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Best Equestrian Camping near Paoli, IN

155 Reviews

Youngs Creek Horse Camp in the Hoosier National Forest accommodates equestrians with five to six primitive campsites featuring fire rings and picnic tables. Each site offers space for tents and vans with nearby horse hitches. The campground provides drinking water from a pump and maintains vault toilets for campers. Sites are generously sized but offer limited privacy between camping areas. The chorus frogs roar through the night, creating a distinctive woodland atmosphere. The camping area remains quiet except during organized trail rides when it fills quickly with horse enthusiasts.

Trail riders access a loop path directly from the campground that returns to the site, providing convenient riding without trailering. Located just five miles from Paoli, the horse camp serves as a strategic base for exploring the extensive bridle trail network throughout Hoosier National Forest. Most weekends feature horses on the nearby trails, though the campground itself sometimes hosts only hikers and hunters during off-peak periods. The access road adjacent to the camping area sees regular traffic through evening hours. Campers should bring bug spray and travel carefully on the approach roads. The free camping arrangement and secluded forest setting make this location particularly popular with equestrians seeking basic facilities while riding southern Indiana's trail systems.

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Best Equestrian Sites Near Paoli, Indiana (16)

    1. Spring Mill State Park Campground

    23 Reviews
    Mitchell, IN
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 849-3534

    $20 - $30 / night

    "Spring Mill State park is a little piece of history that is in the heart of southern Indiana. Here you will find a working frontier village."

    "Open space, close to facilities and water pump, Ground was mostly flat, slightly shady in the afternoon, and very peaceful."

    2. Youngs Creek Horse Camp

    8 Reviews
    Paoli, IN
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 547-7051

    "We camp here every time we come to Indiana. We have camped there in a truck camper, and now we tent camp with our Jeep. The sites are large, and there are fire rings available."

    "YC horse camp is well laid out and fairly spacious, apparently only for the random hikers and hunters. I stayed at here for a couple of days, planning on a longer visit, and wasn't dissatisfied."

    3. O'Bannon Woods State Park Campground

    20 Reviews
    Leavenworth, IN
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 738-8232

    $19 - $496 / night

    "Horse people love it also. The campground is near the trail to the old abandoned bridge which is well worth the hike. The fire tower has a commanding view."

    "Several trails in walking, horse or bike riding distance. Some direct access from the campground. You can set up here and have plenty to do without ever leaving the park."

    4. Blackwell Campground — Hoosier National Forest

    22 Reviews
    Heltonville, IN
    32 miles
    +1 (812) 275-5987

    "We arrived near dusk on a Friday. The entrance is clearly marked and road is gravel but well maintained. The site is open space with soft, well maintained grass and no muddy areas."

    "Close to town but also right off some amazing trails! Sometimes the horse trailers get loud with generators but it is a horse camp ground!"

    5. Deam Lake State Recreation Area Campground

    18 Reviews
    Borden, IN
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 246-5421

    $23 - $64 / night

    "There are horse trails, a beach, and great water for swimming/kayaking/canoeing. It is pet friendly as well. The bath house in our area was older but fairly clean."

    "Horse camping so was cool to see the horses. A beach location and a few fishing spots. The lake doesn’t allow non electric motors so waters were calm. Caught some bluegills."

    6. Hoosier National Forest North Face Loop Campground

    3 Reviews
    Saint Croix, IN
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 547-7051

    "There are two lakes, Indian and Celina , in the immediate area, electric motors only, which just adds to my liking it;)."

    "My husband and I have been to Lake Celina for a day hike before, so when planning where to go for a weekend of car camping choosing this place was a no brainer."

    7. Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping

    17 Reviews
    Freetown, IN
    38 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 275-5987

    "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 haven’t seen"

    "Trails, plenty of dry wood, away from the roads, no running water or electricity, decent amount of spaces we came in at night and counted about 9 very far spread out camp sights."

    8. Charles C. Deam Wilderness

    9 Reviews
    Heltonville, IN
    33 miles

    "A staple of our state here in Indiana. Unfortunately due to some storm damage, trails were rerouted or straight up inaccessible. Great places to find and set up camp."

    "I had the awesome experience to hammock camp on the Patton cave trail, along the creek that winds the length of that trail. It was a strenuous hike to pack in/out of, but was beautiful scenery."

    9. Hoosier National Forest Jackpine Loop Campground

    3 Reviews
    Leopold, IN
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 547-7051

    "Jackpine Loop is the largest of the campground loops at Tipsaw Lake Recreation area Hoosier National Forest. The entire Tipsaw area seems to be oriented toward family and group camping."

    "Wildlife is everywhere, as it is not unusual to have a Momma deer and her little one walk through the woods by your campsite or down by the boat launc, often followed by a turkey or two."

    10. Yellowwood State Forest

    15 Reviews
    Unionville, IN
    44 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 988-7945

    $225 / night

    "Drive up, select your site, and then go to the park office to pay using a self-pay envelope. Bring exact change(cash). Current prices are listed on the Indiana DNR website."

    "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"

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Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Paoli, IN

5 Photos of 16 Paoli Campgrounds

Equestrian Camping Reviews near Paoli, IN

155 Reviews of 16 Paoli Campgrounds

  • Susan A.
    Aug. 18, 2019

    Youngs Creek Horse Camp

    Great Camping Spot

    We camp here every time we come to Indiana. We have camped there in a truck camper, and now we tent camp with our Jeep. The sites are large, and there are fire rings available. There are vault toilets and a fresh water pump not far from them. The only time this camp is full is when a trail ride is going on, then it fills up fast. It is only five miles from Paoli, and there is a Walmart there if you need supplies..

  • D
    Dec. 7, 2021

    Youngs Creek Horse Camp

    Another quiet day in Indiana.

    I had been planning a trip to Youngs Creek for over a month and was happy to finally get there. YC horse camp is well laid out and fairly spacious, apparently only for the random hikers and hunters. I stayed at here for a couple of days, planning on a longer visit, and wasn't dissatisfied. It sports a good-sized pavilion and well-maintained his and hers vault toilets. The camp sites were generous in size with gravel parking, fairly level pads, picnic tables, and a fire ring. The only downside, besides the lack of horses, was an access road to adjacent to the camping area that is well used through the evening.
    I'll be making a return in the spring to watch for the return of the equestrians.

  • Stephen & Theresa B.
    May. 3, 2021

    Yellowwood State Forest

    This is a real Hidden Gem

    Yellowwood State Forest, named for the environmentally unique Yellowwood tree, is 23, 326 acres located 7 miles West of the artist community of Nashville, Indiana. Nestled in the rolling hills of southern Indiana famous for it's fall leaf color displays and gorgeous vistas. Yellowwood offers 79 primitive class c sites in four campground areas adjacent to the 133 acre Yellowwood Lake; Red Pine, White-Oak Hickory, Redbud and Black Gum;$13 per night. There are several potable water stations and pit toilets throughout the campgrounds and one dump station located in Red Bud. The Red Bud area also has a small camp store(not open during our visit, so not sure of their offerings). We did note some ADA accessible sites. Horse camping is also available in 12 class c sites in the Horseman Camp with miles of horse trails. Several picnic areas and shelters in the area; one beautiful location overlooking the lake with stunning brown county stone fireplaces. This park is perfect for tent camping or smaller units; we would not recommend for larger units as most sites are small and unlevel and may challenge your maneuvering skills! The park has 5 hiking trails ranging from easy to rugged and access to the Tecumesh Trail(43 miles) originally proposed to span from Florida to Canada. The park office facility offers boat(lake is known for good fishing) and kayak rental, ice and firewood. If you need facilities to accommodate your larger rig or feel a need for more amenities; Brown County State Park is just a few miles to the East...but don't pass up planning at least a day trip to enjoy this incredibly beautiful State Forest property. 772 Yellowwood Lake Rd, Nashville, IN 47448 GPS- 39.183995,-86.337878

  • Cynthia K.
    Jun. 27, 2024

    Yellowwood State Forest

    Just did a drive thru

     This is a State Forest campground near Nashville, Indiana. Primitive camping. Pit toilets only. This is by Yellowwood Lake, so boating & fishing opportunities. 

    All these sites are first come, first serve. No reservations. 

    There's a Forest Office with area information & a small display. 

    There's several trails of varying length. 

    Believe it or not- gold panning is a thing here! You need a permit.

    They rent boats at the Forest Office. Electric motor only.

     There's several camping loops. There's a horse camp also. 

    The boat ramp is near the horse camp loop.

     We didn't go down the Red Pine Loop, but did check out White Oak/Redbud& Black Gum.

     Hickory loop is right off the road & the sites are visible from the road. They looked nicely spaced.

    White oak loop had several nice sites. Redbud is close to a building they call a camp store. It may have been many years ago, but not open now.

     Several picnic spots by the lake. The best site in Redbud would be 39. Large site with some shade. I would also say 38, but site 37 is directly behind it. This is the camp host spot, so occupied. These sites are near the pit toilets.

    The best spot in Black Gum would be site 75. Large site at the end of the loop & right by the lake.

     If you go back to Hwy 46 where the road split on your way in, follow the sign to the dam. Just a large earthen dam, but there's trail heads here. There's the Scarce O' Fat Trail which has been mentioned on the Facebook Indiana Hiking page.

    $13 per night regular camping.$16 per night for horseman's.

  • David M.
    May. 22, 2021

    Youngs Creek Horse Camp

    Quit place

    Great quit place to rest up for a few nights. The site has a toilet and water. If you head into the town of Paoli be sure to hit up the farmers co-op for supplies.

  • Noah Y.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 18, 2024

    Charles C. Deam Wilderness

    Great for casual/experienced camping and hiking

    A staple of our state here in Indiana. Unfortunately due to some storm damage, trails were rerouted or straight up inaccessible.

    Great places to find and set up camp. We even discovered a few extra hidden sites just by being forced off trails due to the damage.

    Every dispersed camper should add the hikes to the lake to their checklist.

  • Nathan G.
    Oct. 12, 2023

    O'Bannon Woods State Park Campground

    Well kept and tons to see and do

    The park is well kept and organized. There are a ton of sites to visit and see. If you like hiking or mountain biking this is for you! Horse people love it also. The campground is near the trail to the old abandoned bridge which is well worth the hike. The fire tower has a commanding view. If you are not enjoying this park, not much else in Indiana will make you happy. Extra points: experienced cavers will enjoy the number of caves. These are by permit only however and novice non cavers should take a proper class and go with experts. There are multiple show caves in the area you can get a basic tour of also.

  • Audrey M.
    Jul. 11, 2018

    Horsemen's Campground — Brown County State Park

    Horseman Camp Needs an Upgrade

    Brown County has always been the jewel of Indiana State Parks for Trail Riders. The campground is large, with spaces to accommodate larger rigs. Most of the sites also have electric hook-up, although water spigots are few and far between. Arrangements for the horses are Hit or Miss depending on what site you stay on. Some of the sites are well shaded, but others are out in the open in full sun. The shower house is in good condition, except that it has no ventilation, so the floors remain wet. The campground is notorious for flooding in heavy rains. We have had as much as 4 in of water draining through our campsite. Some of the tie up areas for the horses are muddy holes that never get enough sunlight to dry out completely. Also be aware that the road leading to the Horseman's camp crosses a creek several times, and in rainy weather there may be water over the road. The camping area for regular campers is beautiful and well maintained, but it seems that Park management is not interested in attracting horse campers. Many of the wooden fences in the camp, as well as tie posts and picnic tables are in poor repair.

  • Gary J.
    May. 23, 2022

    Blackwell Campground — Hoosier National Forest

    Perfect

    We arrived near dusk on a Friday. The entrance is clearly marked and road is gravel but well maintained. The site is open space with soft, well maintained grass and no muddy areas. There are no marked sites but there is plenty of room for all types of campers. And there all types of campers there. Of 20 or so campers I saw horse trailers, couple of large RVs, teardrops, tent camping and vehicle camping. There are plenty of fire circles. The vault toilets are super clean and you don’t have to waste time flushing. Bonus - Cell phone reception was good! This is a horse camp where you’re welcome to stay without horses… so for etiquette’s sake please leave the spots with corrals and hitch rails for the horse campers! All in all this was a perfect location, extremely well maintained, not crowded with all types of campers peacefully coexisting.

Guide to Paoli

Horse camping in Indiana offers a unique blend of outdoor adventure and equestrian-friendly amenities, making it a great choice for horse lovers looking to explore the state's natural beauty.

Campers appreciate these amenities for horses

  • The Youngs Creek Horse Camp provides a spacious layout with generous campsites and well-maintained vault toilets, perfect for equestrian campers.
  • At Come Again Horse Camp, visitors can enjoy electric hookups and a horse corral, ensuring a comfortable stay for both riders and their horses.
  • O'Bannon Woods State Park Campground features a variety of trails suitable for horseback riding, along with amenities like drinking water and firewood.

Equestrian campers like these nearby activities

Most campgrounds have horse-focused amenities like trails and facilities

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Paoli, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Paoli, IN is Spring Mill State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 23 reviews.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Paoli, IN?

TheDyrt.com has all 16 equestrian camping locations near Paoli, IN, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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