Tipsaw Lake Recreation Area
St Croix, Indiana · on Tipsaw Lake · Hoosier National Forest
Verified · 5 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $8 per vehicle
- SEASON
- Year-round
About Tipsaw Lake Recreation Area
Tipsaw Lake Recreation Area is a U.S. Forest Service site on 131-acre Tipsaw Lake in the Hoosier National Forest in south-central Indiana, near St. Croix. It features an official designated swimming beach with a modern bathhouse, alongside camping, fishing, boating, and a multi-use trail around the lake. As swimming holes go, this is a developed one, an easy lake to swim in with facilities rather than a wild spot.
The recreation area sits in a hardwood-and-pine forest at about 380 feet elevation along the shore of Tipsaw Lake, roughly 6 miles south of Interstate 64 off Indiana State Route 37, within the Hoosier National Forest. The lake is bordered by a mix of sandy/sunny beach and a shaded, grass-covered hillside.
Swimming at Tipsaw Lake Recreation Area
Swimming takes place at an official, designated beach on the lake with a combination of sand and grassy shoreline, suited to families and casual swimmers rather than serious open-water swimmers. There is no lifeguard on duty, so swimmers are responsible for their own safety, and swimmers sharing the lake with boaters must stay at least 300 feet from the boat launch ramp.
How to get to this swimming hole
From St. Croix, Indiana, travel south on State Route 37 about 5 miles to the Tipsaw Lake sign (the recreation area is about 6 miles south of I-64 off SR 37); follow the access road to the gatehouse and recreation complex at 20250 Tipsaw Lake Access Road, Branchville, IN 47514.
Parking: A day-use parking lot is provided directly at the beach; the boat ramp and its parking are open year-round.
The hike in
- Time on foot
- Under 1 minute walk from the parking lot to the beach
The swim beach is reached directly from the adjacent day-use parking lot (drive-up, essentially no walk). A separate 5.9-mile multi-use trail circles the lake for hiking/mountain biking, but it is not needed to reach the swim beach.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Sandy/grassy beach with playground equipment onsite suggests a family-oriented spot, but there is no lifeguard on duty (per official USFS and Recreation.gov listings), so caregivers must supervise directly. Beach depth/entry gradient is not documented by official sources.
Parking
Paid, $8 per vehicle day-use fee (April-October; free late October-early April); $50 annual pass option
Day-use parking lot is directly at the beach (short walk, no hike required). Separate trailer parking at the boat ramp is open year-round.
Restrooms
Yes
Modern bathhouse at the swim beach with accessible flush toilets, showers, changing rooms, washing stations, and drinking water; vault and flush toilets are also provided elsewhere on the grounds (campground/boat ramp area).
Hours
Beach and bathhouse open Memorial Day through Labor Day (2025 season opened May 23), 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily, weather permitting; boat ramp and lake are accessible year-round; campground quiet hours are 10 p.m.-6 a.m.
On the water
Restrictions: Only electric motors are permitted on the lake; gas motors are prohibited. Swimmers may share the lake with watercraft between sunrise and sunset, but all boats/paddlers must stay at least 300 feet from the designated boat launch ramp.
Boat ramp and trailer parking are open year-round (free outside the day-use fee window). No on-site rental concession is mentioned by any official source.
Tipsaw Lake Recreation Area: FAQ
Does Tipsaw Lake Recreation Area charge a fee?
Day-use fee of $8 per vehicle (April through October, free in the off-season late October to early April); $50 annual pass available. Camping ranges from $24/night (non-electric single site) to $49/night (electric double site); group camping is $80/night. Mountain bike trail permits are $5/day or $35/year for riders 17 and older.
Is Tipsaw Lake Recreation Area kid friendly?
Sandy/grassy beach with playground equipment onsite suggests a family-oriented spot, but there is no lifeguard on duty (per official USFS and Recreation.gov listings), so caregivers must supervise directly. Beach depth/entry gradient is not documented by official sources.
Do I need to hike to reach Tipsaw Lake Recreation Area?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Tipsaw Lake Recreation Area?
Day-use parking lot is directly at the beach (short walk, no hike required). Separate trailer parking at the boat ramp is open year-round.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Tipsaw Lake Recreation Area?
Boat ramp and trailer parking are open year-round (free outside the day-use fee window). No on-site rental concession is mentioned by any official source.
When is the best time to visit Tipsaw Lake Recreation Area?
Beach and bathhouse are open Memorial Day through Labor Day, weather permitting, with beach hours of 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; the surrounding trail and lake are usable for hiking, fishing, and boating year-round, with the campground operating April through October.
What are the rules at Tipsaw Lake Recreation Area?
No glass containers or pets allowed on the beach; no lifeguard on duty; swimmers may use the lake with watercraft present only between sunrise and sunset and must stay 300+ feet from the boat launch ramp; only electric motors are permitted on the lake; firewood brought onto the National Forest must meet Forest Service pest-prevention requirements; quiet hours in camping loops are 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
What water body is Tipsaw Lake Recreation Area on?
Tipsaw Lake Recreation Area is on Tipsaw Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
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