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Best Forest Hikes in Indiana

The directory currently contains 15 quality-checked routes matching this guide in Indiana. Their average mapped distance is 4.7 km and average recorded ascent is 95 m (312 ft); the longest route in the set is 16.5 km.

This subset represents 7% of the 204 quality-checked routes in Indiana. Its average distance is 4.7 km, compared with 11.5 km across the full local set.

These routes carry the forest tag. The data does not quantify canopy cover or guarantee shade along every section. Within this set, 5 routes (33%) are rated easy, 1 (7%) are rated hard or expert, and 2 (13%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.

Data refreshed September 2026

Choose by the details

How do these routes differ?

A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

0.7 km

Woodland Trail

Compare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

19 m

Terrill Ridge Trail

6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.

Return logistics

1 recorded loop

Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.

Plan the return journey →

Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.

Trails

w:Hickory Ridge Fire Tower , looking up from the bottom, located in the w:Charles C. Deam Wilderness Area of w:Hoosier National Forest in Southern w:Indiana . The fire tower is the only remaining tower of eight that used to exist within the
Easy

Terrill Ridge Trail

Indiana · United States

Distance
2.9 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
19 m
Typical duration
38 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Moderate

Axsom Branch Trail

Indiana · United States

Distance
4.0 km
/ 2.5 mi
Elevation gain
108 m
Typical duration
59 min
  • Forest
Moderate

Sycamore Trail

Indiana · United States

Distance
7.5 km
/ 4.7 mi
Elevation gain
113 m
Typical duration
1 hr 44 min
  • Forest
Moderate

Nebo Ridge Trail

Indiana · United States

Distance
13.1 km
/ 8.2 mi
Elevation gain
171 m
Typical duration
3 hr
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Easy

Woodland Trail

Indiana · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
19 m
Typical duration
10 min
  • Forest
Hard

Shirley Creek Trail

Indiana · United States

Distance
16.5 km
/ 10.3 mi
Elevation gain
329 m
Typical duration
3 hr 59 min
  • River
  • Forest
Moderate

Shirley Creek Trail 3

Indiana · United States

Distance
2.2 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
16 m
Typical duration
29 min
  • River
  • Forest
Moderate

Shirley Creek Trail 5

Indiana · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
97 m
Typical duration
26 min
  • River
  • Forest
Easy

Shirley Creek Trail 6

Indiana · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
17 m
Typical duration
15 min
  • River
  • Forest
Moderate

Pate Hollow Trail

Indiana · United States

Distance
10.8 km
/ 6.7 mi
Elevation gain
357 m
Typical duration
2 hr 47 min
  • Forest
Moderate

Martin Hollow Trail

Indiana · United States

Distance
4.1 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
86 m
Typical duration
59 min
  • Forest
Moderate

Woodland Way

Indiana · United States

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
10 m
Typical duration
12 min
  • Forest
Moderate

Shirley Creek Trail 4

Indiana · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
71 m
Typical duration
16 min
  • River
  • Forest
Easy

Woodland Trail

Indiana · United States

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
11 m
Typical duration
12 min
  • Forest

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Terrill Ridge TrailIndiana2.9 km19 m38 minEasyApril to October
Axsom Branch TrailIndiana4.0 km108 m59 minModerateApril to October
Sycamore TrailIndiana7.5 km113 m1 hr 44 minModerateApril to October
Nebo Ridge TrailIndiana13.1 km171 m3 hrModerateApril to October
Woodland TrailIndiana0.7 km19 m10 minEasyApril to October
Shirley Creek TrailIndiana16.5 km329 m3 hr 59 minHardApril to October
Shirley Creek Trail 2Indiana4.4 km0 m55 minEasyApril to October
Shirley Creek Trail 3Indiana2.2 km16 m29 minModerateApril to October
Shirley Creek Trail 5Indiana1.4 km97 m26 minModerateApril to October
Shirley Creek Trail 6Indiana1.1 km17 m15 minEasyApril to October

Terrill Ridge Trail, Axsom Branch Trail, Sycamore Trail currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

Plan with more confidence

All planning articles →

Choosing a route

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.

Read article →

Understanding the map

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.

Read article →

Planning your day

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.

Read article →

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