Cecil M Harden Lake (Raccoon SRA)
- Status
- Open (per official listing)
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Not stated — check with park
- Camping
- 312 campsites
- Official site
- in.gov765-344-1412
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Water quality BLUE-GREEN ALGAEFound in lakes year round. Don't drink the water. Shower after you swim. More information.
Posted by the park. Official alert
Overview
Cecil M Harden Lake (Raccoon SRA) is a reservoir in Parke County, about 15 miles northwest of Greencastle.
Things to do include ice fishing, horseback riding, historic sites, winter sports, and archery. Water access includes a swimming beach, a boat ramp, and a fishing pier. For overnight stays there are 312 campsites across 3 camping areas (tent sites and primitive or hike-in sites).
Fees and passes
Per vehicle daily gate fee: $7 Indiana plates / $15 out-of-state at state parks and state-managed lakes; exceptions Indiana Dunes ($7/$20), Prophetstown ($8/$16), Falls of the Ohio Interpretive Center ($9 adult/$7 child); $2 per person age 5+ on foot, bicycle or horseback.
Statewide fee rule from Indiana's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
Indiana park passes
- Annual Entrance Pass — $50. Noncommercial vehicle, driver and passengers at DNR properties that charge a gate fee Details
- Non-resident Annual Entrance Pass — $120. Non-Indiana resident noncommercial vehicles Details
- Golden Hoosier Passport — $25. Indiana residents 65+ or eligible for SS disability; vehicle, driver and passengers Details
- Disabled Hoosier Veteran Pass — $25. Persons eligible for a Disabled Hoosier Veteran plate Details
- SSDI Pass — $25. Indiana residents receiving or eligible for SSDI Details
From the Indiana state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveAmerica (Indiana State Parks) for camping, cabins, shelters, group camps; separate inn reservations
- Phone
- 1-866-622-6746 (camping, cabins, shelters, group camps); 1-877-563-4371 (inns and Brown County cabins)
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | 240 | Electric | — |
| Non-electric | 37 | — | |
| Primitive | 35 | — |
Camping details from the park
- Electric / 240 sites
- Non-electric / 37 sites
- Primitive / 35 sites
- Youth Tent Areas
- Camp Store
- Dumping Station
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
Historic sites and toursArcheryBoatingFishingIce fishingHikingHorseback ridingHuntingPicnickingSwimmingWinter sportsWildlife viewing and birdingCamping
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trail 1 | 1.5 mi | Moderate | Starts at the main boat ramp and goes around the south shore of the peninsula to the Payne shelter, past the 1800s Payne Cemetery, Miami Vista, She-Qui-Oh Vista (“Lean Raccoon”) and three scenic overlooks of the lake. The trail returns hikers to near the campground store. |
| Trail 2 | 0.8 mi | Easy | ADA Paved Bike Trail—Starts just north of the campground store. Bikers and hikers will see areas of second growth, mature forest and steep ravines before reaching the Hilltop Shelter parking lot. Details about this and other accessible trails. |
| Trail 3 | 1.1 mi | Moderate | Starts on the northern edge of Raccoon Run campground. Trees include maple, oak, poplar and sycamore. Hikers will pass several bank-fishing areas before the trail concludes at the fish-cleaning station. |
| Trail 4 | 2.1 mi | Rugged | Starts near the west edge of the Whitetail campground. Hikers will see deep sandstone cliffs and several open views of the lake while on the rugged terrain. |
| Trail 5 | 1.4 mi | Moderate | Starts near the Bluebird shelter, leads through successional vegetation, second-growth timber and a variety of artificial wildlife homes. Trail loops and returns to shelter. |
Trail descriptions from the park
1. MODERATE (1.5 miles)—Starts at the main boat ramp and goes around the south shore of the peninsula to the Payne shelter, past the 1800s Payne Cemetery, Miami Vista, She-Qui-Oh Vista (“Lean Raccoon”) and three scenic overlooks of the lake. The trail returns hikers to near the campground store.
2. EASY (0.8 miles)—ADA Paved Bike Trail—Starts just north of the campground store. Bikers and hikers will see areas of second growth, mature forest and steep ravines before reaching the Hilltop Shelter parking lot. Details about this and other accessible trails.
3. MODERATE (1.1 miles)—Starts on the northern edge of Raccoon Run campground. Trees include maple, oak, poplar and sycamore. Hikers will pass several bank-fishing areas before the trail concludes at the fish-cleaning station.
4. RUGGED (2.1 miles)—Starts near the west edge of the Whitetail campground. Hikers will see deep sandstone cliffs and several open views of the lake while on the rugged terrain.
5. MODERATE (1.4 miles)—Starts near the Bluebird shelter, leads through successional vegetation, second-growth timber and a variety of artificial wildlife homes. Trail loops and returns to shelter.
6. ARCHERY TRAIL—Trail begins at the gatehouse parking lot and leads through the Twin Ponds area. Archery enthusiasts can shoot at stationary targets and from elevated stands along a five-station, real-condition, simulated practice trail.
*Trails 1-5 closed during high water.
Swimming
Swimming / Beach (Policy)
Boating and paddling
Boating / 5 Launch Ramps
Rental - Fishing Boats, Pontoons
Fishing
Fishing / Ice Fishing
Fishing Pier (open when water level permits)
Rental - Fishing Boats, Pontoons
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
- Playground
Water
- Swimming beach
- Boat ramp
- Fishing pier
Camping
- Tent camping
- Primitive or backcountry camping
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Getting there
- Address
- 1588 S. Raccoon Parkway
Rockville, IN 47872 - Nearest town
- Greencastle — about 15 mi northwest (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 39.7563, -87.0744
- Phone
- 765-344-1412
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
Address: 1588 S. Raccoon Parkway Rockville, IN 47872
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Indiana State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- Indiana State Parks 'Find A Park' property list + DNR ArcGIS site layers (coordinates)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology