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Outdoors: Chain O'Lakes State Park Chain O'Lakes State Park Chain O'Lakes State Park is certainly well-named. Eleven lakes dot this 2,678 acre park in Noble County, near Albion in the northeastern part of Indiana. The lakes in the park are called "kettle lakes". They were formed by the melting of gigantic blocks of ice left by receding glaciers some 10,000 years ago. Eight of the lakes (Miller, Rivir, Mud, Weber, Sand, Bowen, Dock, and Long) are connected by a watercourse and it is possible to canoe between them. Three other lakes (Norman Lake and the two Finster Lakes) are also on the park property, but are not connected to the other lakes by any waterways. Boat launches are available on Sand, Norman, Dock, and Long Lakes. Canoe camping is available on Rivir Lake. The busiest part of the park is around Sand Lake. Facilities at Sand Lake include a beach and bathhouse, concessions, boat launch and rentals, fishing pier, picnic areas and shelters. This part of the park can be rather crowded on holiday weekends, and the propensity of sound to travel across water sometimes makes it seem even more crowded than it is. One way to put some distance between yourself and other folks is to enjoy the extensive trail system. There are eight nature trails in the park ranging from half a mile to 2.5 miles long. The IDNR rates the trails as easy to moderate. Trail 5 (an easy 1.3 miles) circles Sand Lake and connects with trails 4 (to River and Norman Lakes and the Youth Group Campground), trail 7 (Weber and Bowen Lakes), and trail 3 (main campground). Trail 2 (1 mile) circles Bowen Lake. Trail 6, at 2.5 miles, is the longest trail in the park. It begins at Dock Lake and allows exploration of the southeastern portion of the property. The Nature Center occupies an old schoolhouse next to the easternmost Finster Lake and features a variety of exhibits about the area and its flora and fauna. A half dozen or so nature preserves are nearby in Noble and Whitley Counties, which makes Chain O'Lakes both a destination in-and-of itself and an excellent base for exploration of the natural wonders of northeastern Indiana. Facilities: Swimming beach with bathhouse and refreshment stand in season (generally the Saturday before Memorial day through no later than Labor Day). Cabins. Campground with hot showers and flush toilets. Campstore. Group Camping. Hiking on eight trails totalling more than ten miles. Boat Rental (canoes, boats, and paddleboats) by the day or hour. Fishing. Nature Center and Interpretive Naturalist Service. Picnic areas and shelters. How to get there: The entrance to Chain O'Lakes State Park is located off Indiana 9, about 3 miles south of Albion, or about 3 miles north of the intersection of Indiana 9 and US 33. Contact Information: Chain O'Lakes State Park 2355 East 75 South Albion, Indiana 46701 219-636-2654