Mitchell Creek Road in the Hoosier National Forest offers primitive dispersed camping opportunities about 35 miles northeast of Union Star, Kentucky. Sites consist of small roadside pull-offs along a narrow gravel forest road. During dry conditions, most sites can accommodate small pickup trucks and passenger vehicles, though several become impassable after heavy rainfall. Campers should arrive with all necessary supplies as no facilities exist in this remote area.
What to do
Hiking exploration: Several trailheads connect to the Knobstone Trail system, known as the "Little AT" due to its challenging terrain. According to a camper at Knobstone Trail: "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."
Wildlife observation: The dense forest provides habitat for various wildlife species, including turtles and coyotes. A visitor to Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed noted: "At night, we heard some loud mysterious crashing in some nearby trees, and what was possibly a large band of coyotes in the distance."
Rock feature exploration: The area contains unique geological formations worth investigating. One camper mentioned: "There was a small graveyard behind it, so if you're superstitious, this may not be for you. There was also a big white building that was all locked up surrounded by open meadow."
What campers like
Solitude and quiet: The rustic camping near Union Star provides exceptional isolation. At First Creek Dispersed Camping, located within Mammoth Cave National Park, visitors appreciate the remoteness: "It gets DARK here! You should have some beautiful star gazing opportunities and some wildlife interactions."
Natural water features: Creek access points allow for exploration and cooling off during warmer months. A camper reported: "There is a beautiful pond/lake at the bottom of the hike that empties into the Green River. Realize of course water = snakes and take precautions."
Spacious campsites: Some areas provide more room than others. A visitor to Hoosier National Forest wrote: "Big spot for almost any type of camper. Deep woods."
What you should know
Limited sites available: Don't expect established campgrounds with multiple sites. A reviewer stated: "There are just a couple of sites along the road. One is at the trail crossing for horses, hikers, and bikers. Its basically a make your own campsite."
Self-contained camping essential: Pack everything you need before arrival. A camper advised: "This is a bare bones location. There was evidence of a homemade fire pit and a small cleared area. No cell service at the site but there was a bar or two on the road just a few feet away."
Navigation challenges: Paper maps are recommended as digital solutions often fail. One visitor warned: "Have a paper map handy, as there is no cell signal and GPS was spotty."
Weather impacts: Rain significantly affects accessibility. A visitor noted: "A few of the pull offs I didn't explore because they were muddy or washed out after several days of rain."
Tips for camping with families
Site selection crucial: Choose spots with adequate space for children to safely explore. At Knobstone Trail, a visitor observed: "The entire park is just beautiful. It's very family friendly and quiet. The sites are spacious, and there are a lot of nature things to do."
Wildlife precautions: Prepare children for encounters with local wildlife. One camper advised: "Watch out for ticks. My dogs and I got loads of them in April 2020 from Leota to Spurgeon Hollow."
Water safety: Be cautious around creeks and ponds, particularly with children. A reviewer warned: "Lookout for turtles on the road, we spotted and removed 4 of them."
Tips from RVers
Size limitations critical: Most pull-offs cannot accommodate larger vehicles. A visitor emphasized: "I did not see any pull offs that would accommodate an RV of any size, and nothing large enough to turn a trailer around. One pull off was nearly too small to turn around my small pick up truck."
Road condition awareness: Forest roads may be narrow with limited turnaround options. A camper noted: "After 5 min of driving on the very skinny gravel road y saw what it look like spots but Iam not sure really. 10 min later I got to the coordinates and there was nothing, not seven an opening just more road."
Signal boosters helpful: Some campers have success with communication equipment. One visitor reported: "With a weboost there was att and tmobile service. Very quiet, only 2 vehicles passed by in the 36 hours I was there."
