Patoka Lake
- Status
- Open (per official listing)
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Not stated — check with park
- Camping
- 500 campsites
- Official site
- in.gov812-685-2464
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
Patoka Lake is a reservoir in Crawford County, about 16 miles east of Jasper.
Popular activities here are cross-country skiing, ice fishing, golf, winter sports, and disc golf. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach, a boat ramp, and boat or kayak rentals. For overnight stays there are 500 campsites across 2 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 | 455 | Electric | — |
| Primitive | 45 | — |
Camping details from the park
- Electric / 455 sites
- Primitive / 45 sites
- Dumping Station
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
ArcheryHikingBikingBoatingWinter sportsCross-country skiingFishingIce fishingGolfDisc golfHuntingPicnickingSwimmingCamping
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Trail | 6.5 mi | Rugged | This loop trail begins at the Nature Center and well maintained, but has a limited number of signs along the way. Average hiking time is three to four hours. Many visitors enjoy walking to Totem Rock, a large rock shelter that was used by Native Americans and early settlers. “Short cuts” back to the Center are available for those familiar with maps and hiking. A “Birdwatching Spur” is on the far north end of the peninsula.* |
| Wildlife Management Demonstration Trail | 2 mi | Moderate | A loop trail beginning at the Nature Center. Illustrates habitat requirements of wildlife as well as wildlife management techniques used on the property. Demonstrations include food plots, protective cover planting, controlled burning and much more. A booklet keyed to numbered posts is available for this self-guided interpretive trail.* |
| Garden Rock Loop Trail | — | Moderate | MODERATE—A short loop trail begins just across from the Nature Center’s front door. Try this trail if your time is limited and rock overhangs, ferns and pines sound inviting. The trail can be hiked in 30 to 45 minutes, but is hilly.* |
Trail descriptions from the park
Main Trail (6.5 miles) RUGGED—This loop trail begins at the Nature Center and well maintained, but has a limited number of signs along the way. Average hiking time is three to four hours. Many visitors enjoy walking to Totem Rock, a large rock shelter that was used by Native Americans and early settlers. “Short cuts” back to the Center are available for those familiar with maps and hiking. A “Birdwatching Spur” is on the far north end of the peninsula.*
Wildlife Management Demonstration Trail (2 miles) MODERATE—A loop trail beginning at the Nature Center. Illustrates habitat requirements of wildlife as well as wildlife management techniques used on the property. Demonstrations include food plots, protective cover planting, controlled burning and much more. A booklet keyed to numbered posts is available for this self-guided interpretive trail.*
Garden Rock Loop Trail—MODERATE—A short loop trail begins just across from the Nature Center’s front door. Try this trail if your time is limited and rock overhangs, ferns and pines sound inviting. The trail can be hiked in 30 to 45 minutes, but is hilly.*
Interpreter-Conducted Walks — Join us for scheduled walks and hikes that may last 30 minutes or three hours. These walks are an enjoyable way to see the Reservoir, learn about nature and history, and meet other people.
*Because of size limitation, locations are marked but actual trails are not shown on this map. Trails listed above are in the Newton-Stewart SRA. Trail brochures are available at the Nature Center.
Swimming
Swimming / Beach (Policy)
Boating and paddling
Boating / 10 Launch Ramps
Hoosier Hills Marina
Patoka Lake Marina
Gilligan's Boats
- Hoosier Hills Marina
- Patoka Lake Marina
- Gilligan's Boats
Fishing
Fishing / Ice Fishing
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
Water
- Swimming beach
- Boat ramp
- Marina or boat slips
- Boat, canoe or kayak rentals
Camping
- Tent camping
- Primitive or backcountry camping
Recreation
- Golf course
- Disc golf
✓ 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.
Accessibility
Biking Trail. Parts of this trail are wheelchair accessible.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 3084 N. Dillard Road
Birdseye, IN 47513 - Nearest town
- Jasper — about 16 mi east (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 38.3845, -86.6471
- Phone
- 812-685-2464
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
Address: 3084 N. Dillard Road Birdseye, IN 47513
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