10 Beautiful Lakes In Indiana, USA

lakes in indiana
Faraz
Faraz 
Updated
| 4 min read

Indiana is a beautiful state in USA that is dotted with plenty of attractions including beaches, museums, gardens, and gorgeous lakes that offer a variety of activities that you can indulge in. It also features the world’s largest race track - Indianapolis Motor Speedway. For a relaxing weekend getaway, visiting the lakes in Indiana can be the perfect start to any vacation. With a plethora of fish available in the lakes, fishing can be an entertaining activity that visitors can happily engage in. If you’ve got Indiana on your itinerary, make sure to check out our list of these beautiful lakes in Indiana, USA.

1. Monroe Lake

Monroe County - flooded quarry - DSCF7264
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Vmenkov used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Monroe Lake is a very charming and scenic lake with plenty to explore. The lake has ample fish that enhances your fishing experience. You can enjoy boating, swimming, canoeing, or even skiing while being in the area. In the vicinity is a nice camping ground that is located on the National Forest Land. The lake is located at a short distance from Bloomington where guests can find a number of restaurants and cafes. Windjammer Grill is a great place located nearby where visitors can indulge in a sumptuous meal and enjoy the beautiful views.

Monroe Lake

Address: Monroe / Brown counties, Indiana, United States

Website: Monroe Lake

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2. Patoka Lake

Patoka Lake, Indiana 4
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Sarah Ewart used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Patoka Lake is spread over three counties, namely; Dubois County, Crawford Country, and Orange County. While it is a great place to enjoy swimming, the lake is particularly well-known for its amazing outdoor archery range where visitors can enjoy shooting. The area around the lake is extremely beautiful and it has vast camping grounds where you can set up a camp. There is a gorgeous sunflower field in the vicinity which is the perfect place for a few pictures.

Patoka Lake

Address: Crawford / Dubois / Orange counties, Indiana, US

Website: Patoka Lake

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3. Lake Shafer

Shaver Lake 1
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Kjkolb used under CC BY 2.5

Lake Shafer is situated in Monticello in Indiana and it was created alongside Lake Freeman several decades ago. The lake allows you to have access to the picturesque country setting and pristine waters. One can indulge in plenty of activities at the lake, including boating, fishing, or cruising. It features a great diversity of fish including different kinds of bass like white bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and other fish like catfish, bluegill, etc. The natural trail around the lake is the perfect place to enjoy a stroll.

For a much better experience, you should book a cabin in Monticello that’s near this lake. That way, you’ll be able to enjoy Lake Shafer in all its glory whenever you want.

Lake Shafer

Address: White County, Indiana, United States

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4. Lake Maxinkuckee

A canopied boat on a lake.
Source: Burst

Lake Maxinkuckee is the second largest lake in the state spanning over an area of over 1800 acres (728 hectares). It is located in Marshall County near the Culver town, bordered by colorful houses and greenery which adds to the scenic beauty of the place. It is home to several kinds of fish including white bass and walleye. In fact, bass fishing tournaments are held in the lake as well.

Lake Maxinkuckee

Address: Marshall County, Indiana, near Culver

Website: Lake Maxinkuckee

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5. Lake James

Lake James
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Chris Light used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Lake James is an infamous spot, popular for boating and fishing. It is located in Steuben County in Indiana and is the 4th-largest lake in the entire state with more than 1200 acres (485.6 hectares) of surface water. This beautiful gem remains bustling with crowds on weekends. This lake is exceptionally popular not only because of its sheer size but also because of its shoreline and surroundings. Pokagon State Park is located on the shoreline of the lake and it is a great place where visitors can enjoy fishing, camping, biking and so much more.

Lake James

Address: Steuben County, Indiana

Website: Lake James

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6. Cagles Mill Lake

SR 42 Cagles Mill Lake PB260032
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Chris Light used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Cagles Mill Lake is a reservoir that is situated near Cataract in Indiana which is why it is also called the Cataract Lake. It is surrounded by the Putnam and Owen Counties. It is a very scenic lake where visitors can indulge in boating and fishing. It remains crowded during the day on the weekends so if you want to make the most of your trip, make sure you visit during the week.

Cagles Mill Lake

Address: Owen / Putnam counties, Indiana, United States

Website: Cagles Mill Lake

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7. Lake Lemon

Lake Lemon - seen from the south shore - P1100034
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Vmenkov used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Lake Lemon is a picture-perfect, serene and calm lake point. It is well-maintained and it is usually sparsely crowded. There is a large variety of fish available in the lake including catfish and largemouth bass. Lake Lemon features a spacious lawn area where kids can play games and a sandy area where visitors can simply dip their toes. It is an ideal location for boating, kayaking, swimming, and lots of exciting activities.

Lake Lemon

Address: Monroe / Brown counties, Indiana, United States

Website: Lake Lemon

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8. Tippecanoe Lake

Bridge Over Secluded Waters. Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Jim Hammer used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Tippecanoe Lake is situated in Kosciusko County and it happens to be the deepest natural lake in Indiana, with a depth of about 123 feet (37.5 meters). There is plenty of lush greenery around the lake. It is adoringly called Lake Tippy by the locals and the surrounding area is dotted with vacation rentals and houses where guests can enjoy the pristine views right from the property. One can enjoy a number of exciting activities at the lake, including boating, kayaking, water skiing, and fishing. In fact, one can find a wide variety of fish in the lake.

Tippecanoe Lake

Address: Leesburg, Kosciusko County, Indiana, US

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9. Lake Freeman

Lake Beach Sunset
Source: Pixabay

Lake Freeman is located in the White County in Indiana and it is a family-friendly lake. There are several full-service gas stations around the lake where you can refill. The lake gets busy with a bustling crowd on the weekends so make sure that you plan a visit accordingly. There is a grassy area around the lake where visitors can enjoy a nice picnic along with a sandy area for lounging.

Lake Freeman

Address: White County, Indiana, United States

Website: Lake Freeman

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10. Brookville Lake

Brookville Lake Dam Indiana
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Wilson44691 used under CC0

The picturesque Brookville Lake in Indiana is a beautiful spot that is quite well-known. The surrounding area around the lake has over 25 miles (40 kilometers) of hiking trails where visitors can explore the wilderness. Visitors can also indulge in fishing, biking, horseback riding, kayaking, and much more while in the vicinity. The Whitewater Memorial State Park Complex is also a part of the lake property and it features clean and bright grounds where visitors can set camps.

Brookville Lake

Address: Brookville, IN 47012, USA

Website: Brookville Lake

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Visit Indiana

Enjoy the scenic beauty of Indiana and visit these amazing lakes. You can indulge in the amazing array of activities that are made available for both visitors and localities. If you are planning a weekend getaway or a short trip, come down with your family and friends or on a solo trip, and make new memories.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Faraz Khan is a part-time content writer who loves stargazing, cloud-watching and reading poetry and fiction. He's also a Wonder Woman fan.

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