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May 22, 2021

Indiana’s Brown County State Park: Camping, Hiking, Biking & Horseback Riding

Location: Brown County, Indiana

Interested in camping among the rugged, rolling hills of Southern Indiana?   Brown County State Park, with its ridges and ravines, is the perfect place for camping amid Indiana’s southern hills.  We should know, our family of seven, Road Trip 7, recently spent a spring weekend camping in the park.  In this guide, we tell you everything you need to know about camping at this spectacular state park, answering questions such as:  How much does it cost to camp?  Which campground is best?  And what is there to do while staying in the park?  Here we provide an overview of everything you need to know to go camping at one of Indiana’s best state parks, Brown County.

Interested in camping among the rugged, rolling hills of Southern Indiana?   Brown County State Park, with its ridges and ravines, is the perfect place for camping amid Indiana’s southern hills.  In this guide, we tell you everything you need to know about camping at this spectacular state park, answering questions such as:  How much does it cost to camp?  Which campground is best?  And what is there to do while staying in the park?  Here we provide an overview of everything you need to know to go camping at one of Indiana’s best state parks, Brown County.

Contents hide
1 Brown County State Park
2 Brown County State Park Campgrounds
3 Activities at Brown County State Park
3.1 Hiking
3.2 Mountain Biking
3.3 Saddle Rides
3.4 Climb the Fire Tower
3.5 Watch the Sunrise or Sunset from a Vista
4 Enjoy this Post? Pin It!

Brown County State Park

Indiana’s largest state park, at almost 16,000 acres, Brown County is sometimes referred to as the “Little Smokies” because its rolling, forested hills resemble the Great Smoky Mountains.  The ridges and ravines of the park provide the perfect setting for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, taking a scenic drive, and camping, of course.

Brown County State Park Campgrounds

If you are planning on camping inside Brown County State Park, you have a number of options.  The park has five campgrounds:  Buffalo Ridge, Racoon Ridge, Taylor Ridge, Horseman, and Youth Campgrounds.  Unless you are camping with a youth group, you will be camping at one of the first four.  As the name implies, the Horseman’s Campground is for equestrian users only.  Brown County is a great place to bring your horse, as the park has numerous horse trails.  The three remaining campgrounds, Buffalo Ridge, Racoon Ridge, and Taylor Ridge are located atop ridges in the southern portion of the park.  They offer similar amenities: electric hookup, comfort stations with plumbed toilets and showers, regularly spaced water fill stations, campground country store, and playgrounds.  Campsite rates vary between weekday and weekend, and features (full hook-up, electric, non-electric and primitive).   While the specific camping rates and fees can be found on this Indiana DNR site, in general, they range from $12-36 a night.

  • Brown County State Park Campground Playground
  • Brown County State Park Campground Country Store

We recently camped at the Buffalo Ridge Campground.  We chose this campground because a good portion of the sites look out upon wooden ravines, offering lots of privacy. 

  • Brown County State Park Buffalo Ridge Camping Site
  • Brown County State Park Buffalo Ridge Camping Site
  • Brown County State Park Buffalo Ridge Camping Site

 

Activities at Brown County State Park

Hiking

As Indiana’s largest and hilliest state park, Brown County is a Midwestern hiker’s paradise. The park has over a dozen hiking trails ranging in difficulty from easy to rugged. For those looking for a moderate hike, we recommend taking Trail 4 through the lovely Ogle Hollow Nature Preserve. The trailhead for this 1.25-mile trail is located just north of the camp store and Buffalo Ridge Campground.

  • Hiking along Trail 4 in Brown County State Park
  • Wildflowers in Ogle Hollow Nature Preserve
  • View of Ogle Lake in Brown County State Park
  • Wildflowers in Ogle Hollow Nature Preserve
  • Ogle Lake in Brown County State Park
  • Wildflowers in Ogle Hollow Nature Preserve
  • Springtime in Ogle Hollow Nature Preserve

 

If you’re up for an additional challenge, continue on Trail 7. This moderate 1.5-mile trail leads around Ogle Lake, where it is common to spot birds, frogs, and turtles.

  • Trail 8 around Ogle Lake in Brown County State Park.
  • Bridge along Trail 7 in Brown County State Park.

 

Ogle Lake in Brown County State Park

 

Alternatively, Ogle Lake can also be reached by hiking Trail 8.  This moderate, 3.5-mile loop trail begins at the West Lookout Tower, stops at Ogle Lake, and passes by a lovely park vista.

  • Brown County State Park West Lookout Tower
  • Scenic Vist in Brown County State Park along Trail 8.

 

Another great option is Trail 6, which leads around Strahl Lake. The trailhead for this rugged, 1.5-mile trail can be found behind the nature center.

  • Brown_County_Strahl_Lake_Trail_a
  • Brown_County_Strahl_Lake_Trail_b

 

Mountain Biking

If you are a Midwestern mountain biking enthusiast, or simply someone wanting to try the sport for the first time, Brown County State Park is for you! The park has 14 mountain-biking trails, ranging from beginner to expert. Since they are not exceptionally skilled at mountain biking, my boys stuck with beginner Trail G, known as Limekiln.  Starting near the campgrounds, at only 2.4 miles in length, this trail is the perfect distance and difficulty for anyone new to the sport.

  • Three young brothers on mountain bikes.
  • Limekiln Mountain Bike Trail Marker
  • Boy biking along mountain bike trail.
  • Boy biking along mountain bike trail.
  • Mountain Bike Trail at Brown County State Park

 

Saddle Rides

As mentioned earlier, Brown County State Park has over 70 miles of horse trails. If you aren’t bringing your own horse, you can still enjoy these trails by booking a ride with the Brown County State Park Saddle Barn. The barn offers 35-minute & 1-hour trail rides, as well as pony rides and hayrides. The barn is operational mid-March through mid-November, from 9 am – 5 pm. For contact and pricing information visit the Brown County State Park Saddle Barn.

  • Horses at the Brown County Horse Stables
  • Brown County Horse Stable Barn
  • Two ponies at the Brown County Horse Stables
  • ad standing next to two daughters on ponies at Brown County State Park.
  • Mom leading daughter on a pony ride at Brown County State Park.

 

Climb the Fire Tower

No trip to Brown County State Park is complete without climbing the park’s fire tower. The tower is one of a series of fire towers built in the 1930s to protect Indiana from wildfires. Sitting atop the park’s highest ridge, some 1,000 feet above sea level, the view from the top of the tower is worth the climb!

  • Brown County Fire Tower
  • Father holding daughter while taking in the view from Brown County Fire Tower.
  • Young girl standing on Brown County Fire Tower.
  • View from Brown County State Park Fire Tower during daytime.
  • Mother, son and daughter on fire tower.

 

Watch the Sunrise or Sunset from a Vista

Looking for a more relaxed way to enjoy Brown County State Park? Take in a sunrise or sunset from one of the park’s many scenic vistas. Horseman Camp Road, which runs north-south through the park two eastern-facing vistas, perfect for watching the sunrise. For sunset, Parkview Road, just south of the Racoon Ridge Campground has a number of western-facing vistas.

Three children watching the sunset.

 

As always, the Brown County State Park Fire Tower is a great place to watch either the sunrise or sunset!

  • View from Brown County State Park Fire Tower at Sunset
  • Girl walking down the Brown County State Park Fire Tower at dusk.

 

Enjoy this Post?  Pin It!

Interested in camping among the rugged, rolling hills of Southern Indiana?   Brown County State Park, with its ridges and ravines, is the perfect place for camping amid Indiana’s southern hills.  In this guide, we tell you everything you need to know about camping at this spectacular state park, answering questions such as:  How much does it cost to camp?  Which campground is best?  And what is there to do while staying in the park?  Here we provide an overview of everything you need to know to go camping at one of Indiana’s best state parks, Brown County.

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Welcome to Road Trip 7! We are an Indiana family of seven who loves to travel and explore the great outdoors.  Here we share our adventures, from Midwest weekend excursions to cross-country US road trips. We hope you are inspired to hit the road and get outside!

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