State: Indiana
Address 1: 7240 Old Forest Road SW
City: Corydon
Zip: 47112
Phone: 812-738-7694
Open all Year: Yes
Number of Sites: 25
Camp URL: http://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/4826.htm
Harrison-Crawford State Forest lies in the central and extreme southern part of the state, bordering the Ohio River. Established in 1932, the forest contains about 24,000 acres of rugged hardwood forest in western Harrison and eastern Crawford counties. This working forest is a favorite destination for hunters, horse riders, hikers, fishermen and sightseers. It is about 2 ½ hours south of Indianapolis, 2 hours east of Evansville, 15 minutes west of Historic Corydon and 45 minutes west of Louisville, Kentucky. It surrounds the 2,000 acre OBannon Woods State Park (formerly Wyandotte Woods State Recreation Area) which offers a variety of recreational opportunities. The state park and state forest here work in a unique partnership, with many of the recreational facilities situated on state forest land but operated by the state park. For more information about OBannon Woods State Park, click here.
Camping
Stage Stop Campground (Class C-primitive) camping facilities: pit toilets, fire ring, parking spur, drinking water supply in area -25 sites. Please self-register for camping at the campground check-in booth.
Fishing and Canoing
Wyandotte Lake, the Blue River, and Ohio River are available for fishing. Smallmouth bass, channel catfish, and blue gill are among the favorite fish anglers go for on the many miles of Blue River that run through the State Forest. A valid Indiana fishing license is required.
Four canoe ramps access the Blue River. A Corps of Engineers ramp at Leavenworth accesses the Ohio River. For more information about canoeing on the Blue River, and other rivers in Indiana, see the Indiana Canoeing Guide.
Hiking Trails
Adventure Hiking Trail -27 miles, backpack. Overnight camping permitted; trail shelters available.
Horse Riding
The horse trail system includes 80 miles of marked loop trails. All horses brought, driven or ridden onto Harrison-Crawford State Forest must have a valid annual horse use tag.
The trails travel through every region of the properties between the three rivers. The natural bluffs overlooking the Ohio River, Blue River, and Indian Creek, the karst landscape caves and sinkholes, and the diversity and density of native wildlife and vegetation all enhance the trail ride experience.
The horse trails of Harrison-Crawford State Forest begin at the Horseman’s Hideaway Campground located in O’Bannon Woods State Park. Designed as loop routes, the horse trails are marked with painted triangles on 4″x4″ or brown Carsonite posts.
For those riders not wishing to enter or camp at the OBannon State Park, there are 3 parking lots available for day use riding. One is located on SR 462 (connects with Upper Blue River Trail), one on SR 62 (UFH Trail), and one on the Wyandotte Cave-Milltown road, just north of Wyandotte Caves(UFH Trail).
Before riding, please check the map information boards to determine the status of the trails.
Hunting
Harrison-Crawford State Forest has a long tradition of hunting. It was one of the first areas of Indiana that allowed the return of wild turkey hunting. The State Forest is a favorite destination for many whitetail deer hunters. Squirrels and raccoons are also commonly hunted at Harrison-Crawford State Forest. Designated trails are available for disabled hunter access. A valid hunting license is required. Disabled hunters must have necessary permits. You can check the Indiana Hunting and Trapping Guide for information on hunting dates and bonus deer permits by clicking here.
