Summit Lake
State Park
Natural Areas: Summit Lake State Park
Summit Lake. Click to enlarge
The principal feature is 800-acre Summit Lake, created by damming the Big Blue River. Most visitors are interested in boating, fishing, swimming, or sunbathing, but at least six trails offer opportunities to explore parts of the nearly 1,800 acres that aren’t underwater. The woods just east of the beach house, accessible via Trail 3, are recent but host a variety of spring wildflowers. Trail 2 begins and ends in the campground area, mostly winding along inlets on the west end of the lake. The southern half of Trail 5 passes numerous wooded (ephemeral?) ponds and is probably the best for spring wildflowers. Trail 1 skirts a large expanse managed as prairie, and in stretches offers excellent views of the lake.
Directions
Henry County. From the intersection of US 36 and IN 3, go east 4 miles on US 36 to Messick Road, then left 1 mile to the park entrance. (Fee)
GPS: N 40 01.129 W 85 18.160
Facilities
Camping, pit toilets, bathhouse in season
Finder Sketch
Click to enlarge
Nearby Natural Areas (miles)
Fall Creek Woods (16.2)