Teetertown Preserve

Kids' Kamping

For young kids, there’s something about sleeping in a tent outdoors that’s truly exciting.  It’s great even when it’s in the back yard.  When it’s in the woods with a blazing camp fire, next to a farm, a short walk from a pond that’s stocked with trout, or a stream with wild trout, and adjacent to fun hiking trails, it’s an experience they’ll remember for a lifetime.

For parents of young kids, if the location is beautiful and only a little over an hour’s driving time from home, that’s pretty special too.  You’ll also appreciate that chemical toilets are close by, and generally kept very clean.

The six “Ridgeline” and “Hilltop” campsites in the Teetertown Preserve (a Huntington County Park) are among the most lovely you’ll find in any public camping area.  You’ll be able to unload your camping gear and food from a car, and yet feel that you’re in a private, remote camp (though you will be carrying stuff several hundred yards, so pack carefully).

As far as I can tell, the preserve actually gets very little use for camping by the general public. Most use is by groups, such as the occasional Boy Scout troop. Pick a weekend when there are no groups, and it will seem even more private and remote.

You can hike down a moderately steep grade into Teetertown Ravine to enjoy the beautiful Hollow Brook, or up onto the ridge and the farm.  Altogether there’s a couple of miles of trails within the woods, and several additional miles of field hikes up on the top of the ridge.  The “Geology” trail is particularly fun (though not suitable for very young kids), and winds through some fairly steep rock faces.

Camping is by reservation only.  Make sure you call the Huntington County Parks department to arrange your adventure.