Equestrian camping near Highland, Indiana offers limited dedicated facilities with most options requiring travel outside the immediate area. Located in the northwest portion of Indiana where the elevation averages 600 feet above sea level, this region experiences distinct seasonal variations with humid summers and cold winters. The majority of campgrounds permit horses on designated trails during daylight hours, though overnight horse accommodations remain sparse within a 50-mile radius.
What to do
Fishing access: Red Hills State Park provides multiple fishing opportunities on its small lake. "Great fishing for largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and channel cat. Boats allowed with electric motors only. Max depth is 21 feet," notes Donald T. The park maintains boat ramps for easy water access.
Trail riding: While Lake Mauzy East doesn't offer dedicated horse facilities, its natural setting provides recreational alternatives. "Absolutely beautiful! Been traveling 150 days, 23 states plus DC, ...THE most pretty state! We lucked out and got an amazing spot... well they're all great!" reports Adrianne. The area supports wildlife viewing with "tons of birds, and we saw snake mounds but not yet seen one...birds and butterflies and owls."
Hiking access: Camp Cadiz Campground connects directly to regional trail systems. Chelsea D. explains, "It has easy access to the River to River trail, and I love the CCC stonework." Ryan P. adds that "This camp ground is only about 10 min from Garden Of The Gods. It's down a gravel road a bit but nothing too hard to find."
What campers like
Spacious sites: Red Hills Lake State Park provides ample room at each campsite. According to Samantha H., "We absolutely love this state park. We have three medium size dogs that go with us we have plenty of space at our campsite that is big enough for them." The park maintains electric hookups with water access points nearby.
Swimming options: Summer visitors appreciate water recreation facilities. One camper shared, "Great walking woods. but the restaurant is awesome. plenty of fish in the lake," while another noted that the park has "basketball courts, volleyball court, and lots of playground equipment around the park."
Remote atmosphere: For those seeking quiet camping, options exist within driving distance. Jeremy G. describes Camp Cadiz as "spacious, quiet, and the other campers wanted to camp not party." Hannah F. agrees: "My favorite part about this campground was that there were only 8 campsites so it was very quiet and remote."
What you should know
Limited horse facilities: Most campgrounds near Highland permit horses only for day use on designated trails. No permanent stalls or corrals exist within the immediate area, requiring equestrians to arrange temporary containment solutions.
Water availability: At Camp Cadiz, "The water pump got frequent use and the twin vault toilets were plenty for the campground." Art S. adds, "The hiking trails that headed out from the camp were wonderful. We even hiked down the forest road and found a hidden cemetery tucked away."
Seasonal considerations: Weather impacts facility availability throughout the year. At Red Hills, Doug W. reports, "Cell service was very good, Verizon, and very quiet. Most sites are 30 amp but the Lake view loop are 50 amp. There are a few sites that will handle large rigs but most are for medium sized rigs."
Tips for camping with families
Event planning: Harmonie State Park Campground hosts seasonal activities for children. Nichole M. explains, "We stayed the weekend before Halloween. We missed reserving the weekend they have the campground trick or treating, which was the weekend before, but this was just as fun." The park offers structured programs including "a trunk or treat in the pool parking lot" and "a hayride in the evening for a small fee and that included making smore's at the bonfire."
Wildlife encounters: Prepare children for potential wildlife sightings during camping trips. Barbie G. cautions, "Our only problem was 1 or more raccoons kept coming into our site. We shooed them away but they kept coming back. I'm sure they were just looking for food."
Multiple recreation options: Red Hills offers diverse activities for different ages. As Dusti M. states, "Beautiful lake with good fishing. Spots are a little unleveled but not bad. Nice restaurant, a little pricey but good food."
Tips from RVers
Hookup limitations: Most campgrounds offer partial hookups only. At Union County Fair, RV camping provides basic utilities but limited availability. According to Denton T., "I stayed here and camped for a bike rally. I think you can only camp during an event. And cost is different from each event."
Leveling requirements: Prepare for uneven terrain at many area campgrounds. Tracie E. notes about Red Hills, "Nice fresh gravel sites. Lots of trails it seems. Lake is nice sized but not too big." Utilities require attention as "A little issue with the electric @ 1st but maintenance was out right away & got everything up & running."
Signal strength: Cell reception varies significantly between locations. One camper mentioned having "4 bars LTE @ the campsite; great for streaming later," while Art S. warns that at Camp Cadiz, "Every vehicle that went by generated dust which then coated everything in our camp."
