Best Back Country Camping in Indiana?

[paddling_man]

Two words: Savage Gulf. http://www.friendsofscsra.org/

I lived in East Tennessee for nearly a dozen years, about 15 minutes away from the Townsend entrance of the GSMNP. I spent LOTS of time in the Smokies and Big South Fork. Both are great destinations, but if you want to get to somewhere dramatic that isn't as visited, then let me suggest: the Fiery Gizzard Trails of Grundy Forest State Natural Area / Savage Gulf. Absolutely gorgeous gorge with few visitors once you make it past the world class Stone Door climbing destination.

It's located on Monteagle Mountain between Nashville and Chattanooga.

Stunning. Seriously. This coming from a guy that's paddled wintertime flood stage whitewater rivers all over the Cumberland Plateau and Smokies.

 

[Bmrdude]

Look at the "River to River" trail in Southern Illinois... Shawnee National Forest. Hiked there several times when in college for 4-5 day trips (saw maybe 2 other people on the trail). It has great rock climbing and rappelling areas as well. About a 3 hour trip from Indy.

 

[jballs]

alot of people do the morgan monroe trails
you might look up the knobstone trail sytem lots there.

I'll second Knobstone. It's 50ish miles of pretty tough terrain and I rarely see anyone else out there. I trail run the first 15 miles pretty often.