any directional city. The HNF has miles upon miles of clearly marked, well maintained trails that range from most beginner trail walkers to the most advance hikers. Great place to do some trail biking, even. Highly recommend for exercise and for the scenery!

Scot Cornelius

We love this place ❤️ beautiful!!!

paula heater

If you visit French Lick, definitely ride the train through the Forest!!

April Lovell

Great place to go hang out and get back into nature.

Ren Sue

Beautiful place to enjoy the outdoors.

Dan Watt

Love this place. Excellent camping, hiking and boating!

Derrick Cook

Squirrel hunting here is awesome. I've spent many years with my grandad in these woods.

Heidi Melms

Great place for hiking, backpacking, and horse back riding. Several trails, some marked better than others, some cleaned up better than others. However, it’s hiking in Indiana and some of the best terrain. In the summer it really doesn’t have any scenery because the woods are VERY dense. This also makes it extremely hot and humid in summer since there is no breeze either. Keep that in mind if you are planning a trip. Don’t expect the trails, roads, bathrooms, and views to be that of a state park, but it also doesn’t have the traffic of state parks either. At times you can feel like the only person in the woods when hiking! We hiked 14 miles in one afternoon and besides the miserable heat of August had a great time. Brought a filter and was able to find a few water sources to keep hydrated. We definitely plan to be back when the weather is a little more agreeable. Image is one of the neat campsites we found while hiking.

Adam Yingling

It's a nice peacfull place to spend you last days on earth I lost my home my perpus job. Avery thing and a reson to live but for a very short time I will enjoy this blissful moment

Mike Swinson

If you love the outdoors you'll really love this place. The park is nice and the lake is fantastic. The area is very clean safe and secure. Lots of different Wildlife to look at and lots of great things to see.

David Weaver

Great place to go for quiet relaxing walk

Ali Arthur

Beautiful went to hilltop christian camp for a wonderful fishfry

Jeff Newlun

If you want some solitude peace and quiet except for the wild animals it's a great place to go

Kelly Bocock

It's great for the spirit to connect with nature.

Holly Blair

We camp here regularly and always have fun. Hosts are friendly and helpful

Alex Krasutsky

This place never fails to leave me in awe. The Forrest is incredible. I love nature and this is one of those places that will take you far away from everything. GREAT FOR MUSHROOMS, by the way

Heather Huber

Pretty lake. Great camping our site said slightly uneven. More like a hill.

tiny star

I didn't hate it. I was there looking at some timber for sale. I think it's mind boggling though, how much tax money is being wasted in the national forests.

Debby Cosner

Who can't love nature. She's the best place to go for the mind and soul

LaTosha Finch

The most beautiful place in Indiana!

molly l

Not the best kept place. Camp sites weren't mowed, the beach is over grown... But we still had a good time, very quiet.

Evan Chivington

Great place to hike. Make sure you know where you are going, the place is huge.

Brent Roberts

It's got some nice trails

Roger latham

It's ok and well maintained

Benjamin Becher

Great places to hike with pretty views

Steven Duckett

My wife and I love taking our children to do things outdoors. Getting back to the basics, camping, cooking on an open fire, fishing, etc. We really enjoy visiting all the state parks and such as we feel a lot safer while camping. Just an enjoyable experience overall.

Andrew Steele

Great day on Patoka Lake

Sueanne Cmehil-Warn

Did a roadside stop for a geocache the Earthcache is fun and we found fossils next to the commuter parking area.

Richard Payne

Great place to take a walk and just take in the outdoors

Jamie James

Beautiful forest. We didn't get to see it all due to time constraints but of the 13 miles we hiked, we would have enjoyed it more without the horse trails. Every horse trail was utterly destroyed and some paths only for hikers were also destroyed by people taking their horses there since they couldn't make it through the actual horse trails. It needs some attention but other than that muddy issue, I can't wait to go back.

Shane Hughes

The great outdoors. Beautiful and peaceful.

Non ya

Great place for horseback riding. $5 day pass and $30 yrly pass

Vernon Stallins

Great for family fun or just some peaceful alone time. Hiking, biking, horse trails, zip line, swimming, fishing, etc.

Ella Vanasse

Nice swimming pool with great slides. The entrance fee of $5 per person is a little too high for a State Park. For a family of 4 it would cost $20 just for a few hours of swim. No shades!

gdvm1000

Staff is so kind and warm. My family and I have been going here multiple times every year for as long as I can remember. Bathrooms and washrooms are kept very clean compared to others and the hiking trails are excellent. They range from short one hour trails all the way up to multiple days. I highly recommend this place.

Carlos Hernandez

Really great place for family and friends. Love peaceful times and the breeze of the wind is so energetic.. please visit, you won't be disappointed.

Karla Birtchman

I LOVE being out here. It's the absolute wilds of Indiana out here, and if love hiking and just exploring, there is a lot to see here.

Brian Kloss

The largest forest in Indiana. Known to be one of the best parks's in the state packing in & primitive camping. It has a unique amount of geology with limestone bluffs & caves, untouched beaches, hiking, mountain biking & horse trails that span for miles. South of the Deam Wilderness you can camp just about anywhere with a campfire.

Brian Adams

Backpacked the Twin Lakes loop trail. The trail is nice and brings you through several different types of terrain. Bring your bug spray and pants, there are quite a few ticks here.

Eddie Yopp

I've been all over the nation in seen several forests in my lifetime is nothing like coming home and then didn't you know Hoosier National Forest. It's all very very good nature experience for the young'uns and the light so I'll give it a 5

Diane Crews

Was very nice to drive thru this forest.

Cameron Prater

Fun family place . Good hiking and views.

Devon Foreman

I can move in there and never leave. It is so beautiful and I love the surroundings. There's so many woods pretty creeks pretty rocks all the sounds of the frogs and the crickets at night. Everything about it is just wonderful. It's my absolute favorite place to go.

Cory Dickerson

They have a flying squirrel nest in the fire tower located in the Charles C. Deam wilderness center.

Mike F

My fiancee and I loved the beautiful drive through this natural treasure.

cjsanders35

Love hiking the forest. Setting up a tent and staying over night.

Kerry Timberlake

Love patoka lake. Love the forest

conita livingston

Just beautiful fall time is awesome

Greg Croucher

I've been going to this Forrest for 25 years. Very quiet, great fishing (from a small boat), nice camp sites, and a great hiking trail

Ken Risen

Great place ,to go swimming at chipsaw park near Leopold Indiana.They also have camping and hiking and fishing.

Wendy Loechte

Great trails had a lot of family fun

Barbie Dean

Nice, clean, family friendly place. Lots to do and see.

Natalie Goodpasture

I've only ever driven through Hoosier national forest but one of these days I really do want to stay there it's a lovely forest and a great view just driving through

Kyle

Drove thru it on the highway. Looked nice.

Chris McCart

Really fun, laid back place ans staff.

Chris

Camping great, no people around, bring all you need or you will have to drive all the way back to town

Belinda Privetts

Beautiful area to visit!!

Srihari Yamanoor

Mostly people living here. Not sure what the scam is, but hardly any forest out there.

Laura Aalderink

Beautiful, but full of ticks! Tipsaw Lake Recreation camp sites were ideal.

Eric Thompson

Payola Lake is a great place for four season fun. The lake is large enough to accommodate inboard motor watercraft during the summer. There is no inn, but both on and off property cabins are available for dinner. Local cuisine, mostly sandwiches and pizza are located conveniently close to lake front. Hiking is available year round. Finer dining is also available in nearby French Lick. The staff here keeps the park clean and running well. Always safe for families or just avid outdoorsman.

fredrick smith

Beautiful park, just flood water hasn't gone down yet.

Brooke Kimsey

Beautiful. I hope it always stays a national forest.

Sarah L.

Nice primitive and secluded trails for those who don't like crowds. We love taking the dogs for dips in the lake, too.

Chris Abbotts

Stay away. This place is awful. You'll hate it.

David Woodward

THE Work week peaceful serenity of the forest is relaxing and calming melts away the stress of

Veni Ari

Beautiful park with free camping site

Maria Williams

Waterfalls...no brainer right

rick mcdaniel

Nice place to vacation

Julie Mathis

Awesome Place To Spend Time With God, Reading His Word, Praying, Getting Peace Of Mind/Take Thoughts Captive, Rest & Relaxation. ❤️ Thankful For A Beautiful Place To Rejuvenate, God Bless Those Who Make This Forrest A Place To Get With Our First Love

Bill Ellegood

I had no idea Indiana had such beautiful natural resources, tall pine trees, valleys and small canons along winding trails. No TV, No Radio, no Cell Service, No Internet. It seemed like we had the forest all to our selves, quiet and surreal.

Ken Diffendarfer

It is done off the prettiest country in the list midwest. The foothills and the beautiful streams with amazing rocks or agates in them. Several lakes to utilize and ample watersports or fishing opportunities to enjoy.

Findeeney

Camping on the water is great, fun for the whole family

Doug Hawkins

Had a great time fishing

chip Tabor

Ever been here. I bet it would be cool

Shaina Phillips

Love fishing,camping and hiking.

Paul McIntyre

Sycamore springs park near English In. Is one of Indiana's finest parks

Richard Mason

Nice get away

Samantha Richards

We LOVED it here! My dog had plenty of space to run around in the grass ! It was quiet and the people who live across the road were very friendly! (Ticks are bad this year!)

Virginia Perry

What an amazing resource just about an hour away from Indianapolis or Louisville. Easily accessible from trail or lake. We went in by canoe for a week and had a blast. Beautiful scenery. Had some great paddles and some really good day hikes. Make sure you take water because the summer had been so dry. The deeper you get the less and less trash you see. But some of the campsites close to the boat launch had a lot of trash.

William Burbine

The place is a wonderful place to go to get that outdoor experience.

C Wilhite

It is beautiful. Unfortunately, where this photo was taken, they have closed the camping area. There is another area you can camp about 8 miles away.

john doe

Spent priceless times hunting squirrels and deer here. Vast considering the city folks keep chipping away at the territory. Beautiful scenery, and I've drank water from some of the underground springs scattered through. Not too mention the Native American headstones I've found. Some caves for splunking as well, but are very dangerous. If you want to hunt some game or just explore. The Hoosier National Forest won't disappoint. My uncles place used to run into the Hoosier National Forest. Miss those Summers for sure.

Jessie Flumbaun

Beautiful place to ride horses. The trails are well-kept

Erik Schissler

Great hiking and camping, some beautiful, secluded, wild places out there.

Sandy Willis

Love the country God Bless

Jay Dee Cardwell

It is our home and I love it

Vid the galaguh gamer

Into the woods we go its always great

Donna Douglas

What can I say? The National & State forests all across our Nation are breathtaking, & each one different in its special way. I could never get enough of them.

Damian Dillard

With tons of trails to walk, and plenty of hidden treasures to discover, this is one of the main reasons to come to Perry County.

Dale Johnson

Nice park well ran by the DNR

Roy Watkins

We come for the lake. Camping out in our boat right now!

Bette Maners

Our cabin is only 600 ft from the property line, so yes, we love it!

e b hunter

Lovely motorcycle ride. Nice people. Glad we took a detour to get here

Will Wigley

Really good camping trip.

Jason Hopkins

Camp sites were nice, but it will cost you $20 to camp- $40 if you choose a "double" site. Watch out for ticks and poison ivy, especially when gathering firewood in the woods.

Deborah Veith

It was a nice visit,,,,very nice people I came in contract wirh

Indrid Cold

I love this place, it is very beautiful, peaceful and primal. There are logging roads to take your 4x4 and lots of places to hike.

kevin reyes

Overall a great place to relax and unwind

Ginger

Love the area cell coverage is severely lacking. I get it that we should unplug, but I'd like to be able to call or receive calls should the need arise, especially if there was an emergency. We've purchased a cell booster for our RV so hopefully we won't feel vulnerable.

Amir Farokhi

The only National Forest Wilderness in Indiana. My favorite place to hike, and there is more freedom compared to the surrounding state parks/forests. Patton Cave, fire tower, tornadic destruction along peninsula trail, creepy abandoned structures, there is much to explore...

Zachary Barr

It is where I go at least 3 times a year. All of the major holidays. Lake access and lots of amenities.

Aryanna Wilson

Great for boating and family excursions.

Rachel Davis

Great park, great pontoon rental!

Paul Catterton

Lots of lodging choices, equestrian, hiking and mountain bikes trails in Brown County State Park. Park charges entry fees; if you're from out of state be prepared to ante up $10.

Pamela Barnes

Woods and water! Camping was great.

Shawn Maclean

Very nice campground one of my fav

Cathy Willman

For those who enjoy forest solitude and not far from civilization.

Madison

Beautiful and well kept very large property! Very relaxing and fun at the same time!

Jerry Sonheim

Always great to get out to nature

Christy Wilkerson

We boondocked here for 2 nights with our RV at the entrance to Youngs Creek horse trail, it was free, nobody else camped here while we were here, and it was ever so peaceful! Oh and dog friendly!

Kevin Tanksley

Well taken care of.

Matt Brooks

Always love riding through here and now I want to walk through there since I noticed they have a paved walking trail.

A B

I've grown up in these Woods and they're gorgeous year-round

Ovaiz Rana

Nature, I love it. Once of the nice outdoor parks

Rhonda Condra

It's a very beautiful park

Jason Hignite

Our camp site had excellent water access.

Gravitron Defy Gravity

Go and enjoy your family, leave the phones behind.

Bobby Kirk

Beautiful landscape, didn't stop just drove through

Christopher Schmitt

This really isn't a place as much as it is an area. There are a lot of places her to enjoy. State parks are all around here. There are also a couple large reservoirs with boating and fishing activities. You can find several large caves in the area with guided tours. There are also rivers offering places for kayaking and canoeing. Several cabin rental places can also be found here.

Elizabeth Robertson

Huge public grounds. Nice facilities everywhere that I've been.

Thomas Dornberger

A place to de-stress and live simple for a while.

Tara nicole Vogel

Its relaxing. Its where i basically grew up.

Irvan Robbins

Nice view country roads working near by.

Joseph Morehous

Shows indiana beauty!

vernon b

Great place gods country still a place you can go be 10 miles from the nearest human

Shravan Gundu

Good hiking for families and beginners.

Christine Quillen

Best state park. They have different areas for camping, boating, beach with shower/bathrooms snack bar, covered picnic areas, marina, archery range, disc-golf, paved bike trails, gravel hiking paths, see eagle at visitor center and much more (Patoka Lake) rent boats, ski-do, pontoon boats. Rent floating cabins

Jon Carey

It's a beautiful place there's some capping there's lots of trails and you can just enjoy nature

Secily Bond

There are so many beautiful recreational areas in Hoosier National Forest!

Paul Harden

This forest is amazing. Lots to see and discover.

Larry Altstadt

Had a great time Watching the Disc Golf Tournament

Michael Apple

Is Where I currently live . IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO LIVE AND VISIT IF YOU'RE NOT FROM HERE. LOTS OF TRAILS AND PATOKA LAKE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.

Chris Gregory

Nice camping areas, secluded spots, clean facilities. Nice beech and lake.

Greg Edmison

Wonderful place be ready for a good hike. Must say though most the people hiking aren't very friendly which is upsetting

Mary Raymond

We are hosts at Tipsaw Recreation.Area. it is beautiful here!

Rick Hess

It's a nice walk ,good fishing.

margaret hobbs

Went to Patoka Lake. Very pretty.

Jason Magner

Good riding and gnarly hill climbing. I've been riding here since 09

Richard Sheridan

Great motorcycle riding area.

Mark Donaldson

Hoosier national forest covers a cast portion of south central Indiana. It is a beautiful place to live and visit.

Patrick Hayden

Great forest for hiking and camping

Dan Lamphier

The area is the most beautiful in the state. A very under used asset in this state. Thats ok though because it keeps it clean and quiet for those of us who do use it. While there take your garbage out with you. If you don't have any pick some up laying on the ground. "Leave it better than you found it!"

ChrisnChrisCustoms 1

Awesome sasquatch hunting

Kristina Higgs

We camp at Tipsaw, it is very peaceful and quiet out here!!

Monica Prince

Wonderful campground and excellent host.

Aron Biggs

Just absolutely beautiful, nature and beauty!!!

Bill Byrd

Dont remember this visit ,must of been good

Spear Brave

Nice place to visit, too many people at times

My Testimony

It's beautiful. You'll lose track of time here.

Ally Fleckenstein

Great place to walk around and hike!

Nitin Singh

Peaceful and calm with soft spoken and friendly locals

Mike Moore

Need a place to getaway for the day look no farther take some time and go

Mary Hawkins

A very clean and nice state park, we love to camp there, the pool is great for kids. Thr nature center is always well staffed and love the pioneer village. I have been on the horse trails they are nice trails a bit rockie.

Richard Draper

A beautiful place if you are an outdoor person.