Deam Lake State Recreation Area
Borden, Indiana · on Deam Lake · Deam Lake State Recreation Area
Verified · 5 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $7/day
- SEASON
- The swimming beach is open seasonally from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, per the official park page.
About Deam Lake State Recreation Area
Deam Lake State Recreation Area, near Borden, Indiana, centers on the 194-acre Deam Lake, an electric-trolling-motor-only reservoir built in 1965 and named for Charles Deam, Indiana's first state forester. The DNR-managed property operates a designated swimming beach, making this reservoir an official swimming hole and an easy lake to swim in, in addition to camping, fishing, boating, and hiking and mountain-biking trails.
The recreation area sits in forested, steep and rolling hills of Clark County overlooking the lake, with stands of Virginia pine, bottomland forest, and rock outcroppings noted on the official park page. Deam Lake State Recreation Area adjoins Clark State Forest and lies near the Knobstone Trail corridor.
Swimming at Deam Lake State Recreation Area
Swimming takes place at a maintained lake beach rather than in a free-flowing river or creek; the beach is open seasonally with dressing facilities, restrooms/showers, and a wheelchair-accessible ramp into the water. No lifeguards are posted (statewide DNR beaches operate swim-at-your-own-risk, unlike DNR pools), and visitors are advised to shower after swimming and avoid drinking the water due to blue-green algae present in the lake.
How to get to this swimming hole
The recreation area is located at 1217 Deam Lake Road, Borden, IN 47106; the official park page does not provide turn-by-turn driving directions from a specific town.
Parking: The park page does not detail a specific beach parking lot, but describes a wheelchair-accessible ramp for beach access; on-property parking exists for the campground, trailheads, and horse day-use area.
The hike in
No hike is required to reach the swimming beach; it sits near the boat ramp/campground area with drive-up access. Separately, the park's Trail 1 (about 0.6 miles, rated easiest, a roughly 30-minute loop through Virginia pine forest near the campground/boat ramp) passes through the same general area but is a recreational loop, not a required approach trail to the beach.
Other on-property trails (Trail 2, ~0.2 mi with a steep incline; the ~6-mile multi-use Yellow Horse Trail; and the ~2.5-mi Lake Vista Trail, described by the DNR as the most scenic and rugged, overlooking the lake) are separate hiking options unrelated to beach access.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
The DNR beach has a wheelchair-accessible ramp into the water, suggesting a gradual, easy entry point, but statewide DNR beach policy applies: no lifeguards (swim at your own risk) and children 12 and under must be accompanied by someone 16 or older. Year-round blue-green algae presence in the lake also warrants caution (avoid ingesting water, shower after swimming).
Parking
Available
The official DNR page does not describe a distinct beach parking lot or a parking-specific fee; visitors pay the standard property gate entrance fee ($7/day in-state, $15/day out-of-state vehicles per the prior enrichment) to enter, which covers access to the beach, campground, and trailhead parking areas.
Restrooms
Yes
Restrooms, showers, and dressing facilities serve the swimming beach per the official DNR page. Note: Comfort Station 2, which serves Section E of the family campground (not the beach itself), was listed as closed for repairs as of this research.
Hours
The swimming beach operates seasonally from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. The official park page does not publish specific daily gate or beach hours and directs visitors to contact the property directly (812-246-5421) for that detail.
On the water
Restrictions: Deam Lake is restricted to electric trolling motors only (no gas engines), per the DNR park page and prior enrichment; a boat launching ramp is available.
The DNR itself operates seasonal rowboat and kayak rentals at the lake (see rentals below). Canoe and paddleboard use is not explicitly confirmed or denied by the official page, so it is left unlisted here rather than assumed.
Rentals nearby
Rowboat and kayak rentals
At the lake near the boat ramp/swimming beach area within the recreation area, 1217 Deam Lake Road, Borden, IN 47106 · Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend
Backstory
The lake was constructed in 1965 and named in honor of Charles Deam, Indiana's first state forester, according to the official DNR park page.
Deam Lake State Recreation Area: FAQ
Does Deam Lake State Recreation Area charge a fee?
Standard Indiana DNR gate entrance fee applies: $7/day for in-state vehicles, $15/day for out-of-state vehicles, plus $2/day for pedestrians/cyclists/equestrians; annual passes are $50 (resident) or $120 (non-resident). No separate swimming fee is listed.
Is Deam Lake State Recreation Area kid friendly?
The DNR beach has a wheelchair-accessible ramp into the water, suggesting a gradual, easy entry point, but statewide DNR beach policy applies: no lifeguards (swim at your own risk) and children 12 and under must be accompanied by someone 16 or older. Year-round blue-green algae presence in the lake also warrants caution (avoid ingesting water, shower after swimming).
Do I need to hike to reach Deam Lake State Recreation Area?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Deam Lake State Recreation Area?
The official DNR page does not describe a distinct beach parking lot or a parking-specific fee; visitors pay the standard property gate entrance fee ($7/day in-state, $15/day out-of-state vehicles per the prior enrichment) to enter, which covers access to the beach, campground, and trailhead parking areas.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Deam Lake State Recreation Area?
The DNR itself operates seasonal rowboat and kayak rentals at the lake (see rentals below). Canoe and paddleboard use is not explicitly confirmed or denied by the official page, so it is left unlisted here rather than assumed.
When is the best time to visit Deam Lake State Recreation Area?
The swimming beach is open seasonally from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, per the official park page.
What are the rules at Deam Lake State Recreation Area?
DNR beaches operate on a swim-at-your-own-risk basis (no lifeguards), children 12 and under must be accompanied by someone 16 or older to enter beach areas, alcohol is prohibited at all DNR beaches, pets must be leashed (6 ft max) and attended, and quiet hours begin at 11 p.m. Visitors are also cautioned about blue-green algae and advised to shower after swimming.
What water body is Deam Lake State Recreation Area on?
Deam Lake State Recreation Area is on Deam Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
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