Salamonie Lake

09/03/2026

9/03/26 Update: Salamonie Lake is lowering about one foot per day, but still 11 feet over summer pool. Staff has all boat ramps cleaned of debris and they will continue doing so as wind blows additional pieces. The ramps have no turn around and no courtesy docks. This image shows that some horse trails are getting close to being above water but remain wet and stinky and have unpredictable deep locations. Pirates Cove Marina Facebook states, "we are open for business! We've got gas, wood, and ice ready to go, and you can still come out to feed the fish. We are renting kayaks and paddle boats, though pontoon and fishing boat rentals are temporarily on hold. If you keep your boat in a slip here, our taxi service is running during regular business hours to shuttle you right out to your dock." The beach will remain closed to swimming, but there are nice picnic locations, most of the disc golf course, Salamonie Interpretive Center and almost all of the campsites are ready for your visit.

08/26/2026

Update 8/26/26: In the last 24 hours, the lake has gone down less than half a foot. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was able to increase the release from 1000 to 2000 cubic feet per second today, so the next 24 hours will lower more quickly. It will still take several days to release 17 feet of extra water. Pirates Cove Marina is open and renting non-motorized watercraft, but no powered boats due to debris in the lake. DNR staff are visiting boat ramps twice a day. Breeze direction determines which ramps fill with floating debris at any given time, but Lost Bridge West and Lost Bridge East Ramps are open as of 2 p.m. All campground reservations on sites 222 through 246 are being automatically cancelled and fully refunded through the night of August 31st, but all other campsites are open. The horse trails and parts of some other trails remain underwater. https://on.IN.gov/salamonielake

08/25/2026

Need help from recent storms? Food, clothing, baby supplies and other resources are available. Call 2-1-1 or visit in211.org.

08/21/2026

Update 8/21/26: Campers are rolling in for a great weekend at Salamonie Lake. The lake level has finally dropped below 19 feet above summer pool. Salamonie Lake's Friends of the Upper Wabash Interpretive Services is selling sweet corn at the gatehouse tonight and will be serving pancakes on Aug 22, 2026 at the wildlife pond during the 5K Tree Trail Trot 9 to 10:30 a.m. for a free-will donation.
The best boat ramp to use today is Lost Bridge West or Mt. Hope ramps. Due to floating debris all over the lake that the wind pushes into the boat ramp areas, please be extremely careful. With the lake this high, bouys and landmarks are also misplaced. Beach is closed, most trails including the horse trails have deep standing water on some portions. See more photos in comments. Want to run with us? https://runsignup.com/Race/IN/Andrews/TreeTrailTrot

08/20/2026

8/20/26 update: Salamonie Lake continues to have campsites available. Fewer than 30 sites are affected by high lake levels. Pirates Cove Marina is providing great service to customers as well. Get your firewood and other supplies and enjoy campsite time with friends. No swimming; some trails remain closed. Saturdays 5K race is a go!

📣 UPPER WABASH BASIN UPDATE 📣

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineer is adjusting operations at JE Roush, Salamonie, and Mississinewa Lakes due to the decrease in downstream stages. Downstream stages on the Wabash River crested on Sunday, following the heavy rainfall last week, and have continued to decline.

Effective 18 August 2026, USACE will begin increasing outflows from the reservoirs as stages have begun to fall to safe levels downstream. Releases have increased to approximately 1,500 cfs at JE Roush Lake with Salamonie and Mississinewa to follow as downstream conditions allow.

The reservoir and dam are operating as designed. This is a planned and controlled operational adjustment based on current conditions.

08/14/2026

Update for 8/14/2026: Due to recent heavy rainfall, the water levels in Salamonie Lake continue to rise. The Salamonie Lake, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District continues to operate the lake for its primary purpose- to limit downstream flooding. The beach, some trails, and the courtesy docks are closed. Some Lost Bridge West electric campsites on the point may become affected by flooding or temporarily have electricity turned off. Please use extreme caution around the lake watching for high water and downed tree limbs. https://on.IN.gov/salamonielake

08/14/2026

We have exciting news for the campers at Salamonie River State Forest. On Saturday, August 15 at 12 noon eastern time, the primitive family campsites and primitive horse campsites at that property will join the camping reservation system. Campers will now be able to make sure they have a campsite when planning their stay with the DNR. Starting September 1, 2026 the sites at Salamonie River State Forest will no longer be first-come-first-serve and will be reservation only from that day forward.
The reservation website is www.Camp.IN.Gov or reservations can be made by calling 1-866-622-6746 (Mon – Fri 12pm – 8pm ET, Sat/Sun 12pm – 5pm ET). What has been historically walk-in only, must now be booked in advance of your stay, until 10pm on the day of your arrival. No more guessing if you’ll have a campsite. Book your Labor Day or October stay today!

https://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/properties/salamonie-river-state-forest/

08/12/2026

8/12/2026: How much rain did you get at your property? Salamonie Lake and the watershed received a large share! The lake is operating as designed and holding extra water from the watershed to protect downstream communities. The beach is closed until further notice.
Monitor lake levels at https://www.lrc-wc.usace.army.mil/data/uwlakes/uwlakes_day/ or stay tuned here. We will post when enough water is released to re-open swimming. Many docks and fishing piers will also be moved as well.

08/01/2026

Drive past the Salamonie Lake gate house and look to your left - a big patch of blazingstar wildflowers is blooming. This park has planted dozens of species of native wildflowers on roadsides and in wildlife management areas to benefit bees, butterflies, birds, and more.

Visit your favorite state park today to see these summer showstoppers!
on.IN.gov/salamonielake

Indiana Native Plant Society's plant finder tool for identification https://finder.indiananativeplants.org/
Purdue University's "Recommended Indiana-native Plants for Attracting Pollinators" https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publications/POL-6/POL-6.html

07/09/2026

Good news at Salamonie Lake and just in time for the next heat wave.
Our beach has reopened today! It has a clean bill of health and now ready for visitors again.

Photo by Monique Black

on.IN.gov/salamonielake