Chain O’ Lakes State Park
4.6(3.2K)google
OutdoorLakeKayakingBoatingFishingHikingCamping
Overview
Chain O’Lakes is an Indiana state park on 2,718 acres (11.00 km2) in Noble County, Indiana, in the United States. The park is located near the towns of Albion and Avilla and is 19 miles (31 km) northwest of the northeastern Indiana's major city, Fort Wayne.
Practical Info
Mon7:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Tue7:00AM – 11:00 PM
Wed7:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Thu7:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Fri7:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Sat7:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Sun7:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Suggested Duration4-8 hours
Best TimeLate summer to early autumn mornings offer the perfect window for boating, as a light mist kisses the water, while the crisp fall foliage makes it an absolute paradise for hiking and camping.
Getting ThereDriving is recommended; take US-33 Northwest from Fort Wayne for about 40 minutes, then head north on IN-9 to arrive directly at the park entrance.
Travel Tips
- Only electric trolling motors and human-powered watercraft are permitted on the nine interconnected lakes; kayak rentals require Class II PFDs for channel navigation.
- The beach swim area is open exclusively from Memorial Day to Labor Day; wading outside designated zones is prohibited due to sharp aquatic vegetation and leeches.
- The connecting water channels are narrow with frequent submerged timber blowdowns; hardshell canoes exceeding 16 feet or three-person kayaks will easily ground out.
- The connected lake kayak trails feature shallow channels with submerged branches; use plastic-hull watercraft instead of fiberglass, and download DNR offline maps beforehand due to spotty cell service.
- Strict electric-trolling-motors-only rules apply to specific lakes within the chain; fuel-powered boats are prohibited in restricted zones and subject to steep DNR citations.
- Sand Lake beach parking fills completely before 10 AM on summer weekends, forcing redirection to remote grass overflow lots requiring an 800-meter walk.
Reviews
Positive
- The nine interconnected lakes are breathtakingly beautiful, and paddling a canoe or kayak through the lake channels is a truly unique nature experience.
- The campgrounds are exceptionally well-maintained, restrooms and shower facilities are clean, and there are plenty of shaded areas for family picnics.
- The trails are clear and easy to navigate with great signage, so even beginners won't get lost, offering plenty of bird watching and wildlife viewing opportunities.
- The park is incredibly peaceful and serene without over-commercialized development, making it the perfect escape from city noise to enjoy raw nature.
Heads up
- During weekends and public holidays, the boat rental area and main launch points get extremely crowded, leading to long wait times.
- The bugs and mosquitoes on some of the remote trails are unbearable; it's almost impossible to keep your eyes open without heavy-duty bug spray.
- For driving visitors, some areas have too few parking spaces, making it difficult to find a spot near popular trailheads if arriving in the afternoon.
- While the park entrance fee itself is cheap, the canoe and equipment rentals inside are priced a bit high, and they don't offer short 30-minute rental options.