Underwood, Indiana camping areas offer varied terrain from dense forests to lake access points at elevations ranging between 450-800 feet above sea level. The climate features four distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 85°F and winter lows frequently dropping below freezing. Campgrounds in this region connect to multiple trail systems including the 50-mile Knobstone Trail which runs through heavily forested ridges.
What to do
Hiking along rugged trails: The Knobstone Trail near Underwood provides challenging hiking with significant elevation changes. 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. You're never too far from water, although the quality may differ depending on the time of year."
Visit historical sites: Clifty Falls State Park Campground offers access to both natural features and nearby historical attractions. A visitor explained, "Downtown Madison is a beautiful old town, with a newer northern section of town. Old madison is full of events when scheduled correctly." The park's location makes it ideal for exploring both natural and cultural attractions.
Water recreation: Starve Hollow State Rec Area Campground offers multiple water activities. A camper described, "The lake has a swimming area (no lifeguards), playgrounds, and bathhouse. The lake allows boats with electric trolling motor only." For those seeking water recreation, kayak rentals are available but go quickly: "If you want to rent one of the kayaks, get to the office right at 8 or they will be gone for the day."
What campers like
Private lakefront access: Campers consistently praise the waterfront sites at several campgrounds near Underwood. At Starve Hollow, a reviewer mentioned, "We stayed in site 21 which was right on the lake. All the lake front spots seem to have a good amount lakefront footage. We probably had at least 40 feet."
Clean, well-maintained facilities: Scottsburg/Raintree Lake KOA receives positive feedback for its upkeep. A recent visitor noted, "The campground is clean and very well maintained. All the sites are pretty much the same with good spacing between them." The campground's cleanliness extends to its newer amenities like the saltwater pool.
Trail diversity: The varying difficulty levels of trails across multiple parks allow hikers of all abilities to find suitable routes. At Delaney Creek Park, a camper described, "Its at the start to a Fifty mile trail (Knobstone Trail) or you can do the Delaney Loop in about 6 hours (7.5 miles and 2000 ft elevation change) a good challenge for all ages. Trail is well marked and maps at gate."
What you should know
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds in the region have uneven terrain. At Delaney Creek Park, a visitor warned, "Every lot slopes down towards the lake. If you have levelers, should not be a problem, but be sure to bring extra, because it's a good 3" to 5"." Another mentioned, "Sites for RVs are concrete and you will need to level some on all of them."
Seasonal water availability: Trail hikers should plan water supplies carefully, especially during warmer months. For Knobstone Trail, a hiker advised, "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."
Wildlife encounters: Ticks and other wildlife are common in the area. One hiker reported, "My dogs and I got loads of them in April 2020 from Leota to Spurgeon Hollow." Raccoons also frequent campsites, with one camper at Clark State Forest mentioning they "met a friendly raccoon" during their stay.
Tips for camping with families
Cabin options: Deam Lake State Recreation Area Campground offers family-friendly cabin accommodations. A visitor shared, "We stayed last night in the Cardinal Cabin. Tons of privacy and the best bathrooms I have ever seen. Not a single bug and they even had antibacterial hand soap at every sink."
Beach activities: Several campgrounds feature swimming areas suitable for children. A camper at Deam Lake noted, "The beach was fun to swim and water was clean. They have boats for rent which are fun and paddle around the lake."
First-time RV experiences: Many families have positive experiences with first RV camping trips in the area. At Charlestown State Park Campground, a visitor recalled, "1st time campers with our travel trailer. Enjoyed rose island trail lots of cool history to learn. Also enjoyed trail 6 with the waterfalls."
Tips from RVers
Hookup locations: At some campsites near Underwood, utilities may be in unconventional locations. One RVer at Delaney Creek Park advised, "The electric and water hookups are not in standard locations for RV hookups. Make sure you bring an extension for your electric hookup, otherwise you might not be able to reach the post. Same for water hookup."
Satellite and cell reception: Connectivity varies greatly between campgrounds. One RVer reported at Delaney Creek Park, "Verizon phone, Verizon mifi and Dish Satellite, all excellent." However, at Clark State Forest, campers experience much more isolation, with reviewers describing it as "very dead and very quiet."
Site selection: RVers should research site dimensions carefully before booking. At Clifty Falls, a camper warned, "Site 22 was so sloped our red levelers barely made it work." For large rigs, an RVer noted about Starve Hollow, "Keep in mind that a lot of the electric only sites are very tight with a lot of trees in the area. I can probably only get my 36 ft 5th wheel into a third of the sites."
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