Clear Lake Public Beach

Fremont, Indiana · on Clear Lake

Verified · 3 independent sources · top-verified

WATER: lake
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: No fee found
SEASON: Varies by conditions

About Clear Lake Public Beach

Clear Lake Public Beach is a small, low-key public swimming beach on Clear Lake, a natural lake near the town of Clear Lake/Fremont in Steuben County, Indiana. It is listed by the Steuben County Tourism Bureau among the region's public lake beaches, and visitor reviews describe it as a small, clear-water swimming hole good for casual swimming. It does not appear to be part of the Steuben County Park system, nor is it prominently listed on the Town of Clear Lake's own recreation pages, so among the area's places to swim, treat this as a modest, lightly serviced access point rather than a developed park facility.

Clear Lake is a roughly 1.3-square-mile natural lake in the lakes region of northeastern Indiana (Steuben County), an area with over 100 natural lakes. The lake is ringed mostly by private homes, a marina, and active yacht and ski clubs, with the public beach providing one of the few open-access points to the water. The lake is regionally noted for unusually clear water down to a sandy bottom, and has a long resort history dating to the 1920s-1930s, when hotels (the Mirador and Carldon) and the Kasota Golf Course drew vacationers to its shores.

Swimming at Clear Lake Public Beach

A small, sandy lake beach where visitors swim, wade, and sunbathe in notably clear water; reviewers specifically praise being able to see the lake bottom while wading. It reads as a casual, family-oriented swim spot rather than a large resort beach, though at least one visitor described finding 'no beach,' suggesting the sand/shoreline area available for swimming may be minimal or vary with lake level and season.

How to get to this swimming hole

From the Fremont area: take US Highway 20 east to Williams Street (State Road 827), go north to State Road 120, then east to County Road 850 East, per Steuben County Tourism Bureau directions to Clear Lake. The beach itself is located at 90 Lakeside Ct, Fremont, IN 46737.

The hike in

Drive-up/walk-up public lake beach at 90 Lakeside Ct, Fremont, IN; no trail or hike is involved to reach the water.

This is a small (1.8-acre) municipal-style lake beach reached directly by road; visitors walk from wherever they park straight to the shoreline.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

OK with supervision

Visitor reviews (Birdeye) describe shallow, very clear water where you can see the lake bottom while wading, which is favorable for kids. However, no source confirms a lifeguard, a roped-off swim area, or shallow-water markers, and Clear Lake carries active marina, yacht-club (sailing), and ski-club (motorboat/waterskiing) traffic, so parents should supervise closely near open water. One reviewer also noted 'no beach,' suggesting the sand/shoreline area can be minimal, which matters for young kids expecting a sandy wading entry.

Water clarity

Clear

Multiple independent sources describe Clear Lake as unusually clear: a Birdeye reviewer wrote 'I love going to clear lake it is always clear water. I can actually see what I am walking on in the water,' and OnlyInYourState's Indiana travel feature calls it the reputed 'clearest lake in Indiana,' with visibility down to the sandy lake floor and visible turtles.

Swim smart

No lifeguard presence has been confirmed at the beach in any source, and no source documents drop-offs, currents, or specific in-water hazards at this beach. Clear Lake does carry active recreational motorboat traffic (a marina and organized yacht and ski clubs operate on the lake), and the state recently restricted wake surfing/wakeboarding to daylight hours lake-wide, which points to some history of boat-wake concerns near shore, though no source ties this specifically to the public beach.

Rules: Under Indiana House Bill 1062, wakeboarding and wake surfing are prohibited from sunset to sunrise on all Indiana lakes, including Clear Lake, effective July 1, 2026 (per the Town of Clear Lake's official website); this is a lake-wide boating rule rather than a beach-specific ordinance. No beach-specific rules (swimming hours, dog policy, alcohol, etc.) were found in any source.

This is an informational listing, not an invitation. Conditions and access change; verify locally before you go. Visiting any swimming hole is at your own risk. See our Terms of Use.

On the water

KayaksMotorboatsSailboats

Restrictions: Under Indiana House Bill 1062, wakeboarding and wake surfing are prohibited from sunset to sunrise lake-wide (including Clear Lake), effective July 1, 2026, per the Town of Clear Lake's official site - a general lake regulation rather than a beach-specific rule. No swim-only/no-wake zone specific to the public beach itself was documented in any source.

Clear Lake supports a marina, an active yacht club (sailing), and a ski club (waterskiing/motorboats) according to the lake community's own site (clearlakeindiana.org/fun), and OnlyInYourState's feature lists kayaking, waterskiing, and fishing among the lake's activities. No source specifically confirms canoe or stand-up-paddleboard use, so those are left off rather than assumed.

What regulars say

Visitor reviews, roughly 92 of them averaging 4.5 out of 5, describe it as a small but pleasant beach with 'great swimming' and consistently clear water ('I can actually see what I am walking on in the water'). One dissenting review flatly stated 'No beach,' suggesting the sand or shoreline strip is minimal and may vary with lake level or season, so set expectations that this is a modest access point, not a large resort-style beach. No additional crowd-level or up-to-date visitor commentary beyond these reviews could be confirmed.

Backstory

Clear Lake has a documented history dating to at least the 1800s: on July 4, 1859, a boating accident on the lake killed eleven people. In the 1920s-1930s the lake was a resort destination, home to the Mirador Hotel, the Carldon Hotel, and the Kasota Golf Course. A local history book, 'Clear Lake: A Place to Remember,' was published in 2009 by the Clear Lake community. These histories pertain to the lake and surrounding community generally rather than the public beach specifically, as no source documents the beach's own founding or development.

Clear Lake Public Beach: FAQ

Is Clear Lake Public Beach kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Clear Lake Public Beach?

No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.

Where do I park for Clear Lake Public Beach?

No source describes a parking lot, roadside pull-off, or fee for this beach. Steuben County Tourism Bureau gives only driving directions (US-20 East to SR-827 north to SR-120 east to CR-850 East) to reach the Clear Lake area, and the beach address is 90 Lakeside Ct, Fremont, IN 46737, but nothing further on parking arrangements was found.

Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Clear Lake Public Beach?

What are the rules at Clear Lake Public Beach?

Under Indiana House Bill 1062, wakeboarding and wake surfing are prohibited from sunset to sunrise on all Indiana lakes, including Clear Lake, effective July 1, 2026 (per the Town of Clear Lake's official website); this is a lake-wide boating rule rather than a beach-specific ordinance. No beach-specific rules (swimming hours, dog policy, alcohol, etc.) were found in any source.

What water body is Clear Lake Public Beach on?

Clear Lake Public Beach is on Clear Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.