Indiana's Stonehenge
A hike to one of Brown County's most mysterious places
There are hikes you remember because of the view.
There are hikes you remember because they challenged you.
And then there's Browning Mountain.
I remember it because, after hiking it more times than I can count, I still can't explain what waits at the top.
I've heard it called Indiana's Stonehenge. Others know it as The Devil's Tombstones. Whatever name you prefer, one thing is certain: this is one of the most fascinating places in Brown County—and one of my favorite hikes anywhere in Indiana.
The Adventure Begins Before the Trail
One of the things I love most about Browning Mountain is that getting there feels like part of the experience.
Leaving Nashville, you'll pass through the tiny village of Story before continuing along a mix of paved and gravel roads that become quieter and more remote with every mile. The farther you drive, the more it feels as though you've left the modern world behind.
Story Inn - One Inconvenient Location Since 1851
Along the way, you'll also pass a simple stone monument marking the site of what was once Elkinsville.
Today it's little more than a name on a marker, but until the 1960s Elkinsville was a thriving southern Indiana community with homes, a church, a school, businesses, and generations of family history. When the federal government acquired the land through eminent domain to build what is now Lake Monroe, residents were forced to leave, and the town was dismantled. In one of history's stranger twists, after the reservoir was completed, surveyors determined that the town itself would never have been underwater after all—it had been condemned because of an error in the original elevation estimates.
Standing beside that monument always gives me pause.
It's a quiet reminder that these hills hold stories far older—and often far stranger—than most visitors ever realize.
By the time you leave Elkinsville behind and continue toward Browning Mountain, it already feels as though you've stepped into another era.
The road narrows.
The pavement gives way to gravel.
The forest closes in.
And the sense of mystery only grows.
Finding the Trail is Part of the Fun
This isn't one of those hikes with a large parking lot, an information kiosk, and oversized trail signs.
Just before the road crosses a shallow creek, there's enough room to parallel park two or three vehicles.
If you look uphill along the base of the hill, you'll notice a narrow trail climbing into the woods. Over the years it's been marked in different ways, but it's never been particularly obvious.
I actually like that.
Finding the trail feels like discovering a secret.
Walking the Spine of Brown County
The hike itself is simply beautiful.
Most of the trail follows a ridge, with surprisingly steep drop-offs on either side. You gain elevation steadily without the climb ever becoming overwhelming, making this one of those rare hikes that feels adventurous without being punishing.
Because Browning Mountain sits among the higher elevations in Brown County, the views are spectacular.
During spring and summer, you're surrounded by a cathedral of hardwoods that creates welcome shade and a peaceful sense of isolation.
But if you ask me, winter may be the best time to visit.
Once the leaves have fallen, the forest opens dramatically. Suddenly you can appreciate just how high you've climbed as distant ridges unfold in every direction. The landscape feels bigger, wilder, and somehow older.
It's one of those places that reminds you why Brown County earned the nickname The Little Smokies.
Then...Everything Changes
After passing the monument to a town that vanished, it somehow feels fitting that the trail itself ends at a mystery no one has fully explained.
Eventually, you reach the summit.
And instead of finding the overlook you expected...
you find questions.
Scattered across the mountaintop are enormous light-colored stone slabs that appear almost completely out of place.
Many look as though they've been cut into massive rectangular blocks. Some radiate outward from a large fire ring near the summit like spokes on a wheel, while others continue down the incredibly steep hillside, somehow maintaining that same general pattern.
They're enormous.
Some appear to weigh several tons.
Standing among them, it's almost impossible not to wonder:
How did they get here?
Were they quarried?
Moved?
Naturally formed?
Why are they arranged this way?
And why here?
The truth is...nobody seems to agree.
Some believe they're the remains of historic quarrying activity. Others point to natural geological processes. Still others have proposed more imaginative explanations over the years.
Whatever the answer may be, seeing them in person is an entirely different experience than looking at photographs.
The scale is astonishing.
A Place That Invites Stories
One afternoon, I reached the summit late in the day and found a man tending a small fire inside the fire ring.
He told me he planned to spend the night there.
He had always wanted to.
He'd heard stories about Browning Mountain over the years and finally decided to experience it for himself.
"What stories?" I almost asked.
Instead, I just smiled.
Some places are more interesting when every question isn't answered.
More Than Just Another Hike
I've hiked all over Brown County.
There are trails with better waterfalls.
Others with wider vistas.
Some are longer.
Some are harder.
But none leave me thinking about them quite like Browning Mountain.
The mystery stays with you long after you've driven home.
End the Day in Story
One of my favorite traditions is stopping at the Story Inn on the drive back.
After a few hours on the trail, there's something incredibly satisfying about sitting on the porch with a cold drink and a good meal.
And almost without fail, the conversation comes back to the same subject.
Those stones.
How did they get there?
Who put them there?
Or did anyone?
Whatever your theory, you'll probably leave with more questions than answers.
Personally...
I think that's exactly what makes Browning Mountain so unforgettable.
Before You Go
Difficulty
Moderate. The climb is steady but manageable for most hikers with average fitness.
Trailhead
The trailhead can be easy to miss. Look for roadside parking just before the creek crossing, then look uphill to locate the trail.
Best Time to Visit
Beautiful year-round.
Spring and summer offer lush forest scenery, while late fall and winter reveal breathtaking ridge-top views once the leaves have dropped.
Bring
Good hiking shoes
Water
Camera
A sense of curiosity
Bob's Take
I've hiked Browning Mountain in every season, and if someone asked me to recommend just one hike that captures the mystery, beauty, history, and spirit of Brown County, this would be it.
You'll pass through a village that time forgot. You'll drive by the monument to a town that disappeared. You'll hike one of the county's most beautiful ridgelines. And then you'll stand among giant stone slabs that have inspired decades of speculation and wonder.
Bring your camera.
Bring good hiking boots.
Most of all...
bring an open mind.