Hoosier National Forest Forest Road 8020 German Ridge Circuit

Deep in the knobstone escarpment of southern Indiana, Forest Road 8020 carves through some of the state’s most surprising terrain. This loop traces the ridgelines above German Ridge, where 19th-century German immigrants carved farms from thick hardwood forest before abandoning them to the federal government during the Great Depression. The road drops through steep ravines choked with pawpaw and spicebush, climbs over limestone outcrops, and skirts the edge of the Charles C. Deam Wilderness — the only federal wilderness in Indiana.

This is legitimate backcountry driving that demands high clearance and 4WD in wet conditions. The limestone-based forest roads turn to sticky clay soup after rain, and several creek crossings can become impassable. Late fall through early spring offers the best conditions when leaves are down and the forest opens up. Dispersed camping is allowed throughout the national forest, and the solitude rivals anything you’ll find in neighboring Kentucky. Don’t expect cell service once you drop off the main ridges.