Mounds SRA Brookville Lake Beach
Brookville, Indiana · on Brookville Lake · Brookville Recreation Area
Verified · 4 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $7/day
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Mounds SRA Brookville Lake Beach
Mounds SRA Beach is the designated swimming beach on Brookville Lake, a 5,260-acre US Army Corps of Engineers flood-control reservoir in the Whitewater River Valley near Brookville, Indiana, operated as part of Indiana's Brookville Lake State Recreation Area. It is one of the largest reservoirs in Indiana and the site includes a large campground, camp store, and shelterhouses alongside the swim beach.
The beach sits on the shoreline of Brookville Lake within the Mounds State Recreation Area, part of the broader Whitewater River Valley reservoir system managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers and operated by Indiana DNR. The area is known for exposed 450-million-year-old Ordovician-age fossils in the surrounding valley and for prehistoric Native American mounds, which give the recreation area its name. The SRA also has 25+ miles of hiking trails, a large campground with over 450 sites, and shelterhouses for picnicking near the beach.
Swimming at Mounds SRA Brookville Lake Beach
This is a maintained, sandy, official swim beach on a large reservoir rather than a wild swimming hole -- reviewers describe it as a family-friendly beach with a bathhouse and concession stand, suited to swimming, wading, and lakeside relaxing rather than deep or adventurous swimming. Indiana DNR and the US Army Corps of Engineers post seasonal water-quality (blue-green algae) advisories that can restrict or discourage swimming at times.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located at 14108 SR 101, Brookville, IN 47012, within the Mounds State Recreation Area on Brookville Lake near the towns of Fairfield and New Fairfield, Indiana.
Parking: On-site parking is available at Mounds SRA at the beach/day-use area (address 14108 SR 101, Brookville, IN 47012).
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up, official designated swim beach with an adjacent parking lot; no trail or hike is needed to reach the sand or water. The wider Mounds SRA has 25+ miles of separate hiking trails elsewhere in the recreation area, but none are required for beach access.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Maintained sandy designated swim beach with mobility mats for accessibility and a large gently-sloping beach area that camper reviews describe kids enjoying; however, no lifeguard staffing is confirmed in any source reviewed, and Indiana DNR periodically issues blue-green algae advisories on the lake, so supervision and checking current conditions are advised.
Parking
Paid, $7/day in-state vehicle gate fee ($15/day out-of-state; $2/person for walk-ins/cyclists/equestrians)
On-site parking lot directly at the Mounds SRA beach/day-use area, 14108 SR 101, Brookville, IN. The gate/entrance fee charged at the property entrance covers parking; no separate parking fee is published. A camper review noted campground guest parking sits far from some campsites, but this did not reference the beach lot specifically.
Restrooms
Yes
Bathhouse with restrooms and showers at the beach/day-use area (per Indiana DNR facilities list); camper reviews describe the bathhouse infrastructure as older but kept clean, with notably strong shower pressure.
On the water
Indiana DNR's Brookville Lake page lists 9 boat launch ramps, waterskiing, and general boating as lake activities, plus canoe/kayak/paddleboard rental as a lake concession offering, indicating the reservoir broadly supports both paddlecraft and motorized boats. No swim-beach-specific no-wake buoy zone or watercraft restriction was confirmed in sources reviewed.
Rentals nearby
24' pontoon boat rentals (no kayaks/canoes/paddleboards listed)
Prices: $160 for 4 hrs (weekday), $210 for 6 hrs (weekday), $320 for 6 hrs (weekend/holiday) for up to 8 people, plus 7% sales tax; renters must be 25+
On Brookville Lake near Quakertown Campground/SRA, roughly 2.3 mi from the Mounds SRA beach (per nearby-facilities data)
Pontoon boats (leisure, double-decker, and ski models, 20-27 ft, up to 14 passengers) and jet skis; full-service 400-slip marina
15179 Old State Road 101, Liberty, IN 47353, on Brookville Lake
What regulars say
From camper reviews: visitors called the beach a good family spot where 'kids had a blast,' praised the large beach area, and noted the bathhouse, while aging, is kept clean with strong shower pressure; one reviewer flagged that campground guest parking can sit far from campsites (not confirmed to apply to the beach lot itself).
Backstory
Brookville Lake was created by the federal government (US Army Corps of Engineers) for flood control on the Whitewater River. The Mounds SRA name references prehistoric Native American mounds located within the recreation area, and the surrounding valley is noted for exposing 450-million-year-old Ordovician fossils.
Mounds SRA Brookville Lake Beach: FAQ
Does Mounds SRA Brookville Lake Beach charge a fee?
Indiana state-managed lake gate/entrance fee applies: $7/day for in-state licensed vehicles, $15/day for out-of-state vehicles (covers driver and all passengers), $2/person for pedestrians, cyclists, and equestrians age 5+; a $50 (resident) or $120 (non-resident) annual pass is also available.
Is Mounds SRA Brookville Lake Beach kid friendly?
Maintained sandy designated swim beach with mobility mats for accessibility and a large gently-sloping beach area that camper reviews describe kids enjoying; however, no lifeguard staffing is confirmed in any source reviewed, and Indiana DNR periodically issues blue-green algae advisories on the lake, so supervision and checking current conditions are advised.
Do I need to hike to reach Mounds SRA Brookville Lake Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Mounds SRA Brookville Lake Beach?
On-site parking lot directly at the Mounds SRA beach/day-use area, 14108 SR 101, Brookville, IN. The gate/entrance fee charged at the property entrance covers parking; no separate parking fee is published. A camper review noted campground guest parking sits far from some campsites, but this did not reference the beach lot specifically.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Mounds SRA Brookville Lake Beach?
Indiana DNR's Brookville Lake page lists 9 boat launch ramps, waterskiing, and general boating as lake activities, plus canoe/kayak/paddleboard rental as a lake concession offering, indicating the reservoir broadly supports both paddlecraft and motorized boats. No swim-beach-specific no-wake buoy zone or watercraft restriction was confirmed in sources reviewed.
When is the best time to visit Mounds SRA Brookville Lake Beach?
Summer, specifically Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, which is the official designated swim season at the beach.
What are the rules at Mounds SRA Brookville Lake Beach?
Swimming is officially permitted only in season, typically from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Indiana DNR issues periodic blue-green algae advisories (e.g., a yellow advisory) during which visitors are told to avoid contact with visible algae, avoid swallowing water, and shower after swimming; pet swimming may be restricted when algae is present.
What water body is Mounds SRA Brookville Lake Beach on?
Mounds SRA Brookville Lake Beach is on Brookville Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
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