Primitive camping opportunities near English, Indiana center primarily within the Hoosier National Forest's 203,000 acres of public land. The terrain features steep ridges, deep valleys, and hardwood forests with elevations ranging from 360 to 908 feet. Dispersed camping areas remain consistently available year-round with seasonal limitations during deer hunting season from November through early December when activity increases substantially.
What to do
Hiking trails access: The Knobstone Trail offers challenging backcountry exploration with significant elevation changes. As one hiker notes, "The KT is rugged and has lots of elevation gains over short distances. Everywhere you hike there are lovely vistas and lots of fossils on the trail and creek beds."
Wildlife observation: Early morning or evening hours provide optimal viewing opportunities for white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and various bird species. "There are plenty of great places to camp along the trail. Water can become scarce in the summer/fall months, but if you walk far enough, you're likely to come by a stream of some sort," explains a Knobstone Trail visitor.
Fossil hunting: Explore dry creek beds throughout the forest for marine fossils dating back 330 million years. At Jackson Trailhead, one camper mentioned "there's parking after a decrepit gravel road and suitable for camping. There are campsites along the trail just have to find them."
What campers like
Solitude and privacy: Most dispersed sites maintain significant distance from neighboring campers. According to a visitor at Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed, "Very quiet, only 2 vehicles passed by in the 36 hours I was there."
Natural scenery: The thick forests and exposed rock formations create distinctive camping settings. "The thick forest was beautiful. There are rock outcroppings along this road, which follows Mitchell Creek and lots to explore on foot," notes a camper at Mitchell Creek Road.
Cell service breaks: Most dispersed camping areas have limited or no connectivity. One camper observed, "No cell service at the site but there was a bar or two on the road just a few feet away. With a weboost there was att and tmobile service."
What you should know
Road conditions: Forest access roads vary significantly in quality and may become impassable after rain. At Horse Camp Rd Dispersed, conditions can change rapidly, though one visitor simply noted it as a "Cool place" without elaborating on access challenges.
Navigation challenges: Forest roads often lack clear signage or markers. A visitor to Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed shared: "Have a paper map handy, as there is no cell signal and GPS was spotty."
Site limitations: Many dispersed sites accommodate only small vehicles with limited capacity. "I did not see any pull offs that would accommodate an RV of any size, and nothing large enough to turn a trailer around. One pull off was nearly too small to turn around my small pick up truck."
Seasonal insects: Ticks remain prevalent from April through September. "Watch out for ticks. My dogs and I got loads of them in April 2020 from Leota to Spurgeon Hollow."
Tips for camping with families
Site selection: Choose locations with adequate flat space for multiple tents. At Hickory Ridge Primitive Dispersed Campsites, one camper noted, "I pulled in at midnight in a sedan in the winter and i was able to safely find my way. Very nice drive during the day, hiking is fantastic!"
Water planning: Bring sufficient water for your entire stay, particularly during summer months. "You're never too far from water, although the quality may differ depending on the time of year," advises a Knobstone Trail hiker.
Emergency preparations: Cell service remains unreliable throughout most dispersed camping areas. "Let someone know your itinerary, have a means for filtering water, and enjoy!" suggests an experienced backpacker.
Tips from RVers
Vehicle size restrictions: Most forest roads cannot accommodate vehicles longer than 20 feet. "There was a small drive to the right that went down towards the creek bed. There was a small fire ring here, and another fire ring around the back, both set up on the rocks of the dry riverbed."
Turnaround space: Check for adequate turning radius before committing to narrow roads. As one visitor to Hickory Ridge observed, "Good spot to get some quiet time to learn/hone skills or for some good quality time with the family while being plugged into nature and unplugged from their electronics."
Road surface assessment: Many access routes consist of unmarked gravel roads with variable conditions. "The only thing I found was what I believe was the entrance with a cable across it. There was no place to park otherwise."
