Owen-Putnam State Forest is a hidden gem for outdoor enthusiasts located in Spencer, Indiana. This picturesque state forest provides a perfect blend of natural beauty and recreational opportunities, making it a popular destination for families, hikers, and campers. Nestled in the heart of southern Indiana, Owen-Putnam offers a variety of activities including camping, horseback riding, hiking on numerous trails, fishing in local streams, and even gold prospecting with a permit available at the park office.
The forest features two distinct campgrounds: one at Fish Creek and another near Rattlesnake Lake. Both sites offer RV hookups, water, and electric services, making them convenient for all types of visitors. The Fish Creek campground is particularly popular for its serene setting and easy access to trails. Visitors can enjoy the peaceful pond with morning mist, a charming playground that both kids and adults will love, and communal water taps for refilling supplies.
One of the unique features of Owen-Putnam State Forest is its honor vault payment system for camping fees, which adds a touch of rustic charm to the experience. While the pit toilets are basic, they are well-maintained, and some even offer scenic views near the pond. The forest's trails are extensive, with fire trails winding through the landscape, providing endless opportunities for exploration and adventure.
Customer feedback highlights Owen-Putnam as a family-friendly destination. Many visitors appreciate the variety of activities available, from hiking and fishing to horseback riding and gold prospecting. One reviewer noted, "This place is my favorite local place to hike. There are 2 campgrounds... tons of nature to see and unending fire trails!" Another visitor enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere, describing it as a "Good find" with unique amenities like the honor vault system.
Whether you're looking for a weekend getaway or a full-day adventure, Owen-Putnam State Forest offers something for everyone. Its natural beauty, diverse recreational opportunities, and family-friendly environment make it a must-visit destination in southern Indiana.
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
RV camping
Hiking
Picnic tables
Public restroom
Running water
Tent sites
Camping fee
Good for kids
Kid-friendly hikes
On-site parking
Dogs allowed
Good find. Used the honor vault to pay for 2 nights. Cool little pond with mist in the morning. Nice playground for little people...okay I played on it too. Didn't like the maintenance mower dust/noise but accepted it must be done. Pit toilets were more like outhouse/latrine with clear roof pans...lots of bugs (it IS the woods). Pit toilet near pond was much better. Communal water tap was nice to fill my 5 gallon jug
This place is my favorite local place to hike. There are 2 camp grounds. One on each side of the forest rattlesnake campground is harder to get to than fish creek campground. You can camp ride horses, hike, fish, gold prospect (must have permit to prospect) there is tons of nature to see and unending fire trails! You can receive a prospecting permit from the park office on fishcreek rd. It is free.
We travel here from Northern Illinois to gold prospect. The forest is beautiful! There are so many hidden waterfalls. I think I spent more time enjoying the beauty than I do panning. There are many trails for hiking tons of bird species for bird watchers. I highly reccomend loading up on bug spray, putting on your mud boots and heading out to Owen Putnam for a day or two! Camping is available on self pay system, rattlesnake campground is at the top of rattlesnake road. If you cant cross over the creek in your vehicle you can take Keene rd. in. It says dead end when you turn down, but they just havent removed that sign. It gets you up there.
Had some DBs running their generators (plural) all night at the campground. Wish they'd make a tent only area out of earshot from the stupid RV crowd, couldn't even hear the birds singing it was so loud. Oh yeah, and none of them paid. IDNR, can you do a little better for us? Please?
We went a couple days after a big storm hit so we knew there was going to be mass destruction and chaos. Well chaos not so much. But still, trees everywhere. But we didn't let that stop our little hike. What did stop it was the humid, 🥵 hot 🔥 weather that is expected after July storms. Plus I wanted to hike to the creek but couldn't really find the trail, so someone chose the trail that goes straight up and down in 110°+ heatwave. So yeah, we went home after about an hour...