Equestrian enthusiasts find several options for horse camping near Underwood, Indiana within the hilly terrain of southern Indiana's forests. The region features limestone formations and diverse hardwood forests with elevations ranging from 400 to 900 feet above sea level. Camping facilities typically remain open year-round but experience seasonal changes in water availability and restroom facilities.
What to do
Trail riding opportunities: Horine Reservation Camping at Jefferson County Memorial Forest offers riders various trail options within a 30-minute drive of Underwood. "Lots of walking trails ranging from 1.5 to 13.0 miles through gorgeous mixed forest of old and new growth deciduous and coniferous hardwoods," notes Robert P.
Kayaking on calm waters: Taylorsville Lake State Park Campground provides water recreation options for when you're not riding. "Great water for kayaking and beautiful sunsets. Lots of raccoons in the area, so make sure your food is secure," shares Stephanie T.
Historical exploration: Beyond riding trails, Spring Mill State Park Campground offers cultural attractions for equestrians. "There is a sweet place where you could get ice cream down the road from Spring Mill called Dairy Bell. Spring Mill wasn't far from the town where there was a Walmart, Rural King, and several more stores," mentions Lauren E.
What campers like
Free camping options: Youngs Creek Horse Camp provides budget-friendly equestrian accommodations. "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," notes Susan A.
Secluded camping areas: Horse campers appreciate the privacy at certain sites. "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," reports Doc S.
Diverse terrain for different skill levels: Trails vary in difficulty throughout the region. "The Lake View trail was a good and tough hike. If you take young ones, be sure they will be self reliant. It can be very steep in some areas," cautions Tom J. about the trails at Deam Lake.
What you should know
Seasonal facility limitations: Winter camping requires planning for limited services. "Being the first weekend in April, the water wasn't turned on so there were no modern restrooms/shower houses available," shares Joshua W. about Deam Lake State Recreation Area.
Campsite variations: Sites vary widely in quality and levelness. "Site 22 was so sloped our red levelers barely made it work. Sore needed gravel, it was mostly sticky dirt that got tracked into our travel trailer immediately after sweeping," warns Beverly J. about Clifty Falls State Park.
Wildlife awareness: Be prepared for wildlife encounters when horse camping. "Tick were REALLY bad. Maybe the season, maybe the area, not sure," notes Kyle about O'Bannon Woods State Park. Other campers report raccoon activity at multiple parks in the region.
Tips for camping with families
Pool access: Clifty Falls State Park Campground offers swimming facilities for families. "Great access to the hiking trails, and the nice lodge for those who may want to check-in to a room or enjoy the indoor pool," mentions Brent C.
Cabin options for non-tent campers: Some equestrian-friendly parks offer cabin accommodations. "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," reports Angela F. about Deam Lake.
Educational opportunities: Family programming enhances the equestrian camping experience. "They had a Smokey the Bear program for the kids and some really fun activities at the nature center while we were there. We were able to rent a paddle boat for $8/hr and saw tons of turtles!" shares Jessie W. about Spring Mill State Park.
Tips from RVers
Site selection importance: Versailles State Park Campground offers varied RV sites. "Versailles State Park is a clean and family friendly camping destination that we enjoying visiting. There are three separate main campgrounds here; A B and C. C is our favorite because it is small, and mostly level lots (except the far end) with mature trees," recommends Jessie W.
Dump station timing: Plan for potential lines at facilities. "I would also note that there is only one dump station for the three campgrounds so there can be quite the line when trying to get out of there on Sunday afternoon," cautions the same reviewer about Versailles State Park.
Parking logistics: Some horse camping areas have specific requirements for RVs. "Parking is not on site but only a short walk," notes Chris R. about Jefferson Memorial Forest, which can be important for equestrians needing close trailer access to their horses.
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