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    Paradise Springs Historical Park

    5.0 (1 review)

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    11 years ago

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    Chain O' Lakes - Chain O'Lakes State Park

    Chain O' Lakes

    4.2(25 reviews)
    43.3 mi

    I've been making an effort to experience my home state of Indiana a little more these days. From…read morestate parks to roadside attractions to smalltown diners, I've been trying to simply slow down and enjoy Indiana. Chain O' Lakes State Park is one of Indiana's state parks. Located in Albion, a small city of under 2,400 in northeast Indiana's Noble County (think Kendallville), Chain O' Lakes State Park has as its main feature, you guessed it, a chain of lakes. The park has a chain of nine "kettle" lakes (13 lakes total, 9 connected). Kettle lakes are glacial lakes that were formed out of melting ice blocks. Chain O' Lakes offers small boating, 23 miles of forested trails for hiking, a hillside family cabin, a Nature Center, campground, swimming beach, picnic shelters, and the historic Stanley Schoolhouse - a historic one-room schoolhouse. Chain O' Lakes has 426 campsites, 18 cabins, waterfalls, great fishing spots, and you can rent watercraft. This is far enough from Indy that I kind of recommend making it a weekend trip rather than a day trip. There's much to do in Noble County (which also has a decent-sized Amish community). You can canoe a great five-mile path through the park's nine connected lakes (This used to be an official "challenge," though I don't know if it is anymore). There are even canoe camping sites (more isolated than the traditional camping sites). Chain O' Lakes is one of Indiana's under-appreciated gems. It's definitely less accessible than some of the parks, though it has improved somewhat over the years. It's more rustic and natural. It emphasizes outdoor experiences and its just over 2,700 acres feel like you could just get lost in them. The park is only 19 miles northwest of Fort Wayne (Indiana's second largest city), however, it feels like a world away. As someone who typically goes to Fort Ben State Park, I have a major love for these parks where you get there and forget there's a world outside the gates. If you're not the camping type, I'd probably head to Kendallville rather than Albion for the overnight. However, Chain O' Lakes has everything from primitive to more comfortable camping. So, it's easy to find something that works. I hadn't been to Chain O' Lakes in a while. Returning, I was reminded just how much I enjoy the place and how relaxing it is. A few other basics - This is a state park, so there's a fee to enter unless you've gotten the State Park pass (which I recommend for Indiana's 24 state parks). Also, fishing requires the state license and it is enforced. Finally, a couple semi-fun facts. There's a "re-entry center" located directly in the state park with a capacity of 140 incarcerated individuals. It offers educational and treatment programs designed to help people transition into the community - it also helps maintain this park, Pokagon, and the surrounding communities. It's been here since 1967 (and yes, it is safe.). Chain O' Lakes State Park also hosts The HUFF 50k Trail Run/Relay, the 12th largest ultramarathon in North America. Doesn't all this make you want to visit? I'll admit that I tend to stick in the 4-5 star range for most state parks. I love them. In terms of accessibility, I'd go 4-star for Chain O' Lakes. Because it offers so much and is really under-appreciated (in my opinion), I'm bumping it up to 5-stars. The trails, occasionally accessible, really do require someone with mobility issues to have assistance and some simply wouldn't work. Word of caution, as well, with so much water you had best plan for mosquitoes. They can be really serious around here!

    Great camping spot! It's always quiet and beautiful. The boat rental closes at 4 ( I couldn't find…read morethe hours) and we didn't know that and got there at 4:05 :( only downside. The trails are good and the Dairy Queen in town is always a nice backup if the hot dogs aren't enough for your hunger

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    Chain O' Lakes - Chain O' Lakes State Park

    Chain O' Lakes State Park

    Chain O' Lakes - Chain O' Lakes State Park

    Chain O' Lakes State Park

    Chain O' Lakes - School with great free WiFi

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    School with great free WiFi

    Salamonie Lake

    Salamonie Lake

    3.3(3 reviews)
    10.0 mi

    I do not recommend this campgrounds to first time camping or inexperienced drivers…read more Adequate campsites, some are just ridiculously tiny even for an experienced driver and a small camper. Very clean and well maintained. Our site is on a slight slope but driving around this morning before all the Friday guests checked in I would say that most of the sites here have some grade but nothing a little bit of blocking won't fix if you can get into the spot. Cell signal I use the one that starts with a "V" is adequate for calls and some data, not sure that streaming a movie during the daytime would be great but music last night streamed just fine. The trails here are nice, well maintained mostly easy, clearly marked and less than a couple miles although the Bloodroot trail is about 12 miles and moderate. We hiked a couple short trails today without any complaints. If you are camping in the back of the modern (electric only) it's a good hike to the trail heads but there are ample places to park if you have the ability to drive to the trail head. The marina "store" sign said is closed this late in the season but about a mile or so down the road is a bait shop with most of what you might have forgot, grocery about 12 miles, American Legion about 20. It appears that DNR goes home at dark and there is no quiet time. 3AM dogs barking loud music and screaming drunks. This park is known for this sort of thing so I was surprised when speaking with a representative of the parks department earlier in the week and they boasted about all the changes that have been made in the recent year. I can say is take your chances. Use special care when booking your campsite especially if you are over 25'. Camp here during the week and pull out before the circus arrives. Otherwise this camp grounds is an epic fail and an embarrassment to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources due to the lack of adequate law enforcement in the evening and night hours.

    Adding this spot to the "best sunsets" list! This is for the Salamonie Lake State Park. It was a…read morebit tricky to find with all the construction going on. We actually went way out of our way before figuring out we just needed to be the "thru traffic" and drive through the construction barriers (okay to do to access park). To get to the lake, enter on the west side. It's a great beach area. I very much appreciated that they had the picnic area directly behind the beach (only steps away). This is great for families. You can set up a picnic area & watch the kids swim. They had outhouses available. No lifeguards on duty. Swim at your own risk. We stayed until dusk to watch the sunset. It's worth it! I enjoyed watching all the boats go by too. They have field areas for soccer, etc. and a volleyball nets, piers for swimming. And even a handicap accessible pier! The entire beach is accessible and easy to navigate. A few grills are available to use in the picnic area. There is also a skateboard park in the park but we didn't locate it. There's a marina and camping too. It's really a beautiful park! If you are looking for swimming, boating, or fishing - this is your place! Pack everything you need, because the park is very rural & the nearest store is a Dollar General about 20 mins away. With that being said, an cell signal was also hard to come by.

    Photos
    Salamonie Lake
    Salamonie Lake
    Salamonie Lake

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    Maconaquah Park - Creek again

    Maconaquah Park

    3.5(2 reviews)
    13.6 mi

    Decent little park that hasn't ever been crowded when I've visited. Nice playground with a barrier…read morenot easily climbed by little ones that might head toward the creek in close proximity. Shaded pavilion with picnic tables over a little walking bridge. While not pristine concerning the muddy floor or sink full of grass and dirt, the ladies' room had a clean flushing toilet and not an outhouse type hole. It was stocked with tp, soap, and paper towels. The faucet is one you have to hold down with one hand to use. While understandable so that running water isn't left on, it doesn't give me a sanitary feeling touching it. The door locks but has a good one or two inch open gap that would make me uneasy if alone. I don't care for hand dryers, but it had one of those if you're so inclined to use it and coat your hands with bacteria. I can usually see kids playing football or basketball on the grounds as well as people walking in the wooded areas, some of which is hilly. At least one hill has a cement stairway. I would avoid the small driving bridge that goes over the creek to the pavilion as it doesn't give sturdy vibes. Some trimming is needed near the entrance to better see oncoming traffic while exiting. While it isn't the nicest or most exciting park I've seen, it's not bad. There is a quieter side as well where you can drive, park, and observe the squirrels for entertainment. It seems like a lot of picnic tables in that area have been removed, but it has places to pull off and park as well as convenient garbage cans. The parks in Peru are sometimes the only thing to do around here.

    On the south side of Peru, there is a small nature park for a relaxing day of activities. Whether…read moreyou use one of the shelters or picnic areas or bring your kids to the playground, there is a mature woods surrounding the area with lots of shade and an escape from the routine. There is a basketball court, a next door disc golf course (at the top of the hill), and in winter, I can imagine one sensational sled ride down the open side of the hill. There is plenty of parking and a permanent restroom facility. There is a creek bed that is bridged to allow passage during the rainy months. It appeared that there was some maintenance work being done on the grounds (drainage?) while there, so it seems that the park is being taken care of. There was little trash, so that was a good indication too. A nice place to visit to relax while in Peru. Review #3068

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    Maconaquah Park - Creek

    Creek

    Maconaquah Park - Basketball

    Basketball

    Maconaquah Park - Memorial

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    Memorial

    Paradise Springs Historical Park - parks - Updated August 2026

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