Boating at Monroe Lake
With 11 launch ramps, bringing your boat to Bloomington's sandy shores is easy. Monroe Lake is also home to several boat rental facilities, each offering a variety of boats, jet-skis, fishing vessels, kayaks, and watersports accessories like tubes, wakeboards, skis, and more! You can also take kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and windsurfing lessons from LT Paddle Sports.
Beaching at Monroe Lake
Monroe Lake offers three public beaches for all to enjoy. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, dip your toes in the water and get some sun at the following spots:
Beachside activities include swimming, picnicking, kite flying, volleyball, sunbathing, sandcastle building, frisbee, and more.
Fishing at Monroe Lake
Fun fact: Monroe Lake is home to the largest, most varied selection of fish in Monroe County, from bluegill, largemouth, yellow bass, and more. Fishing is allowed year-round, with popular areas including:
- Crooked Creek Ramp
- Cutright State Recreation Area
- Pinegrove Ramp
Bring your own boat, rent one for the day, or enjoy angling from the banks of the lake! However, before you cast your line, make sure to grab an Indiana State Fishing License from the IDNR office!
Hiking & Trail Running at Monroe Lake
Monroe Lake is also home to various trails, ranging in difficulty from easy loops to more difficult terrain, offering a hiking experience for everyone to enjoy. Remember that the distance you hike in is the distance you have to hike back, so don't push yourself beyond what you're reasonably able to achieve. For curious pet owners, dogs are always welcome as long as they're on a leash.
Popular Trails at Monroe Lake
Paynetown State Recreation Area
- Tree Trek Trail – 0.5 miles (Easy)
- Whitetail Trail – 1 mile (Moderate)
- Bluebird Trail – 1.25 miles (Moderate)
Allen’s Creek State Recreation Area
- Turkey Trot Trail – 1.75 miles (Moderate)
Fairfax State Recreation Area
- Quarry Extension – 0.4 miles (Easy)
- Osprey Trail – 0.8 miles (Easy)
- Big Oak Trail – 1.5 miles (Moderate)
- Evergreen Loop – 1.8 miles (Moderate)
- Homestead Trail – 1.8 miles (Moderate)
Camping & Lodging in Monroe Lake
If you enjoy camping, there are plenty of campgrounds at Monroe Lake. Hardin Ridge and Paynetown offer forested campsites and restrooms for those without hookups. Yogi Bear's Lake Monroe Jellystone Park is a great option for families due to its kid-friendly amenities, including an outdoor pool, splash pad, and playground.
For a more glamping experience, check out Monroe Lake Village, which offers traditional and RV campsites, cabin and villa rentals, an outdoor pool, recreation hall, picnic pavilion, playground, and hiking area.
If you’re looking for less rustic places to stay near Monroe Lake, Indiana, check out the Fourwinds Lakeside Inn & Marina for lakeside lodging, or Scenic View Lodge, which overlooks the Monroe Lake basin. (Scenic View also offers an RV campground one mile from the lake.) If you prefer to stay at home, you’ll also find several vacation rentals close to the banks of Monroe Lake.
Recreation Areas, National Forests & Wildernesses around Monroe Lake
The Hoosier National Forest, Indiana's only national forest, surrounds a large portion of Monroe Lake, offering visitors the chance to explore the forest and the lake. Part of the forest, which includes a portion of Monroe Lake's shoreline, has been congressional-designated as the Charles C. Deam Wilderness, which is nearly 13,000 acres of completely wild and primitive land.
Indiana’s largest lake is surrounded by nine recreation areas, each offering a range of outdoor activities. Crooked Creek, Pine Grove, and Salt Creek all have boat launch ramps, while Cutright Recreation Area includes a marina too. If you’re into sailing, Moore’s Creek is home to the Monroe Lake Sailing Association—expect sailboats, docks, and some of the lake’s best open water views.
If you’re looking to camp, boat, and hike, Allen's Creek is a great, no-frills option. Hardin Ridge Recreation Area and Paynetown SRA are a bit more robust, with campgrounds, trails, and a boat launch, as well as beaches, playgrounds, shelter houses, and more! Fairfax SRA offers a beach with a playground, a tennis court, a basketball court, a small mini golf course, a boat launch ramp, and the Fourwinds Lakeside Inn & Marina.
Responsible Recreation & Land Stewardship
Monroe Lake is home to wildlife, dense forest, and generations of personal connection. Its future depends on how we care for it. If you’re spending time here—on the water or in the woods—please follow Leave No Trace principles and respect the land.
