Primitive camping options near Unionville, Indiana include several secluded sites within Hoosier National Forest. The region sits at elevations ranging from 600-900 feet with limestone creek beds and dense deciduous forest cover. Summer temperatures average 80-90°F with high humidity, while spring brings morel mushroom hunting opportunities in the leaf litter of the forest floor.
What to do
Creek exploration: Charles C. Deam Wilderness features numerous creek beds worth exploring during your tent camping adventure. A visitor noted, "I walked the creek for hours just looking at all the rocks on the sandbars. I have never encountered so many geodes in my life. Truly magnificent to encounter."
Forest hiking: Morgan-Monroe State Forest offers multiple trail options for day hikes. One camper shared, "There are a lot of trails to hike 2 of them are over 10 miles (lower gap and three lakes). The Tecumseh trail (40 miles) starts in Morgan Monroe State Forest passes through Yellowwood State Forest and ends in the Hoosier national Forest."
Lake activities: At Ransburg Scout Reservation, water recreation options abound. A reviewer mentioned, "Located on Monroe lake, they have canoeing, row boats, sailboats, motor boats, and skiing. Lots of fun activities to do, and great hiking trails."
What campers like
Primitive solitude: The isolated sites at Berry Ridge Road offer genuine backcountry camping. A camper described, "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."
Hammock spots: The terrain in Charles C. Deam Wilderness is ideal for hammock camping. A visitor reported, "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."
Geological features: The area is known for unique rock formations. One camper at Charles C. Deam Wilderness noted, "The cave is amazing, and if you're interested in backwoods camping, there are an abundance of spaces to do so."
What you should know
Site selection: Campgrounds vary in size and suitability. At Morgan-Monroe, a reviewer warned, "This campground is decent if you get one of the few good spots. Many sites are small and can only accommodate a tent."
Registration process: Hickory Ridge Primitive Dispersed Campsites and other areas have specific check-in procedures. For Morgan-Monroe, a camper advised, "When you arrive set up at your site. Then you will need to go WITH EXACT CHANGE to the sign in at the main building. It's easy, there is a little box on the side of the firewood shed."
Road conditions: Access can be challenging in some areas. A visitor to Hickory Ridge noted, "I pulled in at midnight in a sedan in the winter and i was able to safely find my way. Very nice drive during the day, hiking is fantastic!"
Tips for camping with families
Scout campground option: Ransburg Scout Reservation offers structured camping for families. A reviewer shared, "Spent the week of scout camp there and it was great" while another mentioned, "We have camped here in a cabin, and also tent camped. Beautiful grounds and a great place to enjoy nature."
Wildlife viewing: Wildlife spotting opportunities abound in the quiet areas. One camper mentioned seeing deer at Hardin Ridge: "I see more deer and other wildlife here than even at Brown County State Park!"
Kid-friendly activities: Some sites include recreational facilities. A visitor noted, "There is a playground at the entrance of Mason Ridge campground and a fire tower" at Morgan-Monroe State Forest.
Tips from RVers
Size limitations: Most primitive sites near Unionville have restrictions on vehicle size. A camper at Sundance Lake Dispersed Camping warned, "I wouldn't be trying to pull a travel trailer back into here unless it was very small."
Limited services: Many tent camping areas near Unionville lack RV hookups. One visitor to Morgan-Monroe noted, "My wife and were at site 15 from 09/02/21- 09/06/21 camping in a Winnebago Micro Minnie 2108 TB. This park is not for large rigs, but we had no trouble fitting into our small camper."
Dump station access: Some forest campgrounds offer basic services for small RVs. A camper reported, "The only drawbacks were that the vault toilets are in pretty bad condition and the dump station hose did not have a connection to allow me to flush the blackwater holding tank."