The One State Park In Indiana With 9 Connected Lakes Truly Has It All
By Tori Jane|Published February 28, 2023
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Tori Jane
Author
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
The state of Indiana is home to a vast number of lakes, many of which are man-made and the rest of which are natural. Indiana is also home to 24 state parks at the time of this writing; so, what better thing is there than to combine the two? Enter Chain O’Lakes State Park, an incredible state park in Indiana that features 11 lakes in all, nine of which are interconnected and ideal for boaters and water lovers alike. Situated on 2,718 amazing acres, you won’t believe your eyes from the moment you arrive until the moment you leave (and you’ll never want to do that, either) – it really is a little piece of paradise nestled in northern Indiana.
The origins of Chain O' Lakes goes way back to the 1940s and 50s, when residents decided they wanted their own state park in the area.
Fundraising efforts were quite successful, and as a result, we now have this stunning state park that often goes overlooked in favor of nearby cities like Fort Wayne. Finally, in 1960, after two decades of petitioning and raising money, Chain O'Lakes State Park was officially born.
This stunning natural wonder isn't terribly far from Fort Wayne; it's just 19 miles northwest of the city.
As a result, folks in this little corner of the world have an amazing place to come out to and relax - and it's not even all that distant (well, depending on where you're coming from, that is).
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You'll find all sorts of fascinating features at the park.
The old schoolhouse pictured above was built in 1915 and was once known as Stanley School-District No. 2. Nowadays, it's the nature center, where guests can learn all about the amazing geography surrounding them.
There are more than 10 amazing miles of hiking trails, many of which lead to fascinating places like peat bogs, small ponds, and each of the 11 residing lakes.
These lakes are naturally-formed and known as kettle lakes. They were formed anywhere from 2.5 million to 11,700 years ago as ice sheets receded across the landscape; this process also formed the gorgeous, rolling emerald hills present all over the park.
The deepest lake in the park is Bowen Lake, which reaches depths of up to 65 feet.
Dock Lake is the shallowest of the bunch, though it comes in at 20 feet deep even still. The depth of the lakes make them perfect for boating, kayaking, and canoeing. Powerboaters: please remember that motors on these lakes are limited to electric motors only for the cleanliness and preservation of the lakes.
There is no bad time of year to visit, but we're partial to spring and summer, when everything is lush and green (and, if you play your cards right, you might even get wildflowers galore).
Should you decide you'd like to stay a while, there are plenty of wonderful camping options, as well as 18 cozy, furnished cabins available for reservations.
For more information about this amazing Indiana state park, including information on camping and/or cabin reservations, please be sure to visit the official Department of Natural Resources page for Chain O’Lakes. What are your favorite state parks in Indiana? Where would you like to go next? Let us know!
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