Chain O Lakes State Park

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Albion, IN
Chain O Lakes State Park

The official Indiana DNR page for Indiana's Chain O' Lakes State Park. This is lake country and a small boater’s paradise.

Nine connecting lakes will be the center of your adventures at Chain O’Lakes. Paddle through the chain of serene kettle lakes, hike the 23 miles of forested trails, fish the electric-motors-only lakes, stay overnight in a forested hillside family cabin, visit the park’s historic one-room Stanley Schoolhouse, or explore the Nature Center. Other facilities available for visitors to enjoy include a campground, beach and picnic shelters. This property is in the Eastern Time Zone.

06/19/2026

Boat Rental 101

We are getting lots of questions about Boat Rental, so we hope we can answer some of the most common questions here:

- Our Boat Rental facility on Sand Lake is currently open daily from 8 am - 8 pm with the last rental going out at 7 pm.
- Boat rental is first-come, first-served. We do NOT take advance reservations for boat rental.
- A life jacket is included in your rental but if you have your own, please feel free to bring it.
- Parking is available on the top of the hill, and just a short walk down to the rental facility
- Don’t forget you need a photo ID for rentals
- Prices: Canoes, Single Kayaks, and Row Boats: $10/hour + tax / Double Kayaks & Paddle Boats: $15/hour + tax
- We do have special full day rates available Monday - Friday with canoes, single kayaks, and row boats renting for $30/day plus tax and paddle boats and double kayaks renting for $40/day plus tax.
- Rentals on the weekends and holidays are by the hour only (no full day rental price available), except for bikes and row boats which can always be rented for the $30 daily rate.
- If you’re bringing in your own boat, please don’t forget to buy a Non-Motorized Launch Permit at the Front Gate for only $5 for the calendar year (motorized - trolling motor $25).

- Don't forget to check out the 9 Lake Challenge! Summer is an excellent time to paddle the Chain!https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/files/sp-9LakesChallengeBrochure.pdf

What questions about boat rental or paddling here in the park do you have? Post them below and we will work hard to get them answered for you.

Happy Paddling!

06/17/2026

Welcome to Wetland Wednesday! Our month of wetland types continues with bogs. Bogs are one of North America’s most distinctive wetland types. They are defined as having spongy peat deposits, acidic waters, and a floor covered by thick sphagnum moss. Bogs receive all or most of their water from precipitation rather than from runoff, groundwater, or streams like other wetlands. As a result, bogs are low in nutrients needed for plant growth. Bogs play an important role in the environment because they prevent downstream flooding by absorbing precipitation.

Bogs in the northern part of the United States are often found in old glacial lakes and have considerable amounts of open water surrounded by vegetation or the vegetation has filled the lake. Sphagnum peat causes very acidic water and creates a unique environment for specialized plants and animals. A key function of bogs is providing habitat to some of the United States’ more interesting plants like the carnivorous pitcher plant and cranberries or blueberries!

To learn more about bogs and other types of wetlands visit https://ow.ly/tXm750Z4gi5

06/15/2026

It's time for POKER PADDLE! Are you ready for our annual Poker Paddle event! Bring your family and friends Saturday (6/20) for some competitive fun on the lakes of this 'small boater's paradise'.

Please remember to park in the gravel boat rental parking area or at the kayak launch; roadside parking is prohibited.

Registration begins at 9:30 am at Boat Rental and you will have until 1:00 pm to get your 5 “cards”. Prizes will be awarded for 1st-3rd place and will include free boat rental certificates. You can bring in your own boat (don’t forget your non-motorized lake permit) or rent one of ours for this family friendly fun.

We hope to see you Saturday!
on.IN.gov/chainolakessp

06/12/2026

Have YOU paddled the Chain?

The 9 Lake Challenge will take you 5 miles across the park via nine connected kettle lakes. Take in this small boater’s paradise while enjoying the natural landscape from the unique vantage point of your boat. Bring your own canoe or kayak or rent one at the park's Boat Rental. Take photos described in the challenge brochure and then show your photos to the staff at Park Headquarters (or at the Campground Gatehouse when Park Headquarters is closed).

Upon completion, you can get a free sticker, purchase your 9 Lake Challenge merchandise, and be able to proudly say… "I paddled the Chain!"

Download the 9 Lake Challenge Map & Brochure at https://ow.ly/1Hmg50YMU3m

06/11/2026

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Join us at Chain O'Lakes State Park for an interpretive program. Here is our weekend schedule.

Thursday, June 11
11:00am.-Wetlands through Metaphors (Schoolhouse)

Friday, June 12
11:00am.-Reptiles Alive (Nature Center)

Saturday, June 13
11:00am.-Hearty Hummingbird (Nature Center)
2:00pm.-Visit with an 18th Century Fur Trader (Schoolhouse)

You can also complete our self-guided interpretive trail (trail 8.) starting at the Stanley Schoolhouse.

For more programs and events visit us at on.IN.gov/chainolakes

06/10/2026

Welcome to Wetland Wednesday! Today, we are continuing our month of wetland types with swamps. Swamps are primarily dominated by trees or shrubs and often have saturated soils and standing water depending on the time of year. Swamps also have highly organic soils which form the perfect environment for water-tolerant trees like Cypress or shrubs such as buttonbush. Wildlife is also plentiful in swamps ranging from birds and fish to crayfish and freshwater shrimp! Swamps play a vital role in flood protection and nutrient removal. Many animals depend on the abundance of food found in swamps and trees found in swamps can be sustainably harvested for building material.

For more information on swamps and other wetland types visit https://ow.ly/WgWo50Z4gk4

06/09/2026

LIVING HISTORY- FUR TRADER VISIT!

Join us this Saturday (6/13) for a trip back in time with Kevin Stonerock’s living history performance: A Visit With an 18th Century Fur Trader. This program will take place at the Stanley Schoolhouse at 2:00pm on June 13, 2026.

This interactive living history performance highlights the vital role of the fur trade between the Europeans and Native Americans in what is now Northeast Indiana. The trader, a Scotsman named Jacob McLinden, portrayed by Kevin Stonerock, takes the audience on a journey from Montreal to the Indian Country though a year in the fur trade in the mid 1700’s.

This program is made possible through the Chain O’Lakes Interpretive fund through the Noble County Community Foundation. Bring your lawn chair or blanket to the historic Stanley Schoolhouse for this family friendly program!

Visit us at on.IN.gov/chainolakes for park information and more programs and events.

06/08/2026

Mark your calendars for our live raptor series this summer at Chain O'Lakes State Park!

These programs, courtesy of the Salamonie Raptor Center, will be at 6:00pm on the following dates: June 18, July 30, and October 22. All programs will be at the Sunny Shelter (a quick walk from the beach) except for the October program which will take place at the stage in the Campground Interpretive Area.

These permanently-injured birds are ambassadors for their species because they would not survive in the wild. Meet at Sunny Shelter (a quick walk from the beach) for a chance to meet some of Indiana’s raptors up close and share a donation to support their care.

For more programs and events visit us at on.IN.gov/chainolakessp

06/05/2026

Boat Rental 101
The weather is warming up and we are getting lots of questions about Boat Rental, so we hope we can answer some of the most common questions here:

- Our Boat Rental facility on Sand Lake is currently open daily from 8 am - 8 pm with the last rental going out at 7 pm.
- Boat rental is first-come, first-served. We do NOT take advance reservations for boat rental.
- A life jacket is included in your rental but if you have your own, please feel free to bring it.
- Parking is available on the top of the hill, and just a short walk down to the rental facility
- Don’t forget you need a photo ID for rentals
- Prices: Canoes, Single Kayaks, and Row Boats: $10/hour + tax / Double Kayaks & Paddle Boats: $15/hour + tax
- We do have special full day rates available Monday - Friday with canoes, single kayaks, and row boats renting for $30/day plus tax and paddle boats and double kayaks renting for $40/day plus tax.
- Rentals on the weekends and holidays are by the hour only (no full day rental price available), except for bikes and row boats which can always be rented for the $30 daily rate.
- If you’re bringing in your own boat, please don’t forget to buy a Non-Motorized Launch Permit at the Front Gate for only $5 for the calendar year (motorized - trolling motor $25).

- Don't forget to check out the 9 Lake Challenge! Summer is an excellent time to paddle the Chain!https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/files/sp-9LakesChallengeBrochure.pdf

What questions about boat rental or paddling here in the park do you have? Post them below and we will work hard to get them answered for you.

Happy Paddling!

Address

2355 E 75 S
Albion, IN
46701

Telephone

+12606362654

Website

https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/parks-lakes/chain-o-lakes-state-park/

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