Indiana / Lawrence County / Hoosier National Forest

Hickory Ridge Campground

Closed — Open year-round, first-come, first-served at no cost. Trail 16 is currently closed from the junction of Trail 17 on the west to the junction with Trail 17 on the east. Horses and mountain bikers age 17+ require a Hoosier National Forest Trail Use Permit.

About

Hickory Ridge Campground is a primitive, no-fee horse camping facility located in the Hoosier National Forest near Norman, Indiana. Designed primarily for equestrian camping, the campground welcomes all National Forest visitors at no cost. The campground features 10 designated campsites in a shaded setting among scenic hardwoods. Facilities at Hickory Ridge include accessible vault toilets, hitching racks for horses, and water for livestock (not tested as safe for human consumption). The campground serves as the trailhead for the extensive Hickory Ridge Trail system, offering over 45 miles of interconnecting trail loops through diverse hardwood forests. These multi-use trails accommodate horseback riding, mountain biking, and hiking, with day use parking also available for trail users. The campground is open year-round and operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Horses and mountain bike riders age 17 and older are required to have a Hoosier National Forest Trail Use Permit. Firewood restrictions apply: any firewood brought onto National Forest land must meet USDA or IDNR certification requirements, and only dead, downed material may be collected on-site. Standing trees, living or dead, may not be cut.

Directions

From Highway 446, turn onto Highway 58 East and proceed 6.5 miles to Norman. At the stop sign, turn left at the brown Forest Service sign. Continue 0.3 miles and turn left onto County Road 1250 W at the brown Forest Service sign. Proceed 1.5 miles to Hickory Grove Road, turn right at the brown Forest Service sign, and continue 0.7 miles to the Hickory Ridge Trailhead on the left.

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