Lake Guide

Monroe County boasts three lakes, each distinct in its offerings and experiences. Griffy Lake is convenient and quiet, a quick reprieve from the bustle of campus and downtown. Lake Lemon is lined with homes and guesthouses, a family-friendly vacation spot. Monroe Lake is massive, with plenty of space for fast boating and quiet fishing.

Each destination offers a variety of activities on and around the water—use this guide to plan your perfect lake day in Monroe County.

GRIFFY LAKE

• Grab a friend and cast a line from a canoe

• Explore Griffy Lake’s nature preserve on the 3.7-mile South Shore Trail

• Try something new and rent a stand-up board

• Catch some fish from the new accessible dock

• Enjoy the quiet as you float along in a rented kayak

LAKE LEMON

• Have a picnic at Riddle Point Park

• See how many fish you can catch

• Take the kids to Riddle Point Park beach

• Hike the 0.5-mile Tulip Trace Nature Trail and admire the scenic overlook of the lake

• Enjoy live music and good food at the Port Hole Inn

MONROE LAKE

• Grab a bite to eat at the Fourwinds Lakeside Inn & Marina

• Hike the new trails at Fairfax SRA

• Kayak at Pine Grove and look for bald eagles

• Let the wind catch your sails and check out the Lake Monroe Sailing Association

• Climb the Hickory Ridge Fire Tower at the Charles C. Deam Wilderness Area

• Play golf at Eagle Pointe

GRIFFY LAKE

This peaceful, 109-acre lake is surrounded by over 1,200 acres of nature preserve, providing some of Bloomington’s best fishing, hiking, and non-motorized boating. Located just a few minutes from downtown, Griffy Lake is one of the city’s most impressive hidden gems.

BOATING

To protect the lake and nature preserve, only non-motorized boats and boats with electric trolling motors are allowed. The Griffy Lake Boathouse offers rental options for a variety of non-motorized options. Visitors can launch their own non-motorized watercraft at the lakes boat ramp. Daily launch fee applies.

Griffy Lake Boathouse

N. Headly Road 812-349-3732

bloomington.in.gov/parks/parks/griffy-lake/boathouse

SWIMMING

Swimming is not permitted at Griffy Lake. This guide lists several other options for lake swimming.

FISHING

Griffy Lake is a great place to fish. Stocked with largemouth bass, blue gill, redear sunfish and more, anglers are welcome to fish from the shore, use the new accessible dock, or from a non-motorized boat. Fishing is allowed year-round.

TRAILS

Griffy Lake offers ten trails around the perimeter of the lake and in the nature preserve.

Wetlands Trail

Nature Trail

Lanam Trail

0.2 miles easy

0.5 miles easy

0.6 miles easy

Dam Crossing Trail 0.16 miles easy

Causeway Trail 0.25 miles easy

Cascades Park Trail 1.2 miles easy

West North Shore Loop 1 mile moderate

Griffy Creek Trail 1.5 miles moderate

Hiking Trail 1.7 miles moderate

North Shore Trail 1.4 miles hard

GRIFFY LAKE

LAKE LEMON

This lush, 1,650-acre lake is located just 10 miles northeast of Bloomington in Unionville, a neighboring Monroe County town.

Lake Lemon is a fantastic place for boating, water sports, and fishing. Home to Indiana University’s Rowing Team and known as one of the state’s most productive fishing lakes, Lake Lemon’s mighty reputation does not disappoint.

BOATING

Launch your own watercraft at one of two launch ramps or rent a pontoon, Kayak or SUP Board at the marina located on the north shore. Daily launch permit may be required.

Riddle Point Park lakelemon.org

Lake Lemon Marina North Shore Drive 812-988-9400 lemonmarina.com

SWIMMING

Riddle Point Park offers a small public swimming beach with a family friendly atmosphere. Admission fee charged.

FISHING

Lake Lemon is a great fishing lake, with a variety of species. You can catch largemouth and yellow bass, channel and flathead catfish, bluegill and crappie. Cast from your boat or from the 25 miles of shoreline. Fishing is allowed yearround.

TRAILS

Riddle Point Park offers a 0.5-mile trail that is an easy hike and loops through wooded areas to a scenic overlook of Lake Lemon.

Two trails are offered at Lake Lemon from wooded areas to scenic views of the lake.

Tulip Trace Trail 0.5 mile easy

Bob Klawitter Lake Lemon Woods Trail 0.5 miles moderate

Lake Lemon is managed by the Lake Lemon Conservancy District for more information visit: lakelemon.org

LAKE LEMON

MONROE LAKE

Monroe Lake is Indiana’s largest body of water, with 10,750 acres of water surface.

Located about 10 miles southeast of Bloomington, the massive lake features rolling, wooded hills and a scenic, stone-bluffed shoreline. With ample options for water sports, pontooning, beaching, fishing, hiking, and more, Monroe Lake offers the ultimate lake day adventure.

BOATING

Launch your own watercraft at one of Monroe Lakes’s nine ramps, or rent a jet-ski, pontoon, ski boat, fishing boat, or non-motorized boats at one of the following locations. Launch permit required.

Lake Monroe Boat Rental — Paynetown SRA

812-837-9909 • lakemonroeboatrental.com

Paradise Boat Rentals — Fairfax SRA

812-824-2628 • rentals.fourwindsrental.com

Two Herons Marina — Cutright SRA

812-837-9394 • twoheronsmarina.com

SWIMMING

Monroe Lake offers three public beaches, located at the Fairfax SRA, Paynetown SRA, and Hardin Ridge Recreation Area, fees may be charged.

FISHING

A variety of fish including Bluegill, walleye, and black and white crappie are just a few species you can expect to catch at the wellstocked lake. Fishing is allowed year-round.

TRAILS

Monroe Lake offers nine trails around the perimeter of the lake.

Paynetown SRA

Tree Trek Trail .5 miles easy

Whitetail Trail 1 mile moderate

Bluebird Trail 1.25 miles moderate

Fairfax SRA

Quarry Extension .4 miles easy

Allen’s Creek SRA

Turkey Trot Trail 1.75 miles moderate

Osprey Trail .8 miles easy

Big Oak Trail 1.5 miles moderate Evergreen Loop 1.8 miles moderate

Homestead Loop 1.8 miles moderate

Neighboring Charles C. Deam Wilderness also offers over 35 miles of easy-to-moderate trails for those who want to explore more.

MONROE LAKE

ACCOMMODATIONS

LAKE LEMON

There are several vacation rentals available for rent on and near Lake Lemon. Go to visitbloomington.com for more information.

Antler Log Cabins

812-339-6547 • antlerlogcabins.com

Cabin Porch Paradise

812-340-0440 • cabinporchparadise.com

Elm House

812-340-0513 • vrbo.com/452786

Lake Lemon Guesthouses

812-322-2436 • lakelemonguesthouses.com

Red Rabbit Inn

812-330-1216 • airbnb.com/rooms/26841580

MONROE LAKE

There are many different lodging options in the Monroe Lake area, from lakeside resorts to primitive camping in the forest. Listed below are several options depending on your preference. Check out visitbloomington.com for many more choices.

Eagle View Vacation Condo

812-988-6429 • browncountylogcabins.com

Fourwinds Lakeside Inn & Marina

812-824-2628 • fourwindsresort.com

ACCOMMODATIONS

Jellystone Park at Lake Monroe 812-824-3322 • lakemonroejellystone.com

Lake Monroe Village 812-824-2267 • lakemonroevillage.com

Camping and Campgrounds

There are numerous places to camp around Monroe Lake in addition to those listed. Hardin Ridge and Paynetown offer both primitive and RV camping sites; you can make reservations by calling 866-622-6746 or visiting indianastateparks.reserveamerica.com.

The Hoosier National Forest allows for primitive camping throughout the forest, and RV camping is available at the Blackwell Horsecamp. You can get updated site accessibility by calling the Forest’s office at 812-275-5987 or visiting fs.usda.gov/hoosier. Please observe camping rules, regulations and etiquette outlined by IDNR and Hoosier National Forest.

Scan here for a complete list of lodging option in Monroe County

ACCESSIBILITY

GRIFFY LAKE

Griffy Lake has a walkway to the Fishing Pier that gives those with accessibility needs the opportunity to fish from the shoreline. The walkway is located along Headley Road. The lake also has accessible parking available.

MONROE LAKE

Paynetown SRA (east side) and Fairfax SRA (west side) have new accessibility features with an access path to the swimming beach. The ramp extends from the bottom of the ramp to the shoreline in hopes that all visitors can access the water more easily.

EAGLES AND MONROE

• The Indiana Nongame & Endangered Wildlife Program began the Bald Eagle Reintroduction Program in 1985.

• 73 bald eagle chicks were released at Monroe Lake.

• Upon reaching adulthood at 4-5 years old, bald eagles return to within 50-100 miles of where they fledged.

• Indiana’s first successful bald eagle nests in this century occurred in 1991 at Monroe Lake. The state’s last successful nest before then was in 1897.

• In 2020, over 350 eagle nesting territories were reported throughout Indiana.

• The conservation status was changed from state-endangered to a species of special concern in 2008. Today, bald eagles are no longer considered a species of special concern.

• Don’t miss the annual Eagles Over Monroe event celebrating Monroe Lake’s unique history with the bald eagle.

SUSTAINABILITY

Home to a variety of wildlife, thriving forests, and fond memories for many Hoosiers, Monroe County’s lakes are more than just bodies of water—and land stewardship is key to keeping these beautiful lakes accessible for all to enjoy. Whether you’re visiting for a day on the water or a weekend in the woods, please practice the Leave No Trace Seven Principles and respect the land around you.

• Plan Ahead and Prepare

• Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

• Dispose of Waste Properly

• Leave What You Find

• Minimize Campfire Impacts

• Respect Wildlife

• Be Considerate of Other Visitors

© 1999 by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics: www.LNT.org.