The Knobstone Hiking Trail is a 160-mile trail along the landmark Knobstone escarpment in one of the most rugged and scenic areas of the South Central Midwest, on the high bluffs of the forested corridor between Indianapolis, Indiana and Louisville, Kentucky. The KHT consists of four sections, Knobstone (south, 45 miles), Pioneer (South middle, 37.9), Hoosier National Forest (North middle, 28.4), and Tecumseh (north, 42.7-miles). The Knobstone has continuous trail from start to finish. The Tecumseh and Hoosier Nation Forest has minor county road walks. The Pioneer has 5 miles of existing trails with approximately 9 more miles in various stages of development. The extended road walks are nearly all on remote gravel and black top roads with great scenery. There is 2.5 miles of road walk along Hwy 135 with a wide grass strip at the edge. There is good access and parking at 10-20-mile intervals, ideal for day hikes and backpack camping. No fees, reservations, or permits are required.
The Knobstone Hiking Trail Association (KHTA) was formed in 2013 to become the steward of this great trail. The KHTA is a non-profit organization dedicated to completion, preservation, and promotion of the KHT. We depend on Association members and volunteers for its very existence. Only a part of it is on public land maintained by government agencies. Trail conditions are dependent on hiker reports and volunteer action in response to them. The KHTA is the only source for maps and information about the entire trail. Won’t you join us?
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Consider Making a Monthly or Annual Recurring Commitment
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Check Out A Guide To The Knobstone Trail: Indiana’s Longest Footpath
Check Trail Conditions & Updates
View The 2024 Spring Newsletter – Newsletter
Pictures From Section Hikes, Thru Hikes, & 2nd Sat Work Days
Private Easement and KT Workdays – KHTA Volunteers & Adopter
Second Saturday Workdays – Gateway Trail Building In Morgan-Monroe State Forest
Sep 12 & Oct 14 – Join Us For The 2nd Saturday Workday – 9:30 am-3:30 pm
Help us as we continue to build this new trail in Morgan-MonroeSF. We will meet at 9:15 and sign the DNR volunteer forms, hike about a mile to where we’ve been working and continue building this trail. Work will consist of benching the new trail, smoothing out previously built sections, raking and pruning or other aspects if the temps allow. Not all work is labor intensive, there’s plenty to do without moving piles of dirt!
DNR requires those using chainsaws to have participated in their training, but hand saws can also be used along with helping to remove cut items. All tools will be provided, but bring some gloves, a favorite shovel or pruners if you’d like.
We take plenty of breaks, including a longer one for lunch. So bring some snacks or a meal, some water or hot whatever your preference and come out and be part of building a trail. Come out and build a foot of trail or 100 feet, it all helps us get closer to finishing!. Click Here for more info and to sign up on Meetup.
Belmont Workday – Belmont West of Nashville
Sep 28 – Join Us For The 2nd Saturday Workday – 9:30 am-3:30 pm
Would you to spend a day in some beautiful woods with a delightful group of people building a connecting section of Indiana’s premier long distance hiking trail? Come join us as we work on an easement at Belmont in Brown County. We meet at the Hickory Shades Motel on 46. We’ll be clearing a trail. This is to reroute the trail through woods and off of Scarce o Fat Road and the very busy SR46.
Please bring a lunch and water. We will have large hand tools, but please bring any small tools you have such as clippers or a pruning saw. And a backpack is handy to carry everything in. Instructions will be provided for those who need them. We finish about 3:30.
Join us on our website at http://www.knobstonehikingtrail.org/ and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Knobstone-Hiking-Trail-Association .
KHTA Volunteers & Adopters Workdays
Sep. 21, Oct. 5, & Nov 9 – 9:00 am-3:00 pm – New Chapel Trailhead
We will meet at 9 am at the New Chapel Trailhead. We will clear blowdowns and brush the trail to the North. Bring water, lunch, gloves, other appropriate clothing, and lopers. Larger tools such as hoes, pulaskis, etc., will be provided. Click Here for more info and to sign up on Meetup.
Join us on our website at http://www.knobstonehikingtrail.org/ and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Knobstone-Hiking-Trail-
2024 Organized Hikes 
Click Here for more info and to signup on Meetup KHTA hikes and workdays.
KT Loops – Hike Til You Drop – Saturday, Oct 12 – 7 am – Scott Beam
Like always before a backpacking trip I try and give everyone the opportunity to make sure they’re ready. This year we’ll be starting with the southern loop like normal, walking the flat valley for almost three miles by way of headlamps as we start about an hour before sunrise. It usually takes about 3.5 hours to complete the first loop, putting us back at the parking area a little after 10:30 am.
Loop two will start around 11:15 am, and we’ll be hiking the 12 mile outer loop second this year. The hike takes about 5 hours usually, getting us back to the parking area around 4:30 pm.
Both of these loops are on very difficult trails in places, with some of the steepest and longest hills in the state. Bring lots of fluids, snacks, first aid and any other gear you might need for the weather. Being that we’ll return to our cars after the first loop it’ll give us time to eat, drink and add or remove gear we need/ed.
5th Annual KT Thru Hike – Wed Oct 23 Thru Sun Oct 27 – Scott Beam
It’s time to start planning another fall foliage backpacking trip along the Knobstone Trail. The first few years we did it over three days, last year was a four day event, and this year to allow others to join I’ve decided to do it over five days. In fact I’d be happy with having seperate groups for all options eventually.
Regardless we always meet at the Deam Lake Trailhead well before sunrise, loading up in as few cars as possible and heading to the start. We’ll stop along the way driving north and cache close to where we hope to camp each night as we go. We then will take off from Spurgeon Hollow, keeping the mileage to at most 11 miles each day with a short day one and five. Day one would be around 6 miles, after meeting and shuttling north this could be nice. We’d be staying just before Oxley Memorial at a large spot near MM 38.75. Day two would be just south of Elk Creek structure 8 lake, about MM 27.5. (A Hot Supper will be provided by Trail Angels) Day three would finish a little before New Chapel near MM 18. Day four would finish near MM 7.75 near Flatwood Road, which would leave about 8 miles to the finish. With this option we could set up camp and have some time to relax during and after the hike, and I’d also be poking around off trail some in the forestry once we get camp set up. I could also show off some areas I’ve previously found during similar adventures while we’re on trail.
Pictures From The Hikes
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All KHT sections on state land are now open for hiking and overnight backpack camping!
For The Latest Info On The DNR’s Covoid 19 Response Go To: DNR Covoid 19 Response
For The Latest Info On The HNF’s Covoid 19 Response Go To: HNF Covoid 19 Response
Volunteer To Build The KHT
Trail builders find it one of the most rewarding things they’ve ever done. Make your mark on this forever trail! Details about the next work date (no experience needed; work for all ages and abilities available):
Activities Update
Sponsors
