The Deam is a jewel in the Indiana landscape. Its an actual designated Wilderness: which means (amongst other things) no motorized anything around which is nice, you can camp anywhere thats reasonable (read, not on the trail itself), and youre not restricted to the trails if youre looking for a more rugged experience. While there: check out Patton Cave, go look at site 6, and take a look at the hollow off Grubb Ridge - all simply amazing. Water can be tricky depending on the time of year/weather (there is no artificial water source so bring your filter), but the hollows typically still have a bit and there are a few natural springs. Overall: easily the best outdoor location in the state.

If you’re seeking a getaway from the city and usual overcrowded “camping” in an open field at ridiculous prices, Charles Deam is the place for you! It’s full of dispersed campsites tucked away off the gravel road. The deeper into the forest you drive, the better the spots get and the more isolated you get. There’s no electricity, restrooms, or staff to be found, so you’re truly experiencing nature in its purest form. There are lakes, a river, and an entire forest to hike, explore, and shoot guns/hunt. The fire tower on the way offers great views of the forest. This is by far the best place to truly camp.

Peaceful. Tranquil. Nice in/out overnight stay.

We had a great time back country camping at The Charles C. Deam Wilderness! We found an amazing campsite and went on a beautiful hike. Seeing people on horses was cool! Being basically secluded though from people was the best part. It was beautiful, magical, and the nature was awesome!!

A great place to day hike and or camp. My first trip here was when I was 5 and I keep coming back

Beautiful park with a hidden cave thats super rewarding when you find it :)

Great place to get some quiet time.

Tons of great trails and surprises along the way. Certainly worth a look if youre in the area. Spring and fall are the best times to go, due to heat/ticks during the summer.

Went there mid October 2019. A very beautiful place for fall!!!! The sightseeing tower has lots of paintings inside, very cute to take picture. Drove around inside, there is a waterfall somewhere next to the main road. Very beautiful.

The deam is becoming my go to place for hiking and camping. Wish I lived closer. Beautiful scenery and great trails.

Ive only been to the northern part of the Hoosier National Forest (Charles Deam Wilderness), so I cant speak for the rest of it, but its great! Early spring and early fall are the best times to go: fewer bugs and cooler temperatures. There are some great trails for hiking and I can take my dogs without worrying about a gazillion rules. Ive camped out of my backpack and out of my car. There are some primitive campsites along the trails for backpackers. If you go east of the fire tower, there are drive-in campsites that are really nice. No map for the drive-in sites, so you just have to wander a bit on the roads to find them. The drive-in sites afford a good deal of privacy (great to keep my dogs from going nuts!). There are no stores in the forest, but The Fishing Shedd is nearby and you can get any basic stuff (ice, water, etc.) you need there.There are a couple reasons why I didnt give it five stars. First, its near Bloomington, so you get college kids having parties. I didnt have any noise problems, but the first few drive-in sites had broken glass on the ground. The farther you drive for a site, the cleaner it will be. Second, most of the trails are open to horses, which means theyre basically closed to everyone else. Youre allowed to hike all the trails, but the horses make them unenjoyable. The droppings are bad enough, but the low spots on the trail get churned into mud by their hooves. I turned back every time I tried a trail open to horses.Even with the negatives, I love camping and hiking here. If youre looking for primitive camping and rugged hiking, the HNF is a great place to go!

Highly recommend the peninsula trail when its not totally water-logged. Great view of Lake Monroe and plenty of campsites (some with better views than others). Parking is free.

Loved it!!! I can only imagine how amazing this place is in the fall. The owl hoots and coyote howls at night were intense. At first, I thought the owl calls were fake, because they were so perfect and loud.

Southern Indiana beauty, nice hiking, good camping... If you hike for two hours you can camp by the water. Watch out for ticks!

Nice place for hiking and camping.I love it in the winter.

This place is awesome, great trails and alot of nice scenery.

Great for hiking and dispersed camping.(In regards to previous comment about location: Yes, this really is Deam Wilderness, part of Hoosier National Park. Memphis IN has Deam Lake State Recreational Area (38.467458,-85.863506) which is a completely different place.)

By far my favorite place to camp. Several secluded sites, plenty of hiking trails and river beds, various ponds and beautiful scenery.

AMAZING

Delightful, secluded place to hike with dispersed camping. Views of Monroe lake are stunning

Watch the rattlesnakes !!!

Charles C. Deam Wilderness is not to be confused with Deam Lake State Recreation Area down by Memphis, Indiana.

I spent the night there a week ago today. Its a nice place but its very crowded but its public ground what are you going to do about it

Loved this place! Definitely primitive

I love the lake!

I go there 12 times a year.

Sick hangs, bruh.