Outdoors: Chain O'Lakes State Park

Canoe Campground Click to Enlarge Channel Click to Enlarge Sand Lake Click to Enlarge Lake Click to Enlarge Nature Center Click to Enlarge Hepatica Click to Enlarge Trillium Click to Enlarge Sunset Click to Enlarge Introduction Chain O'Lakes State Park is a large (2,700+ acre) state park notable for – no surprise here – its lakes. Eleven dot the property, and channels link eight of them into a chain of sorts, making it possible to canoe nearly the entire width of the park. These are kettle lakes, formed by melt water from gigantic, partially buried blocks of ice left behind when the glaciers retreated about ten thousand years ago. Most visitor activity focuses on Sand Lake, which features a beach and concession stand, among other attractions. Crowds usually throng this area during the warmer months, and the propensity of sound to carry over water will make it seem even busier. Trails Trail 5 loops Sand Lake, and toward the west end of the lake, it intersects with the eastern terminus of Trail 4, an out-and-back trail of about one mile each way. During the spring, large-flowered trilliums festoon the area around this trail intersection. Trail 4 climbs and then continues atop a narrow ridge before dropping down to cross the channel between Mud and Rivir Lakes, finally reaching its end at the Rally Campground picnic area. Trail 6 (a 2.5 mile near-lollipop) starts with a muddy tread along the south side of Dock Lake, then heads east toward Long Lake. At one point, the path passes between Long Lake on your left and cabins perched high on the bluff to your right. Wildflowers cover the intervening slope in the spring; check the trees between the path and the lake in this area for a large vulture roost. The trail explores the southeast portion of the park before curving back to the cabin complex. Trail 8 is a short (0.5 mile) path that starts by the Nature Center and loops the westernmost of the two Finster Lakes. A short spur along a ridge with good views of Dock Lake connects Trail 8 to Trail 2; the latter loops Bowen Lake (nice views) and in turn links to Trail 7, also with impressive wildflower displays and lake views. Facilities Campground, showers, bathrooms, camp store, nature center. Directions View Larger Map Noble County. Entrance off IN 9. Go 3.7 miles south of the IN 8/9 intersection, or 4 miles north of the intersection of IN 9 and US 33. There is an entry fee. North 41 20.497 West 85 25.360 DeLorme 22:G5 Nearby Natural Areas Bender Nature Preserve Crooked Lake Nature Preserve Merry Lea References Bloom: Hiking Indiana; Page 41 Goll: Indiana State Parks; Page 65 Habeck: Wild Indiana; Page 41 Indiana Department of Natural Resources McPherson: Indiana Best Hikes; Page 41