Buzzard Roost offers short hike, river views, and primitive camping
Buzzard Roost packs a short bluff-top hike, Ohio River views, and primitive campsites into one easy Perry County outing.
Bluffs above the Ohio River and the site of a former fire lookout tower make Buzzard Roost one of Perry County’s quickest scenic stops. The hike is short, the overlook is immediate, and the old lookout-tower history is part of the place.
A compact outing with a big payoff
Buzzard Roost Recreation Area sits inside the Hoosier National Forest in a county that already has more than 60,000 acres of federal forest land. That makes it a useful same-day destination if you want scenery without a full-day drive or a long backcountry commitment. The site is used for hiking, picnicking, and primitive camping, and that mix makes it easy to tailor to a quick visit or an overnight stay.
The main draw is the bluff line above the Ohio River. From the bluffs, you can see the river, Kentucky on the far side, and the kind of layered river-country landscape that makes a short walk feel like a proper excursion.
What the trail is like
Buzzard Roost Trail is a short route, listed at 0.8 mile by the Forest Service and at 0.5 mile in a media sheet. However you measure it, the distance is brief enough for a casual outing, but the setting keeps it from feeling like a flat park loop. The trail begins on a bluff above the Ohio River, drops beside a creek, passes sandstone rock outcrops and hardwood forest, and opens onto views of waterfalls and the river below.
The trail is marked with white diamonds, which makes it easier to stay oriented even if you are not familiar with the area. The terrain is the bigger factor than the distance, so expect a short walk that can still feel rugged in places because of the bluff setting, creekside sections, and uneven natural surfaces.
Where to park and what to expect on arrival
Parking is built into the site rather than left to guesswork. Parking sits at the trailhead and picnic spur, with additional parking near the first trailhead access and near the vault toilet. That setup makes Buzzard Roost practical for a quick stop, because you can park close to the overlook area and get on the trail without much setup.
The day-use area also includes tables, grills, benches, a portable toilet, and an observation deck on the bluffs overlooking the Ohio River. You can bring lunch, sit at the overlook, and still be back on the road with most of the afternoon left.
Primitive camping, with real limits
Buzzard Roost’s camping is about as simple as it gets. There are five primitive campsites, campfire grills, no potable water, and no sleeping shelter. That means the site works best for campers who already know how to travel light and prepare for self-sufficient nights outdoors.
If you plan to stay overnight, pack for a site with no water service and very limited built-in comfort. Bring enough drinking water for everyone in your group, along with food, lights, shelter, and whatever sleep system you need because there is no shelter waiting for you at the site. The primitive setup is part of the appeal, but it also means you should treat the outing like a small backcountry trip, not a developed campground stay.
- plenty of drinking water
- snacks or a meal you can cook at a grill
- bug spray and sturdy shoes
- a flashlight or headlamp
- weather-appropriate layers
- any camping gear you need for a shelterless site
A practical packing list should include:
Why the overlook has local history behind it
Buzzard Roost was a fire lookout site. A Buzzard Roost Lookout Tower once stood where the day-use area now sits, and the tower was torn down in 1973. Bill Coomer, who served there for many years, retired in 2000 after 40 years of service and still remembered his time as the towerman there.
Indiana first began building lookout towers in 1930, when the state had only one fire tower at Clark State Forest. By the mid-1930s, Indiana was still one of only a few states that had not been completely mapped topographically, which helps explain why lookout towers mattered so much for fire detection and land observation.
How Buzzard Roost fits into a bigger Perry County outing
The Ohio River forms a 40-mile natural border for Perry County, and Buzzard Roost gives you one of the clearest places to look right at that river edge. The Hoosier National Forest also puts the site within reach for day-trippers from Cincinnati, Evansville, Indianapolis, and Louisville, all of which are within a two-hour drive of the forest.
It also sits near a route many travelers already use. The National Ohio River Scenic Byway runs 967 miles, and Buzzard Roost is just off the alternate route, with many people detouring in to see the cliff view.
Getting there and choosing the right pace
The route in is straightforward: from I-64, take Exit 86, head south on Indiana 66 through Oriole, then turn onto Onido Road and follow the marked entrance to Buzzard Roost.
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