Patoka Lake

Patoka Lake is a reservoir in southern Indiana that covers a water surface of roughly 8,800 acres and is surrounded by approximately 26,000 acres of protected woodland. The maximum depth reaches about 52 feet (16 meters), and the rockfill earthen dam rises roughly 145 feet (44 meters) above the riverbed.

Planning for the dam began in the early 1970s to secure water supply for several communities and reduce flooding along the Patoka River. Construction continued until 1978, when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources completed the project.

The name Patoka comes from the Miami-Illinois language and means "come here", a term once used by native traders and settlers along the original river course. Visitors today follow trails that pass through woodlands where these early exchanges once took place.

Several boat ramps and swimming areas are spread along the shoreline, while camping spots and fish cleaning stations are located within the recreational zones. Paths around the water lead through wooded sections and offer entry points at different locations, allowing visitors to choose a starting point based on their preferred activity.

Freshwater jellyfish occasionally appear in the lake, while rangers keep nonreleasable raptors in a dedicated ambassador program. River otters and ospreys, once absent from the region, returned after targeted reintroduction efforts and now use the shoreline areas.

Location: Indiana

GPS coordinates: 38.43472,-86.70694

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:28