Summit Lake State Park
- Status
- Open (per official listing)
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Not stated — check with park
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- in.gov765-766-5873
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
Summit Lake State Park is a 2,555-acre park in Henry County, about 8 miles northeast of New Castle.
Popular activities here are ice fishing, winter sports, historic sites, canoeing and kayaking, and boating. On the water side, there is a swimming beach, a boat ramp, and boat or kayak rentals.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other — Property | Daily | 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. | — |
| Office | Daily | 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. | — |
Official wording
Property: Daily, 7 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Office: Daily, 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Indiana/Indianapolis).
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 reservations • Electric camping map • Youth tent camping map
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
Wildlife viewing and birdingBoatingCanoeing and kayakingHikingFishingIce fishingSwimmingPicnickingWinter sportsHistoric sites and tours
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie Trail (Trail 1) | 2 mi | Moderate | Starts in the open but soon enters the largest wood lot in the park. Hikers will see areas of oak-hickory mixed with cherry, ash and areas of beech-maple mix. The topography includes uplands and low glacial depressions. The remainder of the trail traverses open rolling established prairie, with views of the lake. |
| Campground (Trail 2) | 1.25 mi | Moderate | Starts in the small oak-hickory woods, with a glacial depression that stays wet year-round. The trail then goes through some scrub growth on the edge of the fields, then into open fields across rolling terrain, with excellent views of the lake. |
| Self-Guided Nature Trail (Trail 4) | 0.75 mi | Moderate | The trail begins in a field of prairie grasses punctuated with the bright colors of wildflowers in the summer. It winds through a meadow with young tuliptrees, second-growth shrubs and a wet area with a short boardwalk. The trail ends with a scenic view of the lake. Hikers may see waterfowl, swallows and other water-loving birds, depending on the season. A bench along the path offers a quiet resting place for bird watching. |
Trail descriptions from the park
Note: For trail locations, view the property map. 1. PRAIRIE TRAIL-MODERATE (2 miles)—Starts in the open but soon enters the largest wood lot in the park. Hikers will see areas of oak-hickory mixed with cherry, ash and areas of beech-maple mix. The topography includes uplands and low glacial depressions. The remainder of the trail traverses open rolling established prairie, with views of the lake. 2. CAMPGROUND-MODERATE (1.25 miles)—Starts in the small oak-hickory woods, with a glacial depression that stays wet year-round. The trail then goes through some scrub growth on the edge of the fields, then into open fields across rolling terrain, with excellent views of the lake. 3. BEACH TRAIL- Accessible (.9 mile) —This trail has a firm and stable surface with less than 2% cross slopes, grades no greater than 5% and widths no less than 60 inches. The trail starts in a small wooded lot. The trees include maple, oak and cherry. The remainder of the trail is mostly open, with views of the lake across rolling topography. Details about this and other accessible trails. 4. SELF-GUIDED NATURE TRAIL-MODERATE (.75 mile)—The trail begins in a field of prairie grasses punctuated with the bright colors of wildflowers in the summer. It winds through a meadow with young tuliptrees, second-growth shrubs and a wet area with a short boardwalk. The trail ends with a scenic view of the lake. Hikers may see waterfowl, swallows and other water-loving birds, depending on the season. A bench along the path offers a quiet resting place for bird watching.
Swimming
Swimming / beach (policy)
Boating and paddling
Boating, three launch ramps, boat motor / idle speed only Canoe, kayak, rowboat rentals (hours vary and can change because of weather, check with office) 2 Kayak Trail Challenge
Fishing
Fishing / ice fishing ALL Fishing Tournaments must have a Special Event Permit. This permit can be obtained by contacting the Park Office at 765-766-5873 or SummitLakeSP@dnr.IN.gov. If you are unsure if you qualify as a fishing tournament or not, please feel free to reach out to us. In Indiana, fishing tournaments on public waters can only be regulated by the DNR. It is advisable to check with the owner/operator of the launch facility before planning your event to see what regulations apply. As a State Park, tournament registrations are processed thru Summit Lake State Park Office. A fishing tournament is defined (by Administrative Rule 312 IAC 5-3.5) as an activity involving fifteen (15) or more watercraft used for taking fish or persons compete for a trophy, citation, cash, or prize; or a fee is charged to participants. Admin Rule 312 IAC 8-2-14 a person must not solicit or engage in business, except as approved by an authorized representative. For example, collecting fees and hosting a fishing derby/tournament without having a special event permit. Admin Rule 312 IAC 8-2-15e an area open to the public may not be used for a contest, competition, sporting event or other similar activity, unless authorized by a license and application for license under the subsection shall be delivered to the department at least 30 days before the proposed event. ALL Fishing Tournaments must have a Special Event Permit. This permit can be obtained by contacting the Park Office at 765-766-5873 or SummitLakeSP@dnr.IN.gov. If you are unsure if you qualify as a fishing tournament or not, please feel free to reach out to us. In Indiana, fishing tournaments on public waters can only be regulated by the DNR. It is advisable to check with the owner/operator of the launch facility before planning your event to see what regulations apply. As a State Park, tournament registrations are processed thru Summit Lake State Park Office. A fishing tournament is defined (by Administrative Rule 312 IAC 5-3.5) as an activity involving fifteen (15) or more watercraft used for taking fish or persons compete for a trophy, citation, cash, or prize; or a fee is charged to participants. Admin Rule 312 IAC 8-2-14 a person must not solicit or engage in business, except as approved by an authorized representative. For example, collecting fees and hosting a fishing derby/tournament without having a special event permit. Admin Rule 312 IAC 8-2-15e an area open to the public may not be used for a contest, competition, sporting event or other similar activity, unless authorized by a license and application for license under the subsection shall be delivered to the department at least 30 days before the proposed event.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
Water
- Swimming beach
- Boat ramp
- Boat, canoe or kayak rentals
✓ 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
- 5993 N. Messick Road
New Castle, IN 47362 - Nearest town
- New Castle — about 8 mi northeast (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 40.0207, -85.3031
- Phone
- 765-766-5873
Google Maps directionsApple Maps
Directions from the park
Address: 5993 N. Messick Road New Castle, IN 47362 SummitLakeSP@dnr.in.gov
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)
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“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