If you need a warm up before you get to the trail (nice when hiking in 30 degree December weather), try hiking the 1/2 mile loop at Natural Bridge. It is on your way if you are coming from I65, and it really is worth the 15 minutes it takes to stroll down this paved trail (only wheelchair accessible trail in the forest). There are also decent pit bathrooms here, kept clean because it doesn’t get much use, and some nice picnic tables. The sign says "no camping, hunting, or public nudity in the recreation area," all bets are off in the rest of the forest.

The trail heads down the hill and twists around to the natural bridge. Really just a deep cave in which the deepest part has fallen in leaving a 'bridge' behind. The bridge itself will fall one day through the action of time, water, and tree routes in this soft sandstone. In wet season there will be a waterfall falling behind the bridge, and a little stream flows from under it. The trail then goes up and along a short bluff line, notice the many patterns in sandstone. At the end of the bluff the trail turns again and follows the top of the bluff back to the car. This trail is a nice preview of what the wilderness has to offer, it is of course very easy and would be rated three to four stars.