🏆 Official Guide: Brookville Lake — a 5,260-acre reservoir in the Whitewater River valley with 450 campsites, a swimming beach, Indiana’s premier walleye fishery, and 450-million-year-old fossils.
Brookville Lake fills the historic East Fork Whitewater River valley in southeastern Indiana — 5,260 acres of open water wrapped in 16,445 acres of public land that runs nearly to the Ohio border. Impounded in 1974 behind a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dam, the lake has grown into one of Indiana’s classic water-recreation destinations: two marinas, a broad swimming beach, more than 25 miles of trails, and fishing with a statewide reputation.
The property is run by the Indiana DNR as two State Recreation Areas: Mounds SRA on the east shore near Brookville (not to be confused with Mounds State Park in Anderson) and Quakertown SRA at the north end near Liberty. The valley has deep history — traces of prehistoric Native American mounds survive here — and even deeper geology: the hillsides hold one of the world’s best-known deposits of Ordovician fossils, remnants of an inland sea 450 million years old.
What Makes This Property Unique
Indiana’s Walleye Water
Brookville is one of the few Indiana lakes where walleye grow large enough that fisheries biologists collect eggs from its females to stock the rest of the state — plus strong smallmouth and hybrid striper fishing.
450 Campsites
62 full-hookup and 388 electric sites at Mounds SRA make this one of Indiana’s biggest campgrounds — an easy weekend base for the whole Whitewater valley.
Mounds SRA Beach
A wide swimming beach on the east shore, open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day — the region’s go-to summer cool-off.
450-Million-Year-Old Fossils
The valley’s Ordovician limestone is famous among geologists worldwide — brachiopods and other sea-floor fossils are visible in the exposed rock.
Things to Do
Fishing: Walleye are the signature catch, joined by bass, crappie, and catfish. Two marinas — Quakertown and Kent’s Harbor — handle launching, slips, and rentals.
Hiking: More than 25 miles of trails thread the shoreline hills, from the 0.7-mile Wildlife Wander to the 16.5-mile Wolf Creek Trail — one of the longer single trails on any Indiana DNR property.
Swimming & boating: The Mounds SRA beach runs Memorial Day through Labor Day; the open lake gives you room for skiing and cruising, and quiet coves for paddling.
More: Seasonal hunting on designated land, a 3D archery range (Thursday–Sunday, April–August), and wildlife watching across 11,000+ acres of habitat.
Camping
The campgrounds at Mounds SRA total 450 sites — 62 full-hookup and 388 electric — with modern facilities. Reserve at camp.IN.gov; summer weekends and walleye-season weekends book out early.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Entry Fee | Standard DNR gate fee: $7/vehicle (IN plates), $9 out-of-state (as of July 2026) |
| Lake | 5,260 acres; 16,445 acres total property |
| Impounded | 1974 (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dam) |
| Camping | 450 sites (62 full-hookup, 388 electric), Mounds SRA |
| Beach | Mounds SRA, Memorial Day–Labor Day |
| Mounds SRA | 14108 SR 101, Brookville, IN 47012 (Franklin County) |
| Quakertown SRA | 3323 W. Dunlapsville Road, Liberty, IN 47353 (Union County) |
| Official Info | Indiana DNR – Brookville Lake |
Getting There
Mounds SRA sits on SR 101 just north of Brookville; Quakertown SRA is at the lake’s north end near Liberty. From Indianapolis, allow about 75 minutes southeast via I-74 and SR 1/101; from Cincinnati, it’s roughly an hour northwest — the lake is a genuine two-state weekend draw.
Nearby Parks Worth Combining
Whitewater Memorial State Park borders the lake’s north end at Liberty — many visitors treat the two as one big destination. Versailles State Park is about 45 minutes southwest. The Indiana state parks guide has the full picture.
Facts verified against Indiana DNR and public records, July 2026. Gate fees, beach season, and hunting rules are set by the DNR — check the official property page before your trip.
Park Location
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