Tent camping near Bedford, Indiana provides access to southern Indiana's limestone country, where rolling hills range from 500 to 750 feet in elevation within the Hoosier National Forest region. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing with summer highs averaging in the mid-80s, creating distinct seasonal camping experiences across Bedford's diverse forest landscapes. Trail networks throughout the area follow natural watersheds leading to Monroe Lake, making navigation relatively straightforward even for novice hikers.
What to do
Wildlife observation along creek beds: Charles C. Deam Wilderness features numerous opportunities for wildlife encounters along waterways. "I walked the creek for hours just looking at all the rocks on the sandbars. I have never encountered so many geodes in my life. Truly magnificent to encounter," writes Sarah R., though she warns "everything is permanently wet and mosquitos/ticks abounded" after rainfall.
Mushroom hunting in spring: The forest areas around Charles C. Deam Wilderness offer perfect conditions for morel mushrooms. "We visited during mid-April, perfect for finding morels. The trails are well paved and marked, not too strenuous. So many beautiful trees and plants to see, plus lots of creeks to walk through," notes Hannah F.
Lake access exploration: Finding routes to Monroe Lake provides rewarding day trips from most campsites. "Every dispersed camper should add the hikes to the lake to their checklist," recommends Noah Y., who mentioned discovering "a few extra hidden sites just by being forced off trails due to the damage" from recent storms.
What campers like
Genuine solitude: Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping offers exceptional privacy between sites. "If you are into boondocking at all defiantly check out berry ridge it's just south of brown county Indiana beautiful country mostly hills tons of camp spots sometimes half mile or more apart," shares Jacob, adding "haven't seen any people!!!!! Haha."
Creek-side hammock spots: Water access provides comfortable hammock camping opportunities. According to Ralph R., who visited Charles C. Deam Wilderness, he "loved it hammock camped right at the water front."
Self-sufficient camping experience: Campers appreciate the truly primitive nature of sites. "This is pack in pack out, no amenities camping for free," explains Jeremy F. about Berry Ridge Road, noting that some sites "could fit a pretty good sized camper" despite the primitive conditions.
What you should know
Road conditions require preparation: Access roads to many dispersed sites remain unpaved and can become challenging. Amber R. explains about Hickory Ridge Primitive Dispersed Campsites: "This was a great place to car camp while driving across USA. The main spot was full but I found a great pull off spot a lil further. I came across at least 5 lil spots," but cautions the "road was gravel and steep at times."
Trash management responsibilities: Pack-out ethics are essential but not always followed. As Darren L. notes about Charles C. Deam Wilderness, "The one negative was I did have to pack out previous campers trash along with my own. Being close to the college there was evidence that less than mature campers may frequent the area."
Water availability varies seasonally: Bring adequate water supplies, especially during summer months. Jessica T. advises: "Refill your water when you come across it; the lake is harder to get to than you think. I would also bring bug spray and check for ticks!"
Tips for camping with families
Scout reservation facilities: Ransburg Scout Reservation provides structured camping with amenities suited for families. "Located on Monroe lake, they have canoeing, row boats, sailboats, motor boats, and skiing. Lots of fun activities to do, and great hiking trails. Their mess hall is top notch. We have camped here in a cabin, and also tent camped," reports Margo B.
Trail difficulty considerations: Choose appropriate trails based on children's hiking abilities. One visitor to Ransburg Scout Reservation noted, "Our Boy Scout troop enjoyed visiting this location. It was well maintained and the staff was helpful. The downside was that the aquatics area was hard to get to from our site because it was so far away."
Campsite security for solo parents: First-time solo campers should consider site visibility. Palynn F. shared about Berry Ridge Road: "This is my first time camping solo. I was definitely nervous at first and almost debated getting back on the road before sundown. But it's now 10:37 pm, I'm traveling from Chicago to Florida and I kind of love this spot."
Tips from RVers
Size limitations for forest access: Oak Ridge Camping Area — Morgan-Monroe State Forest accommodates smaller trailers but presents challenges for larger rigs. Don N., who camped in a "Winnebago Micro Minnie 2108 TB" explains: "This park is not for large rigs, but we had no trouble fitting into our small camper." He adds that "the only drawbacks were that the vault toilets are in pretty bad condition and the dump station hose did not have a connection."
Generator considerations: Limited power options mean planning for self-contained electricity. "Even though there is no electric hookup we had a generator that we used sparklingly," notes Don N. about Morgan-Monroe State Forest.
Campsite leveling challenges: Many sites feature uneven terrain requiring leveling equipment. One camper at Morgan-Monroe State Forest mentioned, "I was slightly disappointed by the site selections being mostly on a slant, but we did find one on the overfill site that suited our needs and we ended up loving it."
