O'Bannon Woods State Park — Hotel in New Amsterdam

The Adventure Trail review by Granny Hips

If you are an experienced and avid hiker who can’t hike in North Carolina right now reading the reviews and considering this trail like me, I know what you are thinking. I know because I was thinking it too. What kind of hiker complains of spiders on the trail? Well of course there’s spiders. It’s outside and it’s home for them. Seriously can’t be that bad. What a bunch of sissy’s.

Well my friend, keep reading. I started blazing through the trail laughing quietly to myself at the expense of previous reviewers. But then I ran into big bootie Judy the spotted orb weaver. Literally ran into her…. With my face. If there ever was a back it up Terry trail version, that would have been me. I became a wild woman throwing windmill punches at the air. For a slight moment I am certain I was both possessed and having an epileptic seizure. The world started spinning and I lost control of myself. I gasped in shock and horror at the sticky mess that covered my entire face. Big booty Judy orb weaver had smacked the arrogance right off my face. She also keeps a gang. It’s called the Big Booty Judy gang.

Between every tree is an invisible sensory overload of horror just waiting for your face or neck. The canopy blocks most of the light so you don’t even see them till you’re connected. One unfortunate time I was gawking with mouth open at a beautiful bluff when I almost swallowed one of Big Booty Judy’s gang member.

By the time you get the sticky goo off your body and quit shuttering, BAM 💥 There’s another one. Sometimes they are a full dozen deep one right after the other. I was fighting for my life.

So Yeaha there is definitely butt loads of spiders and webs to traverse. Rule number one…. Never underestimate the local reviews.

The trail is not hard if you have the miles and peaks bagged like I do. It is lengthy and a beautiful walk in the woods for most of it.

As others have mentioned, you will need to stash water. Water beds are dry. The shelters are nice but lack brooms to sweep floors. The shelter area I stayed in had a complementary bottle of Southern Comfort.

Things that irk me about this trail. Indiana residents appear to have no knowledge on leave no trace. Beautiful well crafted shelters are littered with left behind items trash and gear. The walls are full of graffiti.

Things I loved about this trail. Wildlife is plentiful. Loved hearing the Coyotes and listening to deer walk by my tent. I saw many chipmunks and squirrels.

While hiking i felt like I was the last person on Earth. Not a soul around.

10/10 experience. It’s a great trail that hasn’t been over loved. Indiana has some very underrated trails...

I have loved O'Bannon, but unfortunately, we will not be returning. While I understand this will likely fall on deaf ears, DNR has started applying a new rule at all their campgrounds that we have been going to for over 10 years. The new rule this year about dogs having to be on leashes and how we are no longer able to keep our dogs in cages has totally driven us away. We have camped with our 4 small dogs (between ours and my parents) and used cages for all the years we have camped with no issues. With the leashes they tangle with each other or are so far apart they can't even play. Not to mention getting tangled with any tree, picnic table, fire pit etc. that may be in the way. When DNR approached us, they couldn't even explain why this rule kept the dogs anymore safe then the fencing, he simply said we aren't allowed to have "structures" on the campsite. What in the world is the difference between a fence and a canopy or any other "structure" I see on campsites? I don't think that is the actual reason of course, but my point being is when you have a rule that no one really understands, it seems quite useless. I realize something bad probably happened to one dog one time that jumped a fence but come with some logical standards. I would buy a cover for our fencing, I would make sure the fencing is however much taller it needs to be than our dogs to ensure they can't in fact, jump out. But the rule being there to keep our dogs safer when they are totally exposed, on a leash (that they can chew threw and did), where they are tangled up or on a very short leash isn't even enjoyable. Indiana state parks have always been some of our favorites, but we will not return unless this rule is changed or removed. You've lost some lifelong campers, and while you may not care- we chatted with other campers (that we don't know) who have the same concerns. They likely won't take the time to send a review because we all know it is likely not going to change anything but seeing my son's disappointment when I tell him we had to cancel a trip to O'Bannon and stay somewhere else in Kentucky (he loves the hiking trails in O'Bannon) stinks. But, even as a 7-year-old he understands why the rule is a pain (he now prays every night that you all get rid of that rule). DNR has always done a lot of great things, but this, this isn't...

My husband and I were so excited to finally being able to again visit the Horsemans Electric Camp after a few years absence. We were anxious to ride the beautiful trails especially along the Blue River. Our first trip out on D trail we unexpectantly encountered a gentleman on a bicycle. He came upon from behind and politely waited for us to allow him to pass. My husbands horse was very anxious and skittish. He absolutely fears a bike. Thankfully the bicyclist was able to walk by without incident. My husband and I decided we didnt want to take a chance and chose to turn around andhead back to camp. As we were arrived at camp at the trail head, two more bicyclists sped onto the trail at a high speed with no respect that we had just come out. Yes....after the fact.....we did see that bikes were allowed on our horse trails. No one said anything to us about it as we checked in and nowhere on the $10 trail map we bought does it state that fact either. We did see the sign after we walked the park about trail etiquette but we werent looking at signs when we entered the trail. I guess we didnt feel we needed to. Had we known that bicycles were allowed on the same trail as horses we would never have chose to visit the park again. We are an older couple and like most want to be as safe as possible while riding. We tried to find out more info about it but no one at the gates knew anything about the regulation. We hope someday someone will realize that horses and bicycles can be a deadly mixture especially out on the trail with unexpected turns and hills. I just hope no one has to get hurt before that happens. For us O'Bannon is too dangerous to ride and we will not come back. Sad, its such a...