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Chain O'Lakes State Park is made up of nine connecting lakes in Noble County, Indiana. Lakes include Norman Lake, Miller Lake, River Lake, Weber Lake, Sand Lake, Bowen Lake, Dock Lake, Finster Lake and Long Lake.
After entering the Chain O'Lakes State Park gate, there is a two-mile road which takes you to the first sign for a boat ramp and the first lake, Sand Lake. The boat ramp at Sand Lake is a very steep, concrete ramp with a sandy area next to it. The sandy are makes the best place for kayak launching. Better still, drive past this boat ramp and follow the signs (a left, then a right) for the next boat ramp at Dock Lake. This is the best place to launch. There are bathrooms for changing, a boat ramp, and a beach of small pebbles for launching. Parking is located right at the boat ramp and it was not crowded at all on the Saturday I visited.
When I drove up to Dock Lake and started uploading my kayak, I met two very friendly kayakers from Fort Wayne, Indiana who were having their lunch and a brief rest. One of the kayakers had built his own kayak from a kit and told me all about the links and passages at Chain O'Lakes. I had to agree with their comment about how nice it was to kayak on lakes with no houses or developments on the shores. I had just kayaked in Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey, where every inch of shoreline was developed.
I put in and had the entire lake to myself. I was delighted to see nothing but trees, birds, water lilies and clean, clear water. I paddled down a narrow passageway and looked down through the clear water at a sandy bottom only a foot below me. I paddled towards Long Lake. This tranquil setting was about the best kayaking one could hope to imagine. The mosquitos became noticeable in the passageways between lakes but with a bit of spray they didn't interfere with the beautiful scene.
I returned to Dock Lake and took another passageway towards Bowen Lake where I met up with two fishermen and a family in a canoe. Bowen Lake is larger than Dock Lake but is quite an easy paddle to the connected Sand Lake. There are many landing spots for stretching your legs and enjoying the scenery.
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