USDA Forest Service · Indiana
Blackwell Campground
USDA Forest Service · Indiana, United States
- Sites
- 28
- Hookups
- 27 with water, 28 no hookups
- Season
- December 31 to December 31
- Cost
- All campsites are free of charge.
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 794 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 3
- Cell coverage
- Verizon weak · AT&T good · T-Mobile none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- BLACKWELL HORSE CAMP - EAST (NFSR 4731.010) · asphalt · suitable for passenger cars
- Lake
- Hoosier National Forest
- Nearest town
- Bloomington
- Phone
- Brownstown Ranger District Front Office: 812-275-5987
- Activities
- Backpacking, Camping, Day Use Area, Hiking, Horse Camping, Horseback Riding, Wilderness
28 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
The camp is located along Tower Ridge Road in the center of the Charles Deam Wilderness area, approximately one mile from Highway 446. The camp also is a trailhead for the Charles C. Deam Wilderness trail system.
Recreation
Blackwell is a campground for all types of users. It provides access to the Charles C. Deam Wilderness Trail system with approximately 35 miles of trails. The nearby Hickory Ridge Trail system is also available.
Facilities
There is a picnic shelter at the site, a loading area for people to easily mount horses, including people with disabilities, and hitching racks. Trails from the site link to the trail system in the Charles C. Deam Wilderness. There are 6 vault toilets and one non-potable water hydrant.
Natural Features
The camp is a large grassy area with gravel parking areas on the east and west end. The trailheads are located on the east and west ends of the camp by the parking areas.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 35° | 23° | -7° | 65° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 45° | 27° | 2° | 69° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 55° | 36° | 17° | 76° | 9 of 11 |
| April | 66° | 46° | 29° | 81° | 3 of 11 |
| May | 76° | 59° | 41° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 82° | 65° | 48° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 86° | 70° | 62° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 83° | 70° | 58° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 82° | 63° | 50° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 65° | 47° | 33° | 82° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 51° | 36° | 14° | 72° | 5 of 10 |
| December | 43° | 30° | -3° | 65° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Hardin Ridge · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi · 210 sites
- H.R. Holland Loop · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi
- H.R. Southern Point Loop · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi
- H.R. Bluegill Loop · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi
- H.R. White Oak Loop · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi
All public campgrounds in Indiana · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-04-15. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.