Horsemen's Campground at Brown County State Park is one of several equine-friendly camping destinations surrounding Morgantown, Indiana. The region's terrain features limestone hills and dense hardwood forests. Most horse campgrounds near Morgantown, Indiana require crossing creek beds which can become impassable during heavy rainfall periods, typically in spring and early summer.
What to do
Trail riding at Brown County State Park: Extensive riding trails accessible directly from Horsemen's Campground provide hours of scenic riding through varied terrain. "It is Beautiful! I have only been twice and we took our hours to trail ride! There are a lot of fun hills and trails that you can ride for hours which we love to do," notes bria M.
Fishing at Yellowwood Lake: Access excellent fishing opportunities at Yellowwood State Forest with electric motors only allowed on the water. "Yellowwood lake is adjacent to the campground and there is a boat ramp, but there are limitations on boating(motor size). Check with the DNR website," advises Daisy C.
Boat rental options: Several locations offer watercraft rentals for lake exploration. "We have also had lots of fun renting a rowboat, and being out on the water. A few times we have camped in groups and rented an area, and that was also a great time camping with friends," shares Margo B. from Yellowwood State Forest.
Cave exploration: Visit Spring Mill State Park for unique underground experiences. "There is a cave tour also on offer in which you ride thru the cave system in a boat. Yes there are even lifevests for customer to wear!" explains Rachel W.
What campers like
Private campsites: Many equestrian campgrounds offer well-spaced sites. "Very beautiful yet primitive campground. All the campgrounds are numbered and have their own names. Think there are 80 sites in total. They have outhouses for toilets. Some sites have water fountains," reports Sammii D. at Yellowwood State Forest.
Free camping options: Blackwell Campground offers no-cost camping opportunities with basic amenities. "Can't believe this place was free. It was nearly empty (although it was the end of November). The hiking was fantastic and the few people camping there were very well dispersed and all respectful," shares Kelly G.
Historic attractions: Pioneer villages and historical sites enhance camping trips. "There is even an amazing pioneer village to explore where an original corn mill stands and you can buy freshly ground corm mill!" writes Rachel W. about Spring Mill State Park.
Secluded dispersed sites: Berry Ridge Road offers solitary camping experiences. "There are a couple walking trails around, as well each site is fairly far apart. It's really quite only seen a handful of cars drive by and I've stayed here for 2 nights," notes Ozzie L.
What you should know
Water crossing access: Many horse camping areas require navigating creek crossings that can flood. "Keep driving past the horse camp... If you come from the East you will pass horsecamp that only has paid for sites. Continue down the road you will see a sign for a second horse camp skip that as well!" advises Ry M. about Blackwell Campground.
Limited water sources: Water availability varies significantly between campgrounds. "Yellowwood state forest campground does not accept reservations. It is first come, first served. Drive up, select your site, and then go to the park office to pay using a self-pay envelope. Bring exact change(cash)," explains Daisy C.
Site leveling challenges: Many campsites in the region have uneven terrain. "The site we where at was heavily sloped, the only flat part was where they put the fire pit at. When we looked at the other site most of the shaded sites that had some privacy where also heavily sloped, the best site we found was #9," reports Thomas U. at Spring Mill State Park.
Weather-related hazards: Flash flooding can occur in low-lying areas. "The camping area occasionally experiences flooding during heavy rains, with up to four inches of water reported flowing through certain campsites," notes reviewers about several locations.
Tips for camping with families
Pioneer village activities: Johnson County Park offers educational opportunities. "Johnson County Park is an interesting conglomeration of activity. The park is 622 acres that include two campgrounds, approximately 5 miles of hiking trails, equestrian school, 18 hole disc golf course, shelter houses, amphitheater, lakes, fishing and more," describes Stephen & Theresa B.
Boat-accessible camping: Water activities enhance family camping experiences. "Plenty of room to spread out from your neighbors; it wasn't too busy when we were there (a Thursday). Camp accesses two trailheads directly. There were two bathrooms, a place for garbage, and potable water. Screech owls and active birds made it an exciting evening," shares Josie W. at Blackwell Campground.
Swimming options: Limited swimming areas available for cooling off. "Peaceful little place but unfortunately it rained but we made the best of it, there's some secluded spots where you can stay away from others or stay in the more general areas, nice lake to fish and we found a swimming hole for a refreshing dip," writes Steven G. about Yellowwood State Forest.
Wildlife viewing: Abundant bird and animal spotting opportunities throughout the region. "This was an amazing campground! There were amazing trails and a cave, as well as Pioneer Village which was so fascinating and well run. Our campsite wasn't far from the bathrooms and showers house which were pretty clean," notes Lauren E. about Spring Mill State Park.
Tips from RVers
Solar power access: Berry Ridge Road provides good sun exposure for solar setups. "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. Easy to find, easy to park," shares Palynn F.
Electric hookup limitations: Understand power options before arrival. "Very nice place! Hiking, fishing, kayaking, and horse riding trails. It is located just a few minutes from Brown County State park and Nashville In. There is a few RV sites (9 or 10) mostly tent camping sites," notes Ron H. from Yellowwood State Forest.
Dump station locations: Plan accordingly for waste disposal. "Great boondocking spot, plenty of flat land making leveling easy. Wide open so solar charging was easy. We were there for 7 days and while they have room for probably 50 or 60 rigs there was only 3 or 4 of us there most of the time," reports The Wandering Shores about Blackwell Campground.
Military activity awareness: Johnson County Park occasionally experiences noise from nearby base. "The campground is large rig friendly; family oriented and has a camp host on site for any assistance. Just to make you aware…the park is located in close proximity to an active reserve military base," explains Stephen & Theresa B.
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