Chain O’ Lakes State Park
🏆 Official Guide: Chain O’ Lakes State Park — Indiana’s paddling park near Albion: 2,718 acres, 13 kettle lakes with nine connected by natural channels, 212 surface acres of water, more than 7 miles of shoreline, 29 miles of trails, a 421-site campground, family cabins and the one-room Stanley Schoolhouse nature center. Entrance $7 per Indiana vehicle. Verified with the Indiana DNR as of August 2026.
You can paddle for an hour at Chain O’ Lakes without ever carrying the canoe. Nine of the park’s thirteen kettle lakes — left behind when blocks of glacial ice melted in place — are linked by narrow channels, so a quiet morning takes you from one lily-edged basin to the next with a heron lifting off ahead of you at each bend. The lakes are electric-motors-only, which keeps the water as quiet as it looks. Around them, 29 miles of forested trail climb and drop over the moraine hills of Noble County, and the family cabins sit on a wooded hillside above the water.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | 2355 E. 75 S., Albion, IN 46701 — Noble County, northeast Indiana |
| Entrance fee | $7 per in-state vehicle · $15 per out-of-state vehicle · $2 per person age 5+ entering on foot, bicycle or horseback |
| Annual passes | $50 resident · $120 non-resident · $25 Golden Hoosier Passport (65+), valid Jan. 1–Dec. 31 |
| Nature Center | Open daily Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. · 260-636-7957 |
| Phone | 260-636-2654 (park office) · Reservations 1-866-622-6746 |
| Official site | Indiana DNR — Chain O’ Lakes State Park |
The Lakes
Thirteen kettle lakes total, nine of them joined into the chain that gives the park its name. The park rents canoes, kayaks, double kayaks, paddleboats and rowboats, and boat launch ramps are available for your own craft — electric motors only. Swimming is at the Sand Lake beach, the only designated swimming area in the park. Fishing on the electric-motors-only lakes is a quiet affair.
Trails
Twelve numbered trails, 29 miles in all, from easy lake loops to rugged ridge climbs:
| Trail | Length | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Trail 1 | 1.5 mi | Moderate |
| Trail 2 | 1 mi | Moderate |
| Trail 3 | 1.3 mi | Easy |
| Trail 4 | 5.7 mi | Moderate |
| Trail 5 | 1.3 mi | Easy |
| Trail 6 | 3 mi | Moderate |
| Trail 7 | 1.8 mi | Easy |
| Trail 8 | 1.5 mi | Moderate — self-guided nature trail |
| Trail 9 | 1.3 mi | Rugged |
| Trail 10 | 2.5 mi | Moderate |
| Trail 11 | 4 mi | Easy |
| Trail 12 | 3.5 mi | Moderate |
Stanley Schoolhouse Nature Center
The park’s nature center is a historic one-room schoolhouse, the Stanley Schoolhouse, open daily from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. It is the starting point for interpretive programs; a current program schedule is also left in each family cabin’s guest binder.
Camping and Cabins
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| Campground | 331 electric sites, 49 non-electric, 33 primitive, 4 rally sites, 4 canoe-camp sites and 5 youth tent areas |
| Nightly rates (Indiana state parks) | Electric $33–$55 · Non-electric $20–$28 · Primitive $14–$18, depending on weekday/weekend/holiday |
| Family cabins | 850 sq ft, two bedrooms (queen; twin bunk plus twin-over-full bunk), full kitchen, bath with shower, indoor woodstove, screened porch with pass-through window to the kitchen. Bring linens, towels and table service. No pets. Must be 21 to rent |
| Cabin minimums | Peak season: one week (two-night minimum opens if unbooked 30 days before arrival). Off-peak: two nights Sun–Thu; weekend stays must include Fri+Sat or Sat+Sun. 14-night maximum |
| Check-in / out | Cabins 4 p.m. ET at park headquarters (campground gatehouse if office closed), check-out 11 a.m. ET |
| Reservations | camp.IN.gov or 1-866-622-6746 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the entrance fee at Chain O’ Lakes State Park?
$7 per vehicle with Indiana plates, $15 per out-of-state vehicle, or $2 per person for walk-ins and cyclists. A $50 resident annual pass covers all Indiana state parks for the calendar year (as of August 2026).
Can I use a motorboat on the lakes?
Electric motors only. The park rents canoes, kayaks, paddleboats and rowboats, and has launch ramps for your own non-gas boat.
Are pets allowed in the cabins?
No — pets are not allowed in or around the family cabins. Leashed pets are permitted in the campground under Indiana DNR rules.
More parks nearby: Pokagon State Park to the northeast on Lake James is famous for its refrigerated winter toboggan run, and Ouabache State Park near Bluffton has a bison enclosure.
Editorial note: Acreage, lake and trail figures are from the Indiana DNR park page and the official family-cabin brochure; fees are from the DNR entrance-fee and camping-fee pages, checked August 2026. Confirm current rates at in.gov before you book.
⛺ Camping at Chain O’ Lakes State Park: Campgrounds & Cabins
| Campsites | 421 sites — 331 electric, 49 non-electric, 33 primitive, 4 rally sites, 4 canoe-camp sites and 5 youth tent areas |
|---|---|
| Cabins & Lodging | Forested hillside family cabins, 850 sq ft each: queen bedroom, second bedroom with twin bunk and twin-over-full bunk, full kitchen, bath with shower, screened porch with pass-through window; no pets; check-in 4 p.m. ET, check-out 11 a.m. ET; one-week minimum in peak season |
| Pets | Pets not allowed in or around the cabins |
| Reservations | camp.IN.gov or 1-866-622-6746 |
| Special sites | Canoe camp sites reachable by water; Indiana state park nightly rates: electric $33–$55, non-electric $20–$28, primitive $14–$18 depending on day |
| Season notes | Cabins: peak season one-week minimum (two-night minimum if not booked 30 days out); off-peak two-night minimum Sun–Thu |
Camping questions about Chain O’ Lakes State Park
Can you camp at Chain O’ Lakes State Park?
Yes. Chain O’ Lakes State Park has 421 campsites. 331 electric, 49 non-electric, 33 primitive, 4 rally sites, 4 canoe-camp sites and 5 youth tent areas.
How do you reserve a campsite at Chain O’ Lakes State Park?
camp.IN.gov or 1-866-622-6746.
Are there cabins at Chain O’ Lakes State Park?
Forested hillside family cabins, 850 sq ft each: queen bedroom, second bedroom with twin bunk and twin-over-full bunk, full kitchen, bath with shower, screened porch with pass-through window; no pets; check-in 4 p.m. ET, check-out 11 a.m. ET; one-week minimum in peak season.
Are pets allowed at the Chain O’ Lakes State Park campground?
Pets not allowed in or around the cabins.
Source: in.gov (verified July 2026). Details change seasonally — confirm when booking.
🐾 Dogs & Pets at Chain O’ Lakes State Park
- Pets allowed? statewide rule
- Pets are allowed throughout Indiana state park properties, including trails, but must be on a 6-foot leash or in a cage at all times.
- Leash rule statewide rule
- 6 ft leash applies to the entire property; electric collars/fences do not substitute
- Beaches & swim areas statewide rule
- Pets (except service animals) are prohibited from swimming pools and beaches unless an area is specifically designated for pets
- Cabins & lodging statewide rule
- Designated pet-friendly rooms and cabins at all seven Indiana State Park Inns accept dogs and cats up to 75 lbs, max two pets, for $25 per pet per night
- Pet fees statewide rule
- No day-use pet fee; $25 per pet per night at State Park Inns' pet-friendly rooms/cabins
- Statewide exceptions statewide rule
- At eight reservoir properties (including Patoka, Brookville and Monroe) dogs may be off leash in lawful pursuit of wild animals or in licensed field trials
Are dogs allowed at Chain O’ Lakes State Park?
Pets are allowed throughout Indiana state park properties, including trails, but must be on a 6-foot leash or in a cage at all times. Individual parks can post stricter rules — check signage on arrival.
Rules verified July 2026 via in.gov. More: Indiana state parks guide · Dog rules in all 50 states compared
Park Location
Plan your gear for Chain O’ Lakes State Park
From our editorial guides, matched to this park’s activities:
