Hoosier National Forest / Brown County

People sleep on Indiana backpacking, and that's their loss. The Hoosier National Forest has legitimate backcountry: the Knobstone Trail's southern sections, Hickory Ridge, the Adventure Hiking Trail loop. We're not talking flat cornfields - these are the hills that make thru-hikers from the AT shake their heads and say 'Indiana has THAT?' This is a budget-friendly trip close to home, perfect for shakedown testing new gear or bringing boys who couldn't commit to Red River Gorge. But don't mistake 'close' for 'easy.' The terrain is hilly, the climbs are real, and you're learning the same skills you'd practice anywhere else. Plus, there's something powerful about mastering your own backyard. When boys realize Indiana has real wilderness, they stop making excuses about needing to travel for adventure.