The Best Backpacking in Indiana

Looking for the best backpacking in Indiana? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Indiana. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top backpacking spots in and near Indiana

Bristow, Indiana

Backpack the Two Lakes Loop Trail, Hoosier NF

4.0

16 mi

This is one of my favorite options for a quick weekend backpacking trip near Louisville. The trail forms a figure eight around 2 lakes - Indian Lake and and Lake Celina. Hiking the full outer loop around both lakes is about 16 miles, but if that's too much distance or you are short on time, you c...
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Borden, Indiana

Hike Knobstone Trail: Deam Lake To Round Knob

12.5 mi / 2 ft gain

Knobstone Trail: Deam Lake to Bartle Knob Road is a 12.2 mile loop hike where you may see beautiful wild flowers located near Borden, Indiana.
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Crawfordsville, Indiana

Hike Shades State Park Backpack And Campground Loop

5.1 mi / 314 ft gain

Shades State Park Backpack and Campground Loop is a 5.1 mile loop hike that takes you by a river located near Waveland, Indiana.
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Heltonville, Indiana

Hike Grubb Ridge Loop To Peninsula Trail

16.1 mi / 1 ft gain

Grubb Ridge and Peninsula Trail is a 16.1 mile out and back hike that takes you by a lake located near Heltonville, Indiana.
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Nashville, Indiana

Climb Lilly Lookout at Brown County State Park

/ 75 ft gain

Originally used as a wildfire outpost, Lilly Lookout was donated in 1942 and moved to the State Park to serve as a radio communications tower. It also serves as a public observation tower where visitors can climb most of the way up, though the booth at the top is usually locked. The tower is loc...
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Paoli, Indiana

Hike Spring Valley Trail

10.2 mi / 984 ft gain

Spring Valley Trail is a 10.2 mile loop hike that takes you by a lake located near Paoli, Indiana.
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New Pekin, Indiana

Hike Knobstone Trail: New Liberty To Leota Road

15.2 mi / 2 ft gain

Knobstone Trail: New Chapel to Leota is a 7.8 mile point-to-point hike that takes you past great forest setting located near Underwood, Indiana.
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New Pekin, Indiana

Hike Knobstone Trail: New Chapel Trailhead To Deam Lake Trailhead

16 mi / 2 ft gain

Knobstone Trail: Dream Lake to New Chapel is a 16.2 mile point-to-point hike that takes you by a lake located near Underwood, Indiana.
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Salem, Indiana

Hike Knobstone Trail: Leota To Elk Creek

12.2 mi / 3 ft gain

Knobstone Trail: Leota to Elk Creek is a 6.8 mile point-to-point hike that takes you by a lake located near Scottsburg, Indiana.
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Scottsburg, Indiana

Hike Knobstone Trail

8.2 mi / 1 ft gain

Knobstone Trail is a 41.8 mile point-to-point hike that takes you by a lake located near Salem, Indiana.
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Scottsburg, Indiana

Hike Knobstone Trail: Spurgeon Hollow To Delaney Park

10.9 mi / 1 ft gain

Knobstone Trail: Spurgeon Hollow to Delaney Park is a 10.9 mile loop hike that takes you by a lake located near Scottsburg, Indiana.
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Bloomington, Indiana

Hike Lake Monroe Peninsula Trail

9.8 mi / 790 ft gain

Lake Monroe Peninsula Trail is a 9.8 mile out and back hike where you may see beautiful wild flowers located near Bloomington, Indiana.
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Unionville, Indiana

Hike Low Gap Trail

10.3 mi / 1 ft gain

Low Gap Trail is a 10.3 mile loop hike where you may see beautiful wild flowers located near Martinsville, Indiana.
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Bloomington, Indiana

Hike John Grubb Ridge And Terrill Ridge Loop Trail

19.4 mi / 2 ft gain

John Grubb Ridge and Terrill Ridge Loop Trail is a 19.4 mile loop hike that takes you by a lake located near Heltonville, Indiana.
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Corydon, Indiana

Hike Adventure Hiking Trail

21.5 mi / 3 ft gain

Adventure Hiking Trail is a 21.7 mile loop hike that takes you by a river located near Corydon, Indiana.
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Henryville, Indiana

Hike Knobstone Trail: Bartle Knob Road To New Chapel

10.9 mi / 1 ft gain

Knobstone Trail: Bartle Knob Road to New Chapel is a 10.9 mile point-to-point hike where you may see beautiful wild flowers located near Borden, Indiana.
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