Old Field Beach
Lakeview, Ohio · on Dunns Pond
Verified · 2 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Free
- SEASON
- Memorial Day through Labor Day, matching the state's official swim-season water-quality monitoring window.
About Old Field Beach
Old Field Beach is one of two official public swimming beaches at Indian Lake State Park, a 5,100-acre state-managed reservoir near Lakeview, Ohio, operated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. As a swimming hole it is closely watched: the beach is state-monitored under the Ohio Department of Health's BeachGuard water-quality program, and it hosts the annual 'Rock the Lake' festival each August.
The beach sits on the north shore of Indian Lake off State Route 235, within Indian Lake State Park, roughly 1.7 miles from the village of Lakeview and 2.1 miles from Russells Point. Indian Lake is a large man-made reservoir created in 1860 when the Miami River was dammed to feed the Miami-Erie Canal; the nearby place-name 'Dunn's Pond' refers to a smaller bay along the lake's southeastern corner rather than a separate body of water. A paved multi-use bikeway (about 3.5 miles) runs from the beach along the lakefront to Lakeview Harbor.
Swimming at Old Field Beach
Swimming is in the open water of Indian Lake at a designated, sandy state-park beach with generally calm, shallow conditions suited to families, though lake boat traffic picks up on summer weekends. No official lifeguard staffing was confirmed in the sources reviewed, and one visitor review flagged inconsistent beach cleanliness (bird droppings on the sand) discouraging swimming on that particular visit.
How to get to this swimming hole
The beach is located at approximately 11252 State Route 235 N in Lakeview, Ohio, directly off SR 235 within Indian Lake State Park, about 1.7 miles from Lakeview and 2.1 miles from Russells Point.
Parking: On-site public parking at the state park beach as part of Indian Lake State Park; Ohio state parks are free to enter.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. Old Field Beach is a drive-up state park beach with an on-site parking lot directly adjacent to the sand; no hike is needed to reach the water. A separate ~3.5-mile paved lakefront bikeway/walking path runs from the beach to Lakeview Harbor, but that is a recreational trail, not an access route to the swim area.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Calm, shallow, sandy lake beach suited to families, but no lifeguard is on duty (confirmed by both Sandee and the general Old Field Beach listing), so young children need direct adult supervision. Weekend boat traffic on Indian Lake picks up nearby, and a July 2022 visitor review flagged beach-cleanliness issues (bird droppings on the sand) that discouraged swimming on that particular visit.
Parking
Free
Free on-site public parking lot at the beach (Ohio state parks have no entry fee); one aggregator also mentions some street parking near the entrance.
Restrooms
Yes
Seasonal restrooms on/adjacent to the beach, part of the Indian Lake State Park facilities at Old Field Beach.
Water clarity
Varies with season and flow
Accounts conflict: one general description touts 'clear waters,' while a July 2022 visitor specifically discouraged entering the water that day and flagged beach cleanliness (bird droppings on sand). Indian Lake is a large, boat-heavy reservoir, so clarity likely varies with wind, algae, and boat traffic; no direct measured-visibility source was found.
Hours
Beach facility hours are approximately 8am-4pm; the broader Indian Lake State Park grounds are open 6am-11pm daily.
On the water
Restrictions: Swimming itself is restricted to the designated beach area (per Ohio DNR park rules), implying boat traffic is meant to stay clear of the marked swim zone, but no lake-wide no-wake zone or horsepower limit specific to this area was confirmed in sources reviewed. Indian Lake is a large multi-use reservoir with numerous marinas, boat ramps, and rental outfitters, so general boating/paddling is common lake-wide, just not launched from the swim beach itself.
Old Field Beach has no boat launch of its own, but Indian Lake State Park operates nearby boat ramps and docks (e.g., Moundwood, Lakeview Harbor per Wikipedia), and multiple lake-wide rental outfitters serve boaters/paddlers who can then access the open lake.
Rentals nearby
Pontoon and tritoon boat rentals only (explicitly states they do not rent personal watercraft, waverunners, kayaks, or paddleboats); also sells fuel, bait, and offers boat maintenance/seasonal docking.
Prices: 20' Bennington pontoon (90hp, 8-person): $335/day; 20' Bennington tritoon (115hp): $415/day; 20' Bennington tritoon (150hp, 10-person): $470/day; 22' Bennington tritoon (150hp, 12-person): $495/day; 22' JC Fish tritoon (150hp): $470/day; 22' Bennington tritoon (175hp, 12-person): $540/day; weekly rates $850-$1,400; hourly (2-hr minimum) $230-$340.
9481 State Route 708 N, Russells Point, OH 43348 (Indian Lake, roughly 2 miles from Old Field Beach). · In-season (Memorial Day-Labor Day): Mon-Thu 8:30am-5pm, Fri-Sat 8:30am-6pm, Sun 8:30am-5pm. Off-season: Mon-Thu 8:30am-5pm, Fri-Sat 8:30am-6pm, Sun 12pm-5pm.
2022 Barletta tritoons, Yamaha EX Deluxe & Limited waverunners, kayaks, and standup paddleboards.
11106 Newland Rd., Lakeview, OH 43331 (on Indian Lake).
Single and tandem kayak rentals, including 'crystal clear' see-through kayaks, plus guided night kayak tours; launches next to the Bickham Covered Bridge on Indian Lake.
Edgewater Ave, Huntsville, OH 43324 (Indian Lake). · Site currently states the business is temporarily closed for the 2026 season; contact directly to confirm current status.
What regulars say
One July 2022 visitor described the lakeside setting as scenic but flagged bird-dropping debris on the sand and specifically discouraged entering the water on that visit. Another general description characterized the beach as 'not family-friendly' due to the lack of lifeguards and nearby food concessions, which sits at odds with more upbeat descriptions of the same beach elsewhere.
Backstory
Indian Lake was created in 1860 when the Miami River was dammed to supply water to the Miami-Erie Canal. The Dunns Pond Mound, a Native American earthwork, sits along the lake's southeastern corner near the Dunn's Pond area. Old Field Beach has hosted the annual 'Rock the Lake' music and community festival for over a decade.
Old Field Beach: FAQ
Does Old Field Beach charge a fee?
No admission fee; Ohio state parks, including Indian Lake State Park beaches, are free to enter.
Is Old Field Beach kid friendly?
Calm, shallow, sandy lake beach suited to families, but no lifeguard is on duty (confirmed by both Sandee and the general Old Field Beach listing), so young children need direct adult supervision. Weekend boat traffic on Indian Lake picks up nearby, and a July 2022 visitor review flagged beach-cleanliness issues (bird droppings on the sand) that discouraged swimming on that particular visit.
Do I need to hike to reach Old Field Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Old Field Beach?
Free on-site public parking lot at the beach (Ohio state parks have no entry fee); one aggregator also mentions some street parking near the entrance.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Old Field Beach?
Old Field Beach has no boat launch of its own, but Indian Lake State Park operates nearby boat ramps and docks (e.g., Moundwood, Lakeview Harbor per Wikipedia), and multiple lake-wide rental outfitters serve boaters/paddlers who can then access the open lake.
When is the best time to visit Old Field Beach?
Memorial Day through Labor Day, matching the state's official swim-season water-quality monitoring window.
What are the rules at Old Field Beach?
Swimming is restricted to the designated beach area; dogs are not permitted on the swimming beach (a separate dog park is provided elsewhere in the park); park hours are 6 a.m.-11 p.m.; the Ohio Department of Health's BeachGuard program samples water roughly every two weeks during swim season (Memorial Day-Labor Day) and posts an advisory if E. coli exceeds 235 cfu/100mL.
What water body is Old Field Beach on?
Old Field Beach is on Dunns Pond, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
