Hickory Ridge Campground
Hoosier National Forest — hiking
Location: Norman, IN, IN
Price: From $20 per night
Rating: 5 out of 5 (2 reviews)
Season: May through October
Hickory Ridge is a primitive campground located near the Hickory Ridge Trail system. There is a vault toilet, non-potable water trough for horses, picnic tables, and fire rings, a mounting ramp, and a day use parking area. A variety of long and short interconnecting trail loops through scenic hardwoods.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): moderate signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: Verizon. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 0%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/hickory-ridge-campground to be notified when sites open up.
Hickory Ridge is a primitive campground with excellent trail access for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking through scenic hardwoods. Real campers praise it as possibly Hoosier's best horsecamp with clean facilities, flat sites, and trail loops ranging 2-10 miles.
Wildlife alert: Timber Rattlesnake, Eastern Copperhead, Coyote, and Southern Flying Squirrel present in area
Insider tips for Hickory Ridge Campground: Book early—federal campground fills up quickly Visit on weekdays (Tuesday-Thursday) for solitude; real campers report being the only ones there Bring your own water; vault toilets only and non-potable water trough available for horses
Skip Hickory Ridge Campground if: You need RV hookups—no hookups available; only suitable for self-contained RVs. You want to visit November-April—seasonal closure. You prefer developed amenities—this is primitive camping.
Best time to visit Hickory Ridge Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.
Nearby campgrounds: Blackwell Campground (Heltonville, IN), Hardin Ridge (Bangor, IN), Shirley Creek Campground (French Lick, IN), Youngs Creek Campground (Paoli, IN).
Cell Phone Coverage at Hickory Ridge Campground
Cell signal at Hickory Ridge Campground (Norman, IN): moderate overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: Verizon.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
Hickory Ridge is a primitive campground located near the Hickory Ridge Trail system. There is a vault toilet, non-potable water trough for horses, picnic tables, and fire rings, a mounting ramp, and a day use parking area. A variety of long and short interconnecting trail loops through scenic hardwoods.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
federal campground fills up quickly
Visit on weekdays (Tuesday-Thursday) for solitude; real campers report being the only ones there
Bring your own water; vault toilets only and non-potable water trough available for horses
Campground operates seasonally May through October only
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: Verizon.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Hoosier National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Hoosier National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Hickory Ridge Campground cost per night?+
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Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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