Trail Closures, Trail Angels, and One Very Determined Hiker in Southern Indiana
Renae Gupta is hiking through southern Indiana and sharing what she finds — two active Knobstone Trail closures, a thigh-high creek ford, a beautiful shortcut into Madison, and some of the warmest trail hospitality you'll encounter on the ADT.
Some weeks on the American Discovery Trail are smooth. Others test you in ways you didn't see coming. Renae Gupta's recent stretch through southern Indiana has been firmly in the second category — and she's been generous enough to share what she's finding, so the hikers coming behind her can be ready for it.
Renae Gupta
Westbound - Southern Route
Began February 26, 2026 - Cape Henlopen, DE
Support Links: ImHikingAmerica, Instagram, Facebook, GoFundMe
Here's what's happening on the ground right now.
The Knobstone Trail Is Throwing Curveballs
If you're planning to hike the Knobstone Trail through Clark State Forest, pay close attention — there are two separate closures in effect right now, and you'll need to plan around both of them.
Knobstone is closed between KT Mile Marker 3 and6 for forestry operations. Hiking America now indicates the detour in purple.
The first is at the Bartle Knobs area, where Clark State Forest has closed a section of the Knobstone for forestry operations. There's no firm end date on this one. The official reroute follows a Clark State Forest horse trail that runs parallel to the closed section — a 2.3-mile detour. The important detail here: there is no water available in the detoured area. Carry in what you need before you reach this section.
The second closure is at the southern end of Deam Lake, where a culvert-replacement project has temporarily shut down a stretch of the American Discovery Trail along Wilson Switch Road.
We're updating waypoints for both reroutes.
Other Hiker Notes from Renae
At the boundary between Ohio County and Dearborn County, the trail crosses Laughery Creek — a ford crossing. Renae found it thigh-high. Not a stopper, but worth knowing of the possibility before you get there, especially if you're carrying a heavier pack or hiking solo.
Renae encountered aggressive dogs in both Ohio County and Dearborn County. This stretch has come up in hiker accounts before. They are marked.
Here's something genuinely useful for hikers approaching Madison, Indiana. Renae found an alternate route into town that cuts approximately five miles off the approach. After Route 62, you're on good roads with wide shoulders and sidewalks.
Renae's suggested alternate approach into Madison, Indiana, (above purple) passes a Walmart Supercenter and a Dollar General - AND adds an actual trail, the Hatcher Hill Trail in for good measure.
The route passes a Walmart, Kroger, Super 8, Kohl's, and a Holiday Inn — plus no shortage of fast-food and convenience stores — making it a solid full-resupply stop. And the stretch along Hatcher Hill Trail, which is part of this alternate, is beautiful. Renae's words, and worth taking at face value.
And New Trail Angels!
Renae connected with Cathy and Tom, a couple at a small farmhouse along this section that she describes as "by far the safest and most welcoming location of those listed in this section." They offered tent camping in the yard, access to an indoor toilet, water, morning coffee, and apparently, a baby goat. 🐐
They don't mind if you just show up — but they recommend a quick email or text ahead to make sure they're home. They're genuinely excited to meet hikers, and Renae says it's worth stopping even just to say hello. Contact info in the Hiking America data.
Suzan Brydon
Westbound - Running ADT Eastern Route
2025 - Completed the ADT Southern Route
Support Links: ImHikingAmerica, Instagram, Race 4 Every Kid, BrydonRunning.net
Also Worth Knowing This Week
A heads up for hikers or anyone starting from the D.C. end: Suzan Brydon passed along word of an active construction detour at the beginning of the C&O Canal in Georgetown. If you're picking up the canal from that end, give yourself a few extra minutes to navigate around it.
She also noted that extensive cleanup is underway following the devastating sewage spill in the Potomac River earlier this year. AND that the animals seem to take it all in stride - though she wondered on her Instagram feed...
Renae and Suzan are moving through the ADT with their eyes open and sharing the kind of detail that makes a real difference for hikers coming behind them. Two closures, two detours, high water, a five-mile shortcut, aggressive dogs, a baby goat, and Ninja turtles. That's a week on the ADT.
If you're heading into these stretches, you're now better prepared than you would have been. That's the whole point. 🥾
Hike Your Hike - John.
All of these updates are being folded into our Gaia GPS data and guides as we verify them. Members get access to the most current waypoints, track data, and trail conditions we have. Get Full Trail Access and hike with confidence.
