The Lake Monroe Peninsula Trail In Indiana Is A 10-Mile Out-And-Back Hike With A Pristine Lake Finish
By Tori Jane|Published February 09, 2022
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Tori Jane
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Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
If you’re always on the search for the next awesome hiking adventure you get to plan (same), we’ve found a delightful trail here in the Hoosier State to consider next. If you’re a fan of long hikes that aren’t too difficult and splendid views of some of the state’s most beautiful wildlands, you’ll definitely want to bump this hike up toward the top of your to-do list. The Lake Monroe Peninsula Trail in Indiana is a gem the locals know and love, and for good reason: it features some of our state’s most spectacular natural splendor neatly packed into a 10.1-mile out-and-back trail you’re sure to adore.
It sounds like a super-long hike, but given that there's little elevation gain along the way, it's honestly a lot easier than you might expect.
There are some parts of the hike that become a bit iffy; the beginning of the trek is also a horse trail that tends to be quite muddy most of the time. Especially when it's frozen over, this part of the hike can be moderately challenging due to the unevenness of the surface you're trying to hike on.
But for the most part, it's smooth sailing (er, hiking) for those who enjoy the beauty of the Indiana wilderness.
People don't give the Hoosier State enough credit, if you ask us; we bet folks who don't live here don't even realize we're home to so many jaw-droppingly beautiful places like this one.
This part of the hike is a particularly wonderful place for camping, too, as it provides some of the most ridiculously amazing views you'll ever have camping in Indiana. It is truly a treat.
Of course, the lake you approach is the Lake Monroe the trail is so obviously named after; it's one of Indiana's largest lakes and it holds a particularly notable beauty that makes it unforgettable to those who experience it.
It's a long-ish hike, so why not make a weekend trip out of it? Hike in, camp overlooking Lake Monroe in the woods, enjoy everything the area has to offer, and then pack it on out.
Better still, this whole area is amazing year-round.
There is no bad time of year to visit, as each season has its pros and cons. Autumn, for example, might be a little chilly, but it's worth it for views like the one in the photo above. Winter brings a whole other kind of majesty - and so do spring and summer.
The Lake Monroe Peninsula Trail is an excellent hike for nature lovers of all skill levels.
